Table of Contents
RTI Fees by State and Online Portal Directory (2026)
Quick Reply: The 2026 state-by-state RTI fee and online portal directory for India. Every state and UT's fee amount, payment mode, direct filing link, and status.
Need help drafting this RTI? Use our free RTI Assistant — describe your problem, get a ready-to-file Section 6(1) application with your name and address pre-filled. Also handles First Appeal and Second Appeal to the CIC/SIC.
The Central RTI fee is Rs 10 (rtionline.gov.in), and in most states the application fee is also Rs 10 — including Maharashtra, whose short-lived June 2026 hike was rolled back on 7 July 2026. Gujarat charges Rs 20. BPL applicants are fully fee-exempt. Additional copy fees are typically Rs 2 a page. Fee can be paid online, by IPO, by postal order, or in cash at the authority.
Fee amounts for Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Maharashtra verified against state primary sources (SIC sites, state portals, gazette notifications) on 26 August 2026. See the linked state fee pages for payment modes and appeal fees.
In one line: The Central Government fee is Rs 10 via rtionline.gov.in. Most States charge Rs 10; Gujarat charges Rs 20. BPL applicants pay nothing under Section 7(5) of the RTI Act, 2005. Of 28 States and 8 UTs, 10 have a working online portal; the rest are postal-only or unreliable. The authoritative direct-filing link for each appears in the table below.
Did you know? Every State Government frames its own RTI fee and format rules under Section 27 of the Act. A fee higher than Rs 10 can be charged only if supported by an existing State notification. If a department asks for more than Rs 10 without basis, that is a Section 19 appealable ground. See our 6 rejection reasons and fixes page.
Central Government
| Item | Fee | Mode of payment | Direct filing link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central RTI (Ministries, Departments, PSUs, Union-list subjects) | Rs 10 (BPL: nil) | UPI, card, net banking, IPO, DD, Banker's Cheque | rtionline.gov.in |
| RTI Rules | - | - | All RTI rules on this site |
| Additional-information copies | Rs 2 per A4 page | Online / DD / cash on collection | - |
| Diskette or CD | Rs 50 | - | - |
| Inspection first hour | Free | - | - |
| Inspection subsequent hour | Rs 5 per hour | - | Inspection guide |
State Governments
| State | Fee | Online portal (direct filing) | Status August 2026 | Detail on this site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Rs 10 | sic.ap.gov.in | SIC-side | Andhra Pradesh |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Assam | Rs 10 | rtionline.assam.gov.in | Working | Assam |
| Bihar | Rs 10 | birtips.bihar.gov.in | Partial (few depts onboarded) | Bihar |
| Chhattisgarh | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Chhattisgarh |
| Delhi | Rs 10 | rtionline.delhi.gov.in | Working | Delhi |
| Goa | Rs 10 | rtionline.goa.gov.in | Working | Goa |
| Gujarat | Rs 20 | onlinerti.gujarat.gov.in | Working | Gujarat |
| Haryana | Rs 10 | cmoffice.haryana.gov.in/rti | Partial (CM's office route) | Haryana |
| Himachal Pradesh | Rs 10 | onlinerti.hp.gov.in | Working | Himachal Pradesh |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Jharkhand | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Jharkhand |
| Karnataka | Rs 10 | rtionline.karnataka.gov.in | Working (UPI) | Karnataka |
| Kerala | Rs 10 | CIC State IC directory (Kerala portal down) | Portal down — postal only (Jul 2026) | Kerala |
| Ladakh | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Ladakh |
| Madhya Pradesh | Rs 10 | rtionline.mp.gov.in | Intermittent | Madhya Pradesh |
| Maharashtra | Rs 10 | rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in | Working | Maharashtra |
| Manipur | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Manipur |
| Meghalaya | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Meghalaya |
| Mizoram | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Mizoram |
| Nagaland | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Nagaland |
| Odisha | Rs 10 | rtiodisha.gov.in | Working | Odisha |
| Punjab | Rs 10 | rtionline.punjab.gov.in | Working (routing patchy) | Punjab |
