Direct answer: If you filed your RTI or first appeal without logging into your rtionline.gov.in user account, it will not appear in your account history. Your application is still valid — use “View Status” with your registration number (sent to your email/mobile) to track it.
The rtionline.gov.in portal allows filing without a user account, which many citizens prefer. But it creates confusion later — you log in expecting to find your filed RTIs, and find nothing. Your application exists; it is simply not linked to your account.
“If you have opted to file RTI or First Appeal directly i.e without logging into your user account, then in such cases you will not be able to see the filed RTI or Appeal in your registered account history.” — rtionline.gov.in FAQ Q16
Method 1 — Without account (guest filing): You fill the form directly from the “Submit Request” tab without logging in. You receive a registration number via email/SMS. This application is NOT linked to any user account — it lives independently in the system, visible only via View Status.
Method 2 — With account (logged-in filing): You log in first, then file. The application is linked to your account and appears in “View History” / account dashboard.
The portal FAQ Q11 confirms: “No. You can directly file your RTI on 'Submit Request' tab.” — no login required. But this means no account linkage.
No. There is no feature to retrospectively link a guest-filed RTI to a user account. Track it via View Status using the registration number.
No. The filing was not tied to any account at submission time. Even with a new account, the old guest-filed RTIs remain in separate guest records.
Portal records are retained for 3 years (RTI Online FAQ Q12). After that, View Status may not show the old application.
Email [email protected] with maximum details: your name, address, email used, the public authority, approximate date of filing, subject of the RTI. They will search manually. Response time is 3–5 working days.