How to File an RTI Application in India: A Step-by-Step Guide

The Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) gives every Indian citizen a legally enforceable right to seek information held by public authorities. It came into force on 12 October 2005 and applies across India. This guide explains, in plain language, who can file an RTI, what it costs, how long the government has to reply, and what to do if you are ignored.

What Is the RTI Act and Who Can Use It

The RTI Act operationalises the right to information that the Supreme Court has read into Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. Under Section 3, only citizens of India can file an RTI application. Companies, firms, societies and trusts cannot file in their own corporate name — but a director, partner, trustee or member who is an Indian citizen can file in his or her personal capacity. There is no minimum age, and you do not have to give any reason for seeking the information (Section 6(2)).

Non-Resident Indians remain Indian citizens and can file, including through Indian embassies and consulates abroad. OCI and PIO cardholders are not citizens and cannot file in their own name — they must route the request through an Indian-citizen friend, relative or representative.

You can ask for any "information" that exists on record — files, documents, memos, emails, circulars, contracts, reports, samples, file notings and data in electronic form. You can also inspect records and take certified copies.

What You Cannot Ask: Section 8 Exemptions

The right is not absolute. Section 8(1) lists categories that are exempt from disclosure, including:

• Information affecting the sovereignty, integrity, security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of India, or its relations with foreign states;
• Information expressly forbidden by a court or that would be contempt of court;
• Information that would breach the privilege of Parliament or a State Legislature;
• Commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property where disclosure would harm a third party;
• Information held in a fiduciary relationship;
• Information that would endanger life or physical safety, or identify a confidential source;
• Information that would impede investigation or prosecution;
• Cabinet papers and records of Council of Ministers' deliberations (until the decision is complete);
• Personal information.

A key recent change concerns Section 8(1)(j), which deals with personal information. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (through Section 44(3)), brought into force with the DPDP Rules on 14 November 2025, substituted the clause so it now reads simply as "information which relates to personal information." This removed the older "larger public interest" override and the proviso that information which cannot be denied to Parliament cannot be denied to a citizen. The government's position is that the public-interest balance still operates through the surviving Section 8(2), which lets a public authority disclose information where public interest outweighs the protected harm. The change has been criticised by transparency activists and is the subject of petitions before the Supreme Court, which has issued notice but declined to stay the amendment. Section 8(2) remains an important tool to argue for disclosure where personal information is involved.

RTI Fees and Exemptions

For Central Government public authorities, the application fee is Rs 10 under the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Additional charges for providing information are:

• Rs 2 per page (A4 or A3) for photocopies;
• Actual cost for larger-size paper, samples or models;
• Rs 50 per diskette or floppy for information in electronic form;
• For inspection of records: no fee for the first hour, and Rs 5 for each subsequent fifteen minutes (or fraction thereof) under the Central rules.

Applicants below the poverty line (BPL) pay no fee at all under Section 7(5), on production of a valid BPL/ration card. If the public authority misses the deadline, the information must be provided free of cost under Section 7(6).

State fees vary because each state frames its own rules under Section 27. Many states follow the Rs 10 figure, but some charge more — for example, Gujarat charges Rs 20, and the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli charge Rs 25. Always check your own state's current RTI Rules before filing, as fees and payment modes differ.

How to Pay the Fee

For Central Government bodies, the most common offline method is an Indian Postal Order (IPO) for Rs 10 payable to the "Accounts Officer" of the public authority. You can also pay by demand draft, banker's cheque, or cash against a receipt. Some states accept a court fee stamp (Maharashtra is a well-known example) or a treasury challan. For online filing, payment is by debit/credit card, net banking, or UPI.

Filing Online: The RTI Portals

The Central Government runs the RTI Online portal at rtionline.gov.in. It covers Central ministries, departments, the President's Secretariat, both Houses of Parliament, constitutional bodies and major Central PSUs. Crucially, you cannot use it for state public authorities — if you do, the application is returned without a refund.

For state matters, several states run their own portals — for example, Maharashtra (rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in) and Delhi (rtionline.delhi.gov.in). Many states still require offline filing by post or by hand. The Supreme Court of India runs its own RTI portal too. Where no state portal exists, file on plain paper by speed post and keep proof of dispatch.

