Every Indian citizen has the legal right to ask a government office for information — how a scheme was implemented, why a road wasn't built, or why a pension claim is stuck. This right comes from the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, and you don't need a lawyer or an office visit to use it. This guide explains how to file an RTI online in 2026, what it costs, how long the reply takes, and what to do if you don't get an answer.
What Is the RTI Act, 2005?
The RTI Act gives every citizen the right to request information held by any "public authority" — central and state government departments, ministries, PSUs, municipal bodies, government-aided schools and colleges, and other bodies that are substantially funded by the government. Each public authority must appoint a Public Information Officer (PIO) whose job is to respond to RTI requests within a fixed legal deadline.
Who Can File an RTI Application?
- ●Any citizen of India (foreign nationals and companies cannot file RTI directly)
- ●No minimum age — even students can file
- ●You do not need to give a reason for asking the information
- ●You can file in English, Hindi, or the official language of the area
Information You Need Before Filing
- ●The exact Ministry, Department, or Public Authority the information relates to
- ●A clear, specific question — vague requests are more likely to be rejected or delayed
- ●Your name, complete postal address, mobile number, and email ID
- ●BPL certificate copy (only if you are claiming a fee exemption)
- ●Any supporting document you want to attach, saved as a PDF under 1 MB
How to File an RTI Online (Step-by-Step)
- 1Go to the official portal at https://rtionline.gov.in — this covers Central Government Ministries, Departments, and Public Authorities only
- 2On the homepage, click "Submit Request"
- 3Read the guidelines page and tick the checkbox "I have read and understood the above guidelines...", then click "Submit"
- 4Select the concerned Ministry/Department/Apex Body from the dropdown, then select the specific Public Authority under it
- 5Fill in your personal details: Name, Gender, Address, State, District, Pincode, Mobile Number, and Email ID
- 6Type your question in the box labelled "Text for RTI Application for Ministry/Department/Apex Body" (limited to about 3,000 characters)
- 7If needed, attach a supporting PDF file (maximum 1 MB) using the "Choose File" / attachment option
- 8Enter the security code shown on screen and click "Submit"
- 9You will be redirected to the payment page — click "Make Payment" and pay the ₹10 fee via net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI
- 10After successful payment, note down the Registration Number shown on the confirmation page — this is your tracking ID
Save or screenshot your Registration Number immediately after payment. You can check your application status anytime on rtionline.gov.in under "View Status" using this number and your email ID.
RTI Application Fee 2026
| Application fee (Central Government) | ₹10 |
| BPL (Below Poverty Line) applicants | Free — attach BPL certificate copy |
| Additional photocopies of records provided | ₹2 per A4/A3 page |
| Information provided on CD/floppy/digital media | ₹50 per item |
| First Appeal | No fee |
| Second Appeal to the Information Commission | No fee |
State government departments are usually NOT covered by rtionline.gov.in. Most states run a separate state RTI portal (or accept applications only offline, by post or in person) with their own fee — check your state's portal before assuming the ₹10 central fee applies.
What Happens After You Submit
Once your application is registered, the Public Information Officer must respond within 30 days. If the request concerns a threat to a person's life or liberty, the reply must come within 48 hours. If your request involves information about a third party, the deadline extends to 40 days to allow that party a chance to respond. If the PIO misses the deadline, you are entitled to receive the information free of cost, including any copying charges.
First Appeal — If You Don't Get a Reply
If the 30-day deadline passes with no reply, or you are unsatisfied with the answer given, you can file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) of the same public authority.
- 1Go to https://rtionline.gov.in and click "Submit First Appeal"
- 2Enter the Registration Number of your original RTI application
- 3State your reason for appeal (no reply received / incomplete or unsatisfactory information / information denied)
- 4Attach any supporting document if needed and submit — there is no fee for a First Appeal
- 5The Appellate Authority must dispose of the appeal within 30 days, extendable to 45 days with recorded reasons
Second Appeal to the Information Commission
If the First Appeal also fails to get you a satisfactory response, you can file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) at https://cic.gov.in for central authorities, or your State Information Commission for state matters. This must be filed within 90 days of the First Appeal decision (or the date it should have been decided). The Commission can also impose a penalty of ₹250 per day of delay on the PIO, up to a maximum of ₹25,000, for unreasonable delay or refusal without valid grounds.
| PIO reply deadline | 30 days (48 hours for life/liberty cases) |
| First Appeal filing window | Within 30 days of reply/deadline |
| First Appeal disposal time | 30 days (max 45 with reasons) |
| Second Appeal (to CIC/SIC) filing window | Within 90 days of First Appeal order |
| Penalty on PIO for unjustified delay | ₹250/day, up to ₹25,000 |
RTI has been used successfully by citizens to track pending pension payments, question delays in road or drainage work, and get clarity on scheme eligibility rejections. A specific, well-worded question gets a far better response than a broad or vague one.
Offline Alternative: Filing RTI by Post
If you don't have internet access or the concerned department is a state body without an online portal, you can still file offline. Write your application on plain paper addressed to the PIO of the concerned department, attach a ₹10 fee (as a court fee stamp, postal order, or demand draft depending on the state's accepted mode), and send it by registered post or submit it in person at the department's office, collecting an acknowledgement receipt.
State RTI Portals vs the Central Portal
A common mistake is assuming rtionline.gov.in works for every government office in India. It only covers Central Government Ministries, Departments, and Public Authorities. For state government departments, municipal corporations, state PSUs, and state-run schools or hospitals, check whether your state has launched its own RTI portal (several states now have one), or file offline with the state's Public Information Officer.
Common Mistakes That Get RTI Applications Rejected or Delayed
- ●Asking multiple unrelated questions in a single application spanning different departments
- ●Asking for an opinion, explanation, or justification instead of a factual record (RTI covers existing information, not "why did you decide...")
- ●Filing with the wrong Public Authority or Ministry
- ●Forgetting to pay the fee, which leaves the application incomplete
- ●Not keeping the Registration Number, making it hard to track status or file an appeal
Helpline & Support
For technical issues with the RTI Online Portal, contact the helpdesk at 011-24010690 / 011-24010691 (9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays) or email helprtionline-dopt@nic.in. For questions about a specific department's process, contact that department's Public Information Officer directly.