File an RTI application to access government information that has been denied, delayed, or made opaque.
Jurisdiction
All of India — Central Government Public Authorities (via RTI Online); State Government Public Authorities (via respective state RTI portals or offline)
Who applies
Any Indian citizen seeking information from a Central or State Public Authority under the Right to Information Act, 2005
Typical time
Information must be provided within 30 days of receipt of application (48 hours if life or liberty of a person is involved)
Fee
₹10 per application (Central Government; postal order / online payment); ₹2 per page for additional documents; fees vary by state (most charge ₹10–₹50)
| # | Document | Type needed | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RTI Application (self-drafted) | Original | Written request clearly identifying the Public Authority, the information sought, and the period to which it relates; no prescribed format is mandatory but the request must be in writing |
| 2 | Application Fee Payment (₹10) | Original | Demand draft, postal order, court fee stamp, or online payment receipt as applicable; BPL applicants are exempt from fee on submission of BPL certificate |
| 3 | BPL Certificate (if applicable)(optional)Only required if claiming fee exemption as a BPL card holder | Self-attested Copy | Proof of Below Poverty Line status to avail fee exemption under the RTI Act |
| 4 | Identity Proof (for offline applications in some states)(optional)Required by certain state Public Authorities | Self-attested Copy | Aadhaar or voter ID to establish citizenship; required by some state offices though not mandated by the central RTI Act |
Original documents: Carry originals only for in-person visits — do not hand them over permanently unless explicitly required.
Determine which ministry, department, or government body holds the information you need. Each Public Authority has a designated Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) or State PIO. The CPIO list is usually on the department's website. For Central Government departments, use rtionline.gov.in to locate the correct ministry or department.
Write the application clearly in Hindi, English, or a local official language. Clearly state: (a) the name and address of the applicant, (b) the specific information sought (questions, documents, records, or data), (c) the time period of the information, and (d) whether you want inspection or copies. Keep questions specific and limited — broad or vague queries may be rejected. One application can cover multiple questions if they relate to the same subject.
Online (Central): Log in at rtionline.gov.in, select the ministry/department, fill in the online form, and pay ₹10 via net banking or debit/credit card. Print the acknowledgement. Offline (Central/State): Send the application by post to the CPIO with an Indian Postal Order (IPO) of ₹10, or submit in person at the department's office. Some states accept application at Common Service Centres.
The CPIO must respond within 30 days (48 hours for life and liberty matters). They may: (a) provide the information directly, (b) deny with written reasons citing an exemption under Section 8, (c) transfer the application to another Public Authority if they do not hold the information (Section 6(3)), or (d) ask for additional fee for copies. Track your application status on rtionline.gov.in using the registration number.
If the CPIO rejects the application, provides incomplete information, or fails to respond within 30 days, file a First Appeal to the First Appellate Authority (FAA) — an officer senior to the CPIO in the same department. The appeal must be filed within 30 days of the CPIO's response or the 30-day deadline. No fee is required for the first appeal.
If the First Appeal is rejected or FAA does not respond, file a Second Appeal to the Central Information Commission (CIC) for central public authorities, or the State Information Commission (SIC) for state public authorities. The CIC can impose penalties up to ₹25,000 on the CPIO for delay, non-compliance, or malicious denial. File online at cic.gov.in for central matters.
Respective Central or State Public Authority
Steps 3–4 — receiving application and furnishing information
Designated officer responsible for processing RTI applications and providing information within 30 days under the RTI Act
Respective Central or State Public Authority
Step 5 — First Appeal
Officer senior to the CPIO within the same department who hears appeals against CPIO's decision
Central Information Commission (CIC)
Step 6 — Second Appeal or Complaint
Hears Second Appeals and complaints against CPIOs; can impose penalties and award compensation
Filing RTI applications to central government ministries and departments online; fee payment; tracking application status
Filing Second Appeals and complaints against central public authorities; tracking CIC hearing status
The CPIO can reject an application that is frivolous, too broad, or seeks opinions rather than information. Frame questions as: 'Please provide copies of [specific document/record] for the period [date range]' rather than 'Tell me everything about X department'.
If you miss the 30-day window to file the First Appeal, the FAA may condone the delay, but this is not guaranteed. Track your application on rtionline.gov.in and calendar the response deadline.
RTI can only be filed against Public Authorities. Private companies, NGOs not substantially funded by government, and courts' administrative decisions are generally outside RTI scope.
If the information sought pertains to a third party who has provided it to the Public Authority in confidence, the CPIO must give the third party an opportunity to respond before disclosure. This can extend the timeline.
For physical copies, ₹2 per page is charged beyond the first application fee. For diskettes or floppies, ₹50 per diskette. For samples or models, actual cost. If you cannot pay, you may request inspection of records (free of charge, first hour) instead of copies.