Last updated: 18 October 2026
Short answer: Any Indian citizen can ask a public authority for information under the Right to Information Act, 2005. For Central Government offices, file online at rtionline.gov.in and pay the Rs 10 fee by UPI, card or net banking. For any office (Central or State), you can also post a written application to the Public Information Officer (PIO) with a Rs 10 Indian Postal Order or demand draft; State fees and payment modes can differ. The PIO must reply within 30 days (48 hours if life or liberty is involved). If you get no reply or a poor one, file a first appeal within 30 days, and then a second appeal to the Information Commission within 90 days.
Who can file and what you can ask for
Any citizen of India can apply. You do not have to give any reason for wanting the information, and you need give only the contact details required to send you a reply (section 6(2)).
“Information” under section 2(f) means material in any form held by or under the control of a public authority: records, documents, file notings, e-mails, opinions, advice, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, samples, models and electronic data. You can also ask to inspect files or take certified copies.
What you cannot do is ask the PIO to create information that does not exist, give opinions, answer hypothetical “why” questions or interpret the law. Frame your request as a request for records.
Filing online on the RTI Online portal
The portal rtionline.gov.in is run by the Department of Personnel and Training. It accepts requests and first appeals for Ministries, Departments and other public authorities of the Central Government that are on the portal. It must not be used for State Government offices (including the Government of NCT of Delhi); such applications are returned without refund.
- Open rtionline.gov.in and choose “Submit Request”. Read the guidelines and tick the box to confirm.
- Select the Ministry, Department or public authority from the drop down list. If yours is not listed, it is not on the portal; file by post instead.
- Enter your name, address, mobile number and e-mail. An e-mail address is needed for the reply and alerts.
- Type your request in the text box. The box has a character limit, so for a longer request type a short line and upload your full application as a PDF.
- If you belong to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category, select that option and upload your BPL certificate; no fee is then payable.
- Pay the Rs 10 fee through the payment gateway. The portal accepts internet banking, Visa and MasterCard debit and credit cards, RuPay cards and UPI.
- Note the registration number shown after payment. You will need it to track the request and to file a first appeal online.
Many States run their own RTI portals for State departments, for example rtionline.up.gov.in in Uttar Pradesh. Use your State’s portal or file by post for State offices.
Filing offline by post or in person
- Find the right PIO. Every public authority must designate Public Information Officers (section 5). Their names are usually on the office website or notice board. If you cannot find the name, address it to “The Public Information Officer” of that office.
- Write the application. Use plain paper. In Central Government offices an application should ordinarily not exceed 500 words, excluding annexures (rule 3 of the RTI Rules, 2012).
- Pay the fee. Attach a Rs 10 Indian Postal Order or demand draft payable to the Accounts Officer of the public authority, or pay cash against receipt at the counter. State rules prescribe their own payee and modes.
- Send it. Use Speed Post with proof of delivery, or hand it over at the office and get a dated receipt. You can also give it to an Assistant PIO at the sub-divisional level, who must forward it; in that case the PIO gets five extra days to reply.
- Keep a full copy with the postal order number and the postal receipt.
Fees under the Central RTI Rules, 2012
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application | Rs 10 |
| Copies (A4 or A3 size) | Rs 2 per page |
| Larger paper, samples or models | Actual cost |
| Inspection of records | First hour free, then Rs 5 for each further hour |
| Below Poverty Line applicant | No fee, if a BPL certificate from the appropriate Government is attached |
If the PIO needs additional fees for copies, the PIO must write to you with the calculation. The time between that letter and your payment is not counted in the 30 days (section 7(3)). If the PIO misses the deadline, the information must be supplied free of charge (section 7(6)).
Time limits
| Step | Time limit | Provision |
|---|---|---|
| Reply by PIO | 30 days from receipt | Section 7(1) |
| Information concerning the life or liberty of a person | 48 hours | Proviso to section 7(1) |
| Application given to an Assistant PIO | 5 days added | Section 5(2) |
| Transfer to the right public authority | Within 5 days of receipt | Section 6(3) |
| Information involving a third party | 40 days | Section 11 |
| First appeal to the First Appellate Authority | Within 30 days of the reply or the date it was due | Section 19(1) |
| Second appeal to the Information Commission | Within 90 days of the first appeal decision or the date it was due | Section 19(3) |
Free sample RTI application
To,
The Public Information Officer,
[Name of office],
[Address]
Subject: Application under section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005
1. Name of applicant: [Full name]
2. Address for reply: [Full address with PIN code]
3. Phone and e-mail: [ ]
4. Information sought (for the period [from date] to [to date]):
(a) Certified copy of [the file notings and correspondence relating to my application no. [ ] dated [ ]].