| Rajasthan | Rs 10 | rti.rajasthan.gov.in | SIC-side only | Rajasthan |
| Sikkim | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Sikkim |
| Tamil Nadu | Rs 10 | CIC State IC directory (TN portal down) | Portal down — postal only (Jul 2026) | Tamil Nadu |
| Telangana | Rs 10 | tsic.telangana.gov.in | SIC-side | Telangana |
| Tripura | Rs 10 | rti.tripura.gov.in | SIC-side | Tripura |
| Uttar Pradesh | Rs 10 | upsic.up.gov.in | Working (appeals online-only since 17-06-2026) | Uttar Pradesh |
| Uttarakhand | Rs 10 | rtionline.uk.gov.in | Working | Uttarakhand |
| West Bengal | Rs 10 | rti.wbic.in | SIC-side | West Bengal |
Union Territories
| Union Territory | Fee | Online portal | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chandigarh | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post |
| Lakshadweep | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post |
| Puducherry | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post |
BPL and fee waiver
Below Poverty Line (BPL) applicants pay no fee at any stage under Section 7(5) of the Act. Attach a copy of your BPL card or ration card with the application. States and UTs must respect this at parity with the Central Rules.
The two-channel rule
For any State RTI that matters, file simultaneously:
- Online on the State portal (link in the table), AND
- Speed Post with Rs 10 IPO to the PIO's address.
The portal gives you a digital receipt and SMS alerts. The Speed Post gives you a physical proof of filing that Information Commissions accept. Both costs together: Rs 10 for the fee, Rs 30 for Speed Post. Total Rs 40 for insurance that your RTI reaches the PIO.
Common mistakes
- Paying higher fees without asking why. Demand the notification that supports the higher amount.
- Filing through an unreliable portal only. Always post a parallel Speed Post.
- Not specifying BPL status if eligible. Attach the BPL card copy upfront; do not wait to be asked.
- Using Indian Postal Order made out to the wrong payee. Payee is “Accounts Officer, [department name]” unless the department's own rule says otherwise.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay by UPI?
Yes on rtionline.gov.in and on most modern State portals (Karnataka, Kerala, Delhi, Maharashtra). For postal filing and older State portals, use Indian Postal Order (IPO), Demand Draft, or Banker's Cheque from a nationalised bank.
What if the PIO refuses my IPO?
Rule 3 of the Central RTI Fee Rules and the State rules list accepted payment modes. IPO is universally accepted for Central matters. For State matters, check the State's notification. Refusal to accept a valid IPO is a Section 19 first-appeal ground.
Are fees the same for first and second appeals?
The Central RTI Act does not prescribe a filing fee for appeals, and the CIC charges none. Some states do: Maharashtra charges Rs 20 for each appeal under its July 2026 rules, and Bihar Rs 10 per appeal; Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu prescribe no appeal fee. Check the SIC's own rules before filing.
Can I file RTI in regional language?
Yes. Section 6 allows the official language of the State, Hindi, or English. The PIO has a duty to assist applicants who cannot write in the required language.
Which State portal is most reliable in 2026?
Kerala (Kerala portal currently unavailable — see CIC State IC directory) formerly had SMS alerts and strong routing. Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Odisha follow. See the State RTI Portals Directory
- State RTI Portal Rankings (scored 0-50) for full evaluations.
Call to action
Pick your State in the table above. If it shows Working, click the portal URL and file online. If Post only, download the First RTI template, print, attach Rs 10 IPO, and send by Speed Post. For central matters, go directly to rtionline.gov.in.
Related
Sources
- Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 6, 7, 27.
- Central RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005.
- State Government notifications (verified April 2026 on respective Government Gazette portals).
- Central Information Commission, cic.gov.in.
- Government of India, rtionline.gov.in.
- Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 (2013 updated).
