₹10 Fee · 30 Days Reply · Any Govt Office
BPL card holders pay ZERO fee · Online filing is FREE at rtionline.gov.in
What is RTI?
The Right to Information Act 2005 is a law that gives every Indian citizen the right to request information from any public authority — from your local Gram Panchayat to the Prime Minister's Office. The government office must respond within 30 days.
You can use RTI to:
- Find out why your application was rejected (ration card, scheme, job)
- Get a copy of government documents, inspection reports, decisions
- Check the list of beneficiaries for any government scheme in your area
- Ask about the status of a road, building, or project in your village/city
- Question delays, missing funds, or unexplained decisions by any government office
- Get copies of government contracts, tenders, and spending records
RTI Fee — How Much?
- Central Government departments: ₹10 per application
- BPL (Below Poverty Line) card holders: ZERO fee — attach a copy of your BPL card
- State government departments: Fee varies by state — usually ₹10 to ₹50
- Online filing at rtionline.gov.in: ₹10, payable by net banking/UPI/debit card
- Additional pages: ₹2 per page for documents provided
✅ Online filing (rtionline.gov.in) is the easiest method — no postal order needed, no visit to office required, and you get instant acknowledgement with a registration number.
How to File RTI Online (Easiest Way)
- Go to rtionline.gov.in
This is the official portal for Central Government RTI applications. For state govt, search "[your state] RTI portal". - Click "Submit Request"
You don't need to create an account. Just enter your email and mobile number. - Select the Ministry/Department
Choose the central ministry your question relates to (e.g. Ministry of Agriculture for PM Kisan issues). - Write your request
Be specific. Instead of "give all information about PM Kisan", write "Please provide the list of beneficiaries selected under PM Kisan for Village [name], District [name] for the year 2023-24." - Pay ₹10 fee
Via net banking, UPI, debit/credit card, or Indian Postal Order. - Note your registration number
Use this to track your application status at rtionline.gov.in.
How to File RTI by Post/In Person
- Write your application on plain paper
No special form needed. Use our RTI Letter Generator → to create it automatically. - Address it to the Public Information Officer (PIO)
Every government office has a designated PIO. Write: "To, The Public Information Officer, [Department Name], [Address]". - Attach a ₹10 Indian Postal Order (IPO)
Buy it at any post office. Make it payable to the Accounts Officer of the department. BPL card holders attach a photocopy of BPL card instead. - Send by registered post or submit in person
If submitting in person, ask for a signed receipt with date and stamp. - Keep a copy of everything
Keep copy of your application, the postal receipt, and the IPO counterfoil.
Timeline — What Happens After Filing
Day 0
You submit your RTI application and pay ₹10 fee.
Day 1–5
Department receives application. If sent to wrong department, they must transfer it to the right one within 5 days.
Day 30
Deadline for reply. Department must provide information or give valid reasons for refusal. If life/liberty is at stake, reply must come in 48 hours.
No reply?
File First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority in the same department — free, within 30 days of deadline.
Still no reply?
File Second Appeal with Central/State Information Commission — free. They can impose penalty of ₹250/day (up to ₹25,000) on the PIO.
Tips for Writing a Good RTI
- Be specific: Ask for exact documents, dates, names, and amounts. Vague questions get vague answers.
- Ask for documents: Instead of asking "why", ask for "certified copies of the documents on which this decision was based."
- One subject per RTI: Keep each application focused on one issue for clearer responses.
- You don't need to give a reason: You are not required to explain why you want the information.
- Write in simple language: Hindi or English both work. Simple sentences are better.
- You can stay partially anonymous: You must provide a name and address (for the reply to be sent), but you can use just initials for your name.
Use our free RTI Letter Generator — fill in your details and get a ready-to-use letter in seconds.
📝 Generate RTI Letter Free →Official Source
All information on this page is sourced from the Right to Information Act 2005 and the official RTI portal of the Government of India.
rtionline.gov.in ↗ · Central Information Commission ↗
This page is for informational purposes only. MeraHaq is not affiliated with the Government of India or any ministry.