Fundamental RTI Facts Every Applicant Should Know

You are filing your first RTI and want a quick checklist of the rules that govern the entire process. This page is a checklist, not a primer - for a full explainer, see the applicant guide or the Act summary.

Section 3 confers the right on every citizen of India. Companies, societies, foreign nationals, and NRIs (in their NRI status) do not have the right in their own name. The standard workaround is to file through a citizen-shareholder or citizen-employee.

Section 6(2) expressly bars the PIO from asking why you want the information. The application's prayer states what is sought; it does not have to state why.

Section 2(f) defines information as records in any form (including electronic). The Supreme Court in CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011) 8 SCC 497 held that the PIO is not required to:

• Create a new record.
• Compile data not already compiled.
• Answer an opinion question or a hypothetical.

Phrase your request as “a copy of [specific record]”, not “tell me whether…”.

Section 7(1) sets a 30-day deadline from the date of receipt by the PIO. APIO route adds 5 days; Section 6(3) transfer resets the clock from receipt at the correct authority. Third-party hearing case: 40 days under Section 11(3).

The proviso to Section 7(1) sets a 48-hour window where the information concerns the life or liberty of a person. Examples: location of an undertrial, status of a custodial death enquiry, hospital admission record of a missing person. State this prominently in the subject line and the prayer.

Section 8(1) lists ten grounds of exemption - clauses (a) through (j). The most-litigated are:

• 8(1)(a): national security, sovereignty, scientific or strategic interest.
• 8(1)(d): commercial confidence, trade secrets, intellectual property.
• 8(1)(e): fiduciary relationship.
• 8(1)(g): information that would endanger a person's life or physical safety.
• 8(1)(h): information that would impede investigation, apprehension, or prosecution.
• 8(1)(j): personal information - fundamentally rewritten by the DPDP Act, 2023, in force from 14 November 2025.

For a plain-language note, see grounds for rejection.

Section 10 requires the PIO to release the non-exempt part of a record where part is exempt and part is not. The PIO must record reasons in writing and identify the severed parts. A blanket refusal of the entire file is illegal where severability is feasible.

• First appeal under Section 19(1): to the FAA, within 30 days, decided in 30-45 days.
• Second appeal under Section 19(3): to the Information Commission, within 90 days.

Both must be filed in time. Late appeals can be condoned only on a written application showing sufficient cause.

The Information Commission shall impose a penalty of Rs 250 per day of delay, capped at Rs 25,000, on the PIO who without reasonable cause delayed, refused, gave wrong information, or destroyed records. Only the Commission can impose this penalty - the FAA cannot.

The Commission (and the FAA) can order compensation to the appellant for loss or detriment. No statutory cap. Paid by the public authority, not the PIO personally. See penalty and compensation.

A complaint under Section 18 is different from a second appeal. A complaint challenges the conduct of the PIO (refused to accept the application, demanded a reason, gave misleading information). A second appeal challenges the decision. You can file both together.

• Centre: Rs 10 application fee, Rs 2 per A4 page for copies, Rs 5 per 15 minutes after the first hour for inspection, Rs 50 per CD/diskette.
• States: Rs 10 to Rs 50 application fee, photocopy Rs 2 to Rs 5.
• BPL: Free under Section 7(5).
• Delay past 30 days: Free under Section 7(6).

Section 4(1)(b) requires every public authority to proactively publish 17 categories of information on its website - organisational structure, powers and duties, decision-making processes, budgets, subsidies, recipients of concessions, particulars of officers, the PIO's name, etc. Most departments are non-compliant. You can ask under RTI for any of the 17 items if not published.

Section 24 lists 25 intelligence and security organisations (e.g., Intelligence Bureau, RAW, NTRO) where the RTI Act does not apply - except for information on allegations of corruption and human rights violations, which is still disclosable. The Schedule lists the agencies; State Governments can add their own State agencies.

• Central Information Commission: cic.gov.in - final appellate body for Central public authorities.
• State Information Commission: one in each State, named differently (e.g., “Maharashtra State Information Commission”).
• Headed by a Chief Information Commissioner; up to 10 Information Commissioners in each.
• Powers of a civil court for evidence and witnesses.
• Decisions are binding; only writ jurisdiction of the High Court lies thereafter.

The right to information has been read into Article 19(1)(a) (freedom of speech and expression) by the Supreme Court since SP Gupta v. Union of India (1981). The RTI Act, 2005 is the statutory framework that operationalises this fundamental right.

No, except where the private body is “substantially financed” by the government and falls under the Section 2(h) definition of public authority. Examples: certain aided colleges, certain co-operative societies. See what is a public authority.

30 days, extendable to 45 with written reasons (Section 19(6)). After 45 days, move directly to the Commission.

Filing in multiple offices is wasteful but not illegal. Pick the right one (the office that holds the record) and trust Section 6(3) for transfers.

The Act is silent. Most PIOs reply on letterhead with the office stamp. Hand-written replies are valid but rare.

Section 5(2) allows public authorities to designate Assistant PIOs in sub-offices to receive RTI applications and forward them to the PIO. The APIO is a post-office, not a decision-maker. The applicant gets 5 extra days because of the APIO route.

Yes. Section 6(1) allows English, Hindi, or the official language of the area. The PIO must reply in the same language.

Yes. Certified copies typically cost Rs 5 to Rs 10 per page (State-dependent). Use them where the document is needed for litigation or formal record.

State Rules library on this site, or the State Information Commission's website.

Use the AI RTI Drafter. Free, no login.

• Guide hub
• Guide for applicants
• How to file an RTI under Section 6
• Fill the form, line by line
• When the reply is free
• Penalty + compensation
• First appeal
• Second appeal
• RTI time limits
• Grounds for rejection
• Section-by-section Act summary

1. Right to Information Act, 2005 - Sections 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 18, 19, 20, 24.
2. CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay, (2011) 8 SCC 497.
3. DoPT Master Circular on RTI.
4. cic.gov.in - Central Information Commission.

Last reviewed: 9 May 2026.

Many RTIs are filed because a government scheme or document is delayed. Before filing, check the status directly:

• PMAY beneficiary status
• NREGA / MGNREGA job card and payment status
• Ration card status
• PM-KISAN Rs 6,000 status
• e-Shram card status

If a status is stuck beyond the official timeline, use the AI RTI Drafter to file in minutes.