How to Word Your RTI Application

There is no federally prescribed format — a plain paper application works. But how you word it determines whether you succeed. The single biggest reason RTIs are refused is that the applicant asks for an opinion or a "why" question instead of a record that exists. RTI gives you access to records, not explanations.

Tip: Instead of "Why is my pension delayed?", ask "Please provide the current status and copies of file notings on my pension application no. XYZ dated DD/MM/YYYY." Ask for status, certified copies, file-noting extracts, date-wise movement, and officer names. Limit each application to one subject and a handful of specific points.

Your application should include: your name and address for communication; a declaration that you are an Indian citizen; the specific information sought (numbered point-wise); the form you want it in (photocopy, certified copy, inspection, or email); fee details; and your signature. Add a line requesting transfer under Section 6(3) if part of the information is held elsewhere.

Timelines: How Long the Government Has

• 30 days — normal time limit for the Public Information Officer (PIO) to reply (Section 7(1)).
• 48 hours — where the information concerns the life or liberty of a person. State this clearly in the subject line with reasons.
• 35 days — if the application was filed through an Assistant PIO (APIO), who simply forwards it.
• 40 days — where third-party information is involved and notice under Section 11 is required.
• 45 days — for certain intelligence/security organisations on corruption or human-rights matters.

Time is counted in calendar days. If your application is transferred to the correct authority under Section 6(3), the 30-day clock runs from when the correct authority receives it.

The PIO System and Penalties

Every public authority designates a Public Information Officer (PIO) responsible for receiving and answering applications. Under Section 20, if a PIO without reasonable cause refuses an application, delays beyond the limit, gives incorrect or misleading information, or destroys records, the Information Commission can impose a penalty of Rs 250 per day of delay, capped at Rs 25,000, recovered from the PIO's salary. The Commission can also recommend disciplinary action. Note that courts have held that while imposing a penalty is mandatory where there is no reasonable cause, the exact amount is at the Commission's discretion.

If You Are Ignored: The Appeal Process

The RTI Act provides a two-stage appeal ladder:

• First Appeal: If you get no reply within the time limit, or are dissatisfied with the reply, file a First Appeal within 30 days to the First Appellate Authority (FAA) — an officer senior to the PIO within the same public authority. The FAA must decide within 30 days, extendable to 45 days with written reasons. No fee is charged for the first appeal in Central bodies.
• Second Appeal: If still dissatisfied, file a Second Appeal within 90 days to the Central Information Commission (CIC) for Central authorities, or the relevant State Information Commission (SIC) for state authorities. You can also approach the Commission if the FAA is silent.

When pleading before the Commission, you can specifically ask for a Section 20 penalty on the PIO and compensation under Section 19(8)(b). Beyond the Commission, the remedy lies in a writ petition before the High Court under Article 226.

Recent Developments You Should Know

The RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 changed how Information Commissioners are governed. Previously the parent Act fixed their tenure at five years with salaries pegged to the Election Commissioners. The amendment empowered the Central Government to set tenure, salary and service conditions through rules; the RTI Rules, 2019 fixed the tenure at three years (or age 65). This applies to both central and state commissioners, which critics argue affects the independence and federal balance of the system.

Implementation remains a real-world concern. As the Act marked 20 years in October 2025, more than 4 lakh appeals and complaints were pending before 29 Information Commissions as of 30 June 2025. On the positive side, the CIC reached its full sanctioned strength of 11 members for the first time since 2016, with a new Chief Information Commissioner and eight new Information Commissioners taking oath on 15 December 2025 — though its backlog still ran to tens of thousands of cases.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Asking for opinions, reasons or justifications rather than existing records;
• Filing with the wrong department (wastes the transfer period);
• Mixing many unrelated subjects in one application;
• Forgetting the fee or paying it in a mode the authority does not accept;
• Filing a state matter on the Central portal (it is returned without refund);
• Missing the 30-day or 90-day appeal windows.

If you have a complex matter — such as a sensitive appeal before an Information Commission — you may wish to consult an advocate who handles RTI and administrative law, or browse law firms in your area. You can also read our other legal guides for related topics.

Disclaimer

This guide is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws, rules and fees change and vary between states. For advice on your specific situation, please consult a qualified advocate. LegalFirms.in is a directory and does not provide legal representation.

Step-by-Step Process