How to Calculate Additional Fee under RTI

Use this guide whenever a request involves more than a handful of pages, inspection of files, electronic media, large-format drawings, or specially printed registers. Common situations: copies of tender file (50+ pages), inspection of mutation register, copy of digital recordings, photocopy of bound register, printout of large CCTV stills.

• RTI Act 2005, Section 6(1): prescribed application fee.
• Section 7(3): further fee on cost intimation; time between intimation and payment is excluded from the 30-day clock.
• Section 7(5): BPL exemption; no fee for inspection or copies for BPL applicants.
• Section 7(6): free if PIO does not respond within the time limit.
• RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules 2012 for central authorities; equivalent state rules for state authorities.

The Department of Personnel and Training has issued Office Memoranda fixing the per-page rate and inspection rate for central authorities. Most states have notified mirror rates. Always check the latest state rule because variations exist.

A PIO should follow this sequence to calculate and intimate the additional fee.

1. Identify the form of supply. Photocopy / certified copy / electronic file / inspection / sample / printout of large register.
2. Count the pages or units. A4 page = one unit; A3 = two units; large-format drawing = special rate.
3. Apply the rate.
   • Central authorities: Rs 2 per A4 page; Rs 50 per CD or DVD; Rs 5 per fifteen minutes of inspection beyond the first hour; actual cost for samples or large-format printouts.
   • State authorities: equivalent rates in state RTI Rules; check before quoting.
4. Check BPL status. If the applicant has produced a BPL certificate, the fee is zero under Section 7(5).
5. Apply Section 7(6). If the PIO has missed the 30-day deadline, the information is to be supplied free.
6. Issue the cost intimation letter. Inform the applicant of the amount, mode of payment, account head and last date of payment.
7. Record in the noting. Date of intimation, mode of dispatch, amount, last date.
8. Wait for payment. Time between intimation and payment is excluded from the 30-day clock. After payment, dispatch the certified copies promptly.

Sample cost intimation letter under Section 7(3).

File no. RTI/[Year]/[Section]/[Serial]
Office of [Public Authority]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

To,
[Applicant name and address]

Sub: Cost intimation under Section 7(3) of the RTI Act, 2005, for your application dated [date]

Sir / Madam,

With reference to your RTI application dated [date], the information sought has been collated. The certified copies / inspection charges as applicable are calculated as below.

(a) Certified copies of [number] A4 pages at Rs 2 per page: Rs [amount]
(b) Certified copies of [number] A3 pages at Rs 4 per page: Rs [amount]
(c) Inspection of files, beyond the first free hour, [number] of fifteen-minute slots at Rs 5 per slot: Rs [amount]
(d) CD / DVD of digital records: Rs [amount]
(e) Special printing of large-format drawing [number] sheets at actual cost of Rs [amount]

Total: Rs [amount].

You are requested to pay the above by [Indian Postal Order / Demand Draft / online challan] in favour of [accounts officer] within [number, typically 30] days from the date of receipt of this letter.

The time taken in remittance of the above fee is excluded from the 30-day reply timeline under Section 7(3).

Yours faithfully,
[PIO Signature]
[Name, designation, telephone, email]

• Verbal intimation. Section 7(3) requires written intimation. Verbal communication does not pause the clock.
• Charging for the first hour of inspection. First hour is free. Charges start in the second hour and run per fifteen minutes.
• Charging BPL applicants. Section 7(5) bars any fee for BPL applicants who have produced the certificate.
• Not noting “actual cost”. For large-format prints or certified microfilm, “actual cost” must be supported by a quotation or invoice.
• Charging for searching. RTI Rules do not allow a search fee or a labour fee. The fee is for the deliverables and inspection.
• Mixing IPO and DD limits. IPO works up to a fixed face value (typically Rs 100 per IPO; verify current limit); for larger amounts, suggest DD or online challan.
• No record of receipt of payment. Always record the receipt number, date and mode in the noting.

• First Appeal under Section 19(1) if applicant disputes the cost.
• Section 7(6) free supply if the PIO missed the deadline.
• CIC second appeal under Section 19(3) for systemic over-charging.
• Refund of excess fee where applicant has paid more than required, on receipt request.

Central rules: Rs 50 per disk. State rules vary; check the local notification.

