RTI Act explanations — plain English by section

This is the master directory of plain-English explanations of every important section of the Right to Information Act, 2005, with the latest amendments from the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (in force from 14 November 2025) factored in. Each section page is written for citizens, not lawyers — direct, with examples, with how to use the section in your own RTI.

• §6(1) — Right to file. Every citizen of India can file. No need to give reasons.
• §6(2) — No reasons. The PIO cannot ask why you want the information.
• §6(3) — Transfer. If your application reaches the wrong office, the PIO must transfer it within 5 days to the right authority.

• §7(1) — 30 days to reply. 48 hours if life or liberty is at stake.
• §7(2) — Deemed refusal. If the PIO does not reply by Day 30, treat the silence as a refusal — file First Appeal under §19(1).
• §7(3) — Additional fee. PIO may demand photocopy / inspection charges before disclosure.
• §7(5) — BPL exemption. Below-Poverty-Line applicants pay zero.
• §7(6) — If PIO does not reply by Day 30 OR fee is not demanded by Day 30, info MUST be supplied free.

• §8(1)(a) — Sovereignty + integrity + security of state.
• §8(1)(b) — Court forbids.
• §8(1)© — Privilege of Parliament / State Legislature.
• §8(1)(d) — Commercial confidence + trade secret + IP.
• §8(1)(e) — Fiduciary relationship.
• §8(1)(f) — Foreign government info in confidence.
• §8(1)(g) — Would endanger life, source, or process.
• §8(1)(h) — Impeded process of investigation / prosecution.
• §8(1)(i) — Cabinet papers (with carve-out post-decision).
• §8(1)(j) — Personal information — proviso amended by DPDP §44(3); public-interest test now under §8(2).
• §8(2) — Public-interest override for §8(1) exemptions.
• §8(3) — Records older than 20 years cannot be denied even if §8(1) applies (with limited exception).
• §9 — Third-party copyright.

• §10(1) — Severability. If part of the info is exempt, the rest must be disclosed separately.
• §10(2) — Reasoned severance order. PIO must record why each portion is severed.
• §11 — Third-party consultation. If the info pertains to a third party, PIO must give them a 5-day notice + 10-day reply window before disclosing.

• §19(1) — First Appeal to the FAA, within 30 days of PIO refusal.
• §19(3) — Second Appeal to CIC / SIC, within 90 days of FAA refusal.
• §19(8)(b) — IC may award compensation for any loss / detriment suffered.

• §20(1) — IC may impose penalty on PIO of ₹250 per day (cap ₹25,000) for malafide refusal, delay, or false information.
• §20(2) — IC may recommend disciplinary action against the PIO.

We have a deeper page for each section at:

• §6 — Application procedure
• §7 — Reply timelines
• §8 — Exemptions
• §10 — Severability
• §11 — Third-party consultation
• §19 — Appeals
• §20 — Penalty

• Right to Information Act, 2005 — full text.
• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, §44(3) — amends §8(1)(j) proviso.
• DPDP Rules, 2025 — notified 14 November 2025.
• Landmark cases: see Important RTI decisions.

• RTI Act, 2005 — full annotated text
• Master directory of landmark RTI rulings
• Case-law database (300+)
• AI RTI Drafter
• First Appeal Builder

Last reviewed: 4 May 2026.