(b) The present status of that application and the name and designation of the officer with whom it is pending.
(c) Copy of the rules, circular or order that fixes the time limit for deciding such applications.
5. I am a citizen of India. I have paid the fee of Rs 10 by [Indian Postal Order no. [ ] dated [ ] / demand draft / cash receipt no. [ ]]. I am willing to pay any further fee for copies on being informed.
Place: [ ]
Date: [ ]
Signature: [ ]
How to frame questions that get answered
- Ask for copies of documents rather than explanations: “certified copy of the inspection report” works better than “why was no action taken?”
- Give a specific period and reference numbers.
- Keep each request to one subject and number the points.
- For delayed applications or complaints, ask for the daily progress record, the name of the officer handling it and the rule fixing the time limit.
- If the file is large, ask first to inspect it and then for copies of the pages you mark. This saves fees.
Grounds on which information can be refused
Section 8 lists exemptions, such as information affecting national security, commercial confidence, information received in fiduciary capacity, information that would impede an investigation, and cabinet papers before a decision. Section 24 excludes listed security and intelligence organisations, except for information about corruption and human rights violations.
Important change to personal information: section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, in force since 13 November 2025, replaced clause (j) of section 8(1). It now simply exempts “information which relates to personal information”, without the earlier public interest test. Requests for other people’s personal details (service records, assets, tax returns and similar) are now more likely to be refused. The amendment has been challenged in the Supreme Court (Venkatesh Nayak v. Union of India, W.P. (C) No. 177 of 2026, with connected petitions). On 16 February 2026 the Court referred the matter to a larger Bench and refused to stay the amendment. Your own personal information is not affected in the same way; ask for it in your own name.
Need the complete, editable set? The Lexfolio RTI Application and Appeals Kit has English and Hindi formats for the application, first appeal, second appeal and section 18 complaint, a question bank for common situations, and a plain language guide to fees, time limits and exemptions.
If the reply is late or unsatisfactory
First appeal
File it with the First Appellate Authority, an officer senior to the PIO in the same public authority, within 30 days of the reply or of the date the reply was due. No fee is prescribed under the Central Rules. Common grounds: no reply, incomplete or misleading reply, wrong use of an exemption, or excessive fees. For Central authorities you can file the first appeal online using your registration number.
Second appeal or complaint
If the first appeal is not decided or you are still not satisfied, file a second appeal with the Central Information Commission (for Central authorities) or the State Information Commission (for State authorities) within 90 days. Attach copies of the application, the reply, the first appeal and the appellate order, with an index. Separately, a complaint under section 18 lets the Commission impose a penalty of Rs 250 per day of delay on the PIO, up to Rs 25,000 (section 20). A second appeal is the route to get the information; a complaint is the route to penalty.
Going to appeal? The RTI Application and Appeals Kit includes ready grounds of appeal, an index of documents for the second appeal and a complaint format, so you do not have to start from a blank page.
Reading in Hindi? See our guide आरटीआई आवेदन कैसे करें.
Common mistakes
- Filing State matters on the Central portal and losing the fee.
- Asking “why” questions instead of asking for records.
- Bundling many unrelated subjects into one application.
- Not keeping a copy and proof of the fee and dispatch.
- Missing the 30 day window for the first appeal.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file an RTI application online for a State Government department?
Not on rtionline.gov.in. Use your State’s own RTI portal if it has one, or send the application by post.
What happens if the PIO does not reply within 30 days?
It is treated as a refusal (section 7(2)). File a first appeal, and the information must later be supplied free of charge.
Do I have to give a reason for asking?
No. Section 6(2) says no reason is required.
Can a non-resident Indian file an RTI?
Yes, an Indian citizen living abroad can file, including online on the Central portal, and some Indian missions accept applications.
Can I get information about another person’s salary or assets?
After the DPDP amendment to section 8(1)(j), such personal information is likely to be refused. The Supreme Court is examining the amendment, but has not stayed it.
Is there a fee for the first appeal?
No fee is prescribed under the Central RTI Rules, 2012. Some States charge a fee; check your State rules.
*This article is general information, not legal advice.*