First hour is free; thereafter Rs 5 per fifteen minutes (central; state may differ).

Most states have notified rates for electronic media; where not notified, charge actual cost (eg cost of USB stick) and send by email at no extra cost.

No. IPO, DD, court fee stamp, online challan and cash (where the office accepts) are all valid for central authorities. State rules may restrict.

Send a deficiency intimation. The clock pauses on the deficiency intimation and resumes on the corrected payment.

A current BPL certificate from the competent authority is enough. Some states accept the AAY card or NFSA Antyodaya entry as well.

Yes, once disclosed, the noting pages count like any other certified pages.

• RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules 2012: cic.gov.in
• DoP&T Office Memoranda on RTI fee: dopt.gov.in
• State RTI Rules, refer to the relevant state RTI authority website
• Central Information Commission: cic.gov.in
• RTI Online: rtionline.gov.in

Last reviewed: 9 May 2026.

• AI RTI Drafter for inbound applicants.
• Guide hub
• PIO reply after DPDP
• Section 8(1)(j) checklist
• Section 10 severability
• Section 11 third-party notice
• Vague or voluminous RTI
• PIO file noting format

Additional fee calculation under the RTI Act — complete guide on how PIOs calculate fees and charges:

1. Step 1: The basic RTI fee. (a) the RTI Act, 2005 and the Central RTI Rules, 2012 prescribe the fee for filing an RTI application — and the additional fee for providing information — the fee structure is: (i) application fee: Rs 10 (for the central government — and most states — payable by court-fee stamp, IPO, cash, or online), (ii) BPL category: free (BPL citizens — with BPL proof — can file RTI without any fee — under the Central RTI Rules — and most state rules), (iii) some states have different fees: e.g., Tamil Nadu Rs 50, Maharashtra Rs 20, Karnataka Rs 10, UP Rs 10 — check the state's RTI rules — for the exact fee.
2. Step 2: Additional fee for providing information. (a) under Rule 4 of the Central RTI Rules, 2012 — the PIO can charge additional fee — for providing information — based on: (i) photocopy: Rs 2 per page (A4 or A3 size — for each page — created or copied), (ii) printout: Rs 2 per page (for a printout — from a computer — or a server), (iii) diskette or floppy: Rs 50 per diskette (for information in electronic form — on a diskette — or floppy — though these are obsolete now), (iv) CD: Rs 50 per CD (for information on a CD — or DVD), (v) sample: actual cost (for a sample — or a model — the actual cost — of the sample), (vi) inspection: Rs 5 per hour (for inspection of records — after the first hour — the first hour is free — and subsequent hours are Rs 5 per hour — or Rs 10 per hour — depending on the rules), (vii) postal charges: actual cost (for sending the information — by post — or courier — the actual postal charge), (b) the PIO must: (i) calculate the fee (based on the number of pages — and the format — and the postage), (ii) send a fee intimation (under Rule 4(2) — the PIO must send a fee intimation — to the applicant — with the calculation — and the amount — and the timeline — for payment — and the applicant must pay within the stipulated timeline — or the application is deemed withdrawn).
3. Step 3: Rule 4(2) — fee intimation. (a) the PIO must send a fee intimation (under Rule 4(2) — within the 30-day response period — or the 48-hour period — for life and liberty), (b) the fee intimation must include: (i) the calculation (the number of pages — and the rate — and the total), (ii) the format (photocopy, printout, CD, etc.), (iii) the postage (actual cost — for the postal charge), (iv) the timeline (the applicant must pay within the stipulated timeline — which is usually 7-30 days — depending on the rules), © the applicant must pay (within the stipulated timeline — and the PIO must provide the information — within the 30-day period — or the 48-hour period — after the payment), (d) if the applicant does not pay (the application is deemed withdrawn — under Rule 4(3) — and the PIO is not required to provide the information — but the applicant can file a fresh application — or an appeal).