RTI fees by state: Complete reference for all states (2026)
RTI application fees across Indian states: Complete reference (2026)
- What are the RTI fees for filing an application? (a) Central government: (i) Application fee: Rs 10 — for physical application, (ii) Online: Rs 10 — on rtionline.gov.in, (iii) BPL applicants: free — with BPL certificate, (b) State government fees: (i) Varies by state — Rs 10 in most states, Rs 20 in Gujarat, © Additional fees — for information: (i) After reply — CPIO may charge for: (1) Photocopy: Rs 2 per page, (2) CD/disk: Rs 50 per CD, (3) Printout: Rs 2 per page, (4) Inspection: first hour free — Rs 5 for each subsequent 15 minutes, (5) Postage: actual cost — by post, (ii) BPL: all free — with BPL certificate, (iii) Must pay within 30 days — of demand — or application deemed withdrawn.
- State-wise RTI fee comparison. (a) States with Rs 10 application fee: (i) Andhra Pradesh: Rs 10, (ii) Assam: Rs 10, (iii) Bihar: Rs 10, (iv) Chhattisgarh: Rs 10, (v) Gujarat: Rs 20, (vi) Haryana: Rs 10, (vii) Jharkhand: Rs 10, (viii) Karnataka: Rs 10, (ix) Kerala: Rs 10, (x) Madhya Pradesh: Rs 10, (xi) Maharashtra: Rs 10, (xii) Odisha: Rs 10, (xiii) Punjab: Rs 10, (xiv) Rajasthan: Rs 10, (xv) Tamil Nadu: Rs 10, (xvi) Telangana: Rs 10, (xvii) UP: Rs 10, (xviii) Uttarakhand: Rs 10, (xix) West Bengal: Rs 10, (xx) Delhi: Rs 10, (b) Higher fee: Gujarat at Rs 20. Appeal fees are separate: Maharashtra charges Rs 20 per appeal and Bihar Rs 10 per appeal, while Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu prescribe none.
- Comparison table: RTI fees — application + photocopy. (a) Central govt: (i) Application: Rs 10, (ii) Photocopy: Rs 2/page, (iii) CD: Rs 50, (iv) Inspection: first hour free — Rs 5/15 min, (v) BPL: free, (b) Maharashtra: (i) Application: Rs 10, (ii) Photocopy: Rs 2/page, (iii) CD: Rs 50, (iv) Inspection: first hour free — Rs 5/15 min, (v) BPL: free, © Tamil Nadu: (i) Application: Rs 10, (ii) Photocopy: Rs 2/page, (iii) CD: Rs 50, (iv) Inspection: first hour free — Rs 5/15 min, (v) BPL: free, (d) Gujarat: (i) Application: Rs 20, (ii) Photocopy: Rs 2/page, (iii) CD: Rs 50, (iv) Inspection: first hour free — Rs 5/15 min, (v) BPL: free, (e) Himachal Pradesh: (i) Application: Rs 10, (ii) Photocopy: Rs 10/page, (iii) CD: Rs 100, (iv) Inspection: Rs 20 per 30 min from the start — no free first hour, (v) BPL: free. (Note: Application fee varies. Photocopy + inspection fees mostly uniform — Rs 2/page + Rs 5/15 min.)
- How to pay RTI fees? (a) Online: (i) rtionline.gov.in — pay by net banking / UPI / debit card / credit card, (ii) State portals — if available — similar payment, (b) Offline: (i) Indian Postal Order (IPO) — in favour of CPIO — payable at post office, (ii) Court fee stamp — on application — in some states, (iii) Cash — at CPIO office — with receipt, (iv) Demand Draft / Banker's Cheque — in favour of CPIO, © BPL applicants: (i) Attach BPL certificate — copy, (ii) No fee — application + information both free.
- Practical tips. (a) Check your state's fee — before filing, (b) Online filing — easiest — pay by UPI/card, © BPL: attach certificate — all fees waived, (d) Keep receipt/IPO number — as proof of payment, (e) Example: Applicant in Gujarat paid Rs 20 IPO — instead of Rs 10 — because Gujarat charges Rs 20; application accepted; got reply in 25 days.
See RTI Fees by State and How to File RTI and RTI Time Limits.