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How to File RTI

Updated on Wednesday, 12 February 2025 - 2:39pm

How to File an RTI Application

RTI stands for Right to Information Act. RTI Act was passed by Parliament of India on 15-06-2005. It came into force with effect from 12-10-2005. The main objective of RTI Act is to bring transparency and accountability in government work and empower citizens of India to access government information. RTI Act provides right to every citizen to seek information from central or state public authorities, which makes government more citizen centric, efficient and answerable to public.

Process to File Application under Right to Information Act 2005

  • Citizens of India can get any available information from government public authorities by filing an application under Right to Information Act 2005.
  • Citizens can opt any method to file RTI Application between Online and Offline.
  • But to save time and resource we recommend to file RTI Application through RTI Online Portal of Central Government.
  • Below are both the process mentioned about how to file RTI Application in any government department to seek information.

Through RTI Online Portal

  • Government of India has dedicated RTI Online Portal in which citizens of India can file RTI Applications Online in any Central Government's Department.
    Online RTI Form
  • Visit the RTI Online Portal and Select Submit Request.
  • A 21 point guidelines for use of RTI Online Portal will appear. Applicant will have to tick on check box "I have read and understood the above guidelines" after carefully reading it and click on submit.
  • An Online RTI Application Form will appear in which Applicant will have to select the Ministry/ Department/ Apex Body of Central Government from the drop down list.
  • After that, Applicant will have to choose the Public Authority from which he/ she are wants to seek information.
  • To save time, it is advisable to choose Ministry/ Department and Public Authority carefully.
  • Applicant will have to then fill the following personal details in RTI Application :-
    • Email ID.
    • Mobile Number.
    • Confirm Email ID.
    • Name.
    • Gender.
    • Address.
    • Pin Code.
    • Country.
    • State.
    • Status. (Rural or Urban)
    • Education Status. (Literate/ Illiterate)
    • Phone Number. (If Any)
    • Citizenship. (Only Indian Citizens are Eligible to File)
  • Is the Applicant Below Poverty Line. (Yes/ No, BPL Applicant are exempted from Application Fees)
  • After filling all the personal information an Text Area of 3000 characters for RTI Request Application will appear in which Application will have to mention the sought information in proper format which are easily understandable.
  • There is also facility to upload supporting documents in support of RTI Application or if the RTI Application of an Application is too lengthy then they can also upload it additionally.
  • Fill the Captcha Code and Click on Submit Button.
  • Portal will redirect the Applicant to Payment page in which normal category applicant will have to pay a fees of Rs. 10/- and if Applicant belongs to BPL Category then they are exempted. Mentioning BPL Card No. and uploading it is mandatory.
  • Once the payment got successful, the RTI Application of Applicant will be submitted in the concerned Ministry/ Department.
  • RTI Online Portal will generate an Registration Number which can be used to check the Status of RTI Application.
    RTI Status

Through Offline RTI Application

  • Filing RTI in government public authority through Offline RTI Application is tricky one.
  • First Applicant will have to draft an RTI Application on plain paper.
  • To pay application fees, Applicant will have to purchase Indian Postal Order of Rs. 10/- from nearest Post Office.
    Offline RTI Application
  • Fill the Name of Payee (Public Authority) and Payer (Applicant)
  • Attach it with RTI Application Form.
  • Now send it via speed post, registry or private courier to the office of public authority.
  • The Cons of filling RTI through Offline Application are :- "Time Consuming", "Additional Cost of Postal Cost", "Delay or Lost of Application in Transit" or "No Facility to Track RTI Request".
  • So it is advisable to use Online Portal of RTI to submit RTI Application in more efficient way.

RTI Application Fees

  • Applicant will have to pay the following charges/ application fees at the time of filing RTI Applications :-
    Sr. No. Stage Fees/ Charges
    1 RTI Application (General Category) Rs. 10/-.
    2 RTI Application. (BPL Category) Exempted. (No Application Fees)
    3 First Appeal Free of Cost. (No Fees)
    4 Second Appeal to CIC Free of Cost. (No Fees)

Processing Time of RTI Application

  • Generally public authority is bound to provide the sought information within 30 days of receiving the RTI request.
  • But if RTI Application is related to Life and Death then sought information will be provided within 48 hours.

What to do if Sought Information is Not Satisfactory or Not Received within 30 Days

  • In most of the cases, Applicant didn't received the sought information within 30 days of filing the RTI.
  • And in some cases the sought information is not satisfactory in nature.
  • In that case Applicant can file First Appeal within 30 days of receiving the RTI response or after 30 days if no response is received.
  • And if First Appellate Authority didn't order in favour then Applicant can file Second Appeal in Central Information Commission.

Online RTI Portals of State Governments

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