4. Step 4: Common fee calculation issues. (a) excessive fee: the PIO charges more than the prescribed rate — e.g., Rs 5 per page instead of Rs 2 — or charges for the first hour of inspection — which should be free — the applicant should: (i) check the RTI Rules (for the prescribed rate), (ii) file a first appeal (against the excessive fee — and demand the correct calculation), (b) fee for exempt information: the PIO charges for information that is exempt — under Section 8 or 9 — the applicant should: (i) check the exemption (whether the information is genuinely exempt), (ii) file a first appeal (if the information is not exempt — and the PIO is overcharging), © fee intimation not sent: the PIO does not send the fee intimation — and does not provide the information — the applicant should: (i) file a first appeal (for non-response — and for the fee intimation), (ii) file a second appeal (with the CIC/SIC — if the FAA does not respond), (d) deemed withdrawal: the PIO claims the application is deemed withdrawn — because the applicant did not pay the fee — but the fee intimation was not sent — or the timeline was too short — the applicant should: (i) file a first appeal (challenging the deemed withdrawal — and the fee intimation), (ii) file a second appeal (if the FAA does not respond), (e) fee for electronic format: the PIO charges for a CD — when the applicant requested an e-mail — which should be free — or the actual cost — the applicant should: (i) request the electronic format (e-mail — which is free — under most rules), (ii) file a first appeal (if the PIO charges for the e-mail).
5. Step 5: Sample fee calculation. (a) Example 1 — photocopy: the applicant seeks 50 pages of information — the fee is: (i) application fee: Rs 10, (ii) photocopy: 50 pages x Rs 2 = Rs 100, (iii) postage: Rs 40 (registered post), (iv) total additional fee: Rs 140, (v) the PIO sends a fee intimation — for Rs 140 — and the applicant pays — and the PIO provides the 50 pages, (b) Example 2 — CD: the applicant seeks a database — in CD format — the fee is: (i) application fee: Rs 10, (ii) CD: Rs 50, (iii) postage: Rs 40, (iv) total additional fee: Rs 90, © Example 3 — inspection: the applicant seeks to inspect records — for 3 hours — the fee is: (i) application fee: Rs 10, (ii) inspection: first hour free — next 2 hours x Rs 5 = Rs 10, (iii) total additional fee: Rs 10, (d) Example 4 — BPL: the applicant is a BPL citizen — and seeks 30 pages — the fee is: (i) application fee: free (BPL), (ii) photocopy: free (BPL — under most rules), (iii) postage: Rs 40 (actual cost — or free — depending on the rules), (iv) total additional fee: Rs 0 — or Rs 40.
6. Step 6: File RTI on fee calculation. File RTI with the public authority asking for: (a) the fee calculation: “Provide the fee calculation — for my RTI application — number [number] — filed on [date] — including: (i) the number of pages, (ii) the rate per page, (iii) the format (photocopy, CD, etc.), (iv) the postage, (v) the total additional fee — and the basis — and the RTI Rule — under which the fee was calculated”, (b) the fee policy: “Provide the fee policy of [public authority] — under the RTI Act — including: (i) the application fee, (ii) the photocopy rate, (iii) the CD rate, (iv) the inspection rate, (v) the postage policy, (vi) the BPL waiver — and the RTI Rule — under which the policy is framed”, © the fee collection: “Provide the total fee collected by [public authority] — under the RTI Act — for the year [year] — including: (i) the application fee, (ii) the additional fee, (iii) the total amount — and the utilization — and the audit report”.
7. Step 7: Practical tips. (a) check the RTI Rules (before filing — check the Central RTI Rules, 2012 — or the state's RTI rules — for the prescribed fee — and the additional fee), (b) request e-mail (to avoid the photocopy and postage fee — request the information by e-mail — which is free — or at a nominal cost), © pay within the timeline (if the PIO sends a fee intimation — pay within the stipulated timeline — to avoid deemed withdrawal), (d) file a first appeal (if the fee is excessive — or the fee intimation is not sent — or the information is not provided — after the payment), (e) BPL citizens file free (with BPL proof — the application fee — and the additional fee — are waived — under most rules), (f) Example: A citizen sought 100 pages — and the PIO charged Rs 500 (at Rs 5 per page) — the citizen checked the RTI Rules — and found the rate was Rs 2 per page — the citizen filed a first appeal — the FAA held that the PIO had overcharged — and directed the PIO to recalculate — at Rs 2 per page — and to refund the excess — the citizen got the refund — and the information — at the correct rate.

See Additional Fee Calculation and RTI Act Complete Guide.