Direct answer. If a government recruitment result is delayed, withheld, or you suspect manipulation, file an RTI to the conducting body's PIO asking for: (1) your individual scorecard with cut-off, (2) the marking scheme for objective and descriptive sections, (3) reasons for delay if applicable, and (4) the model answer key with reasoned objection-rejection record. Use plain paper, ₹10 IPO/court-fee stamp, address to “PIO” of the recruiting body. Reply due in 30 days under §7(1) of the RTI Act 2005. Most candidates ignore RTI and lose. The few who file get answers — and sometimes corrections.
If you have given a government exam — UPSC, SSC, banking, state PSC, railways, police — and the result is delayed, your scorecard is missing details, or you've been declared “not selected” without explanation, RTI is your legal right to ask. This guide walks you through every step, with a real candidate's story.
The recruiting body must disclose under RTI:
What they may legitimately withhold under §8:
What they cannot withhold (commonly attempted excuses):
Narendra, 27, candidate from Patna, gave the SSC CGL Tier-2 in November 2025. The result was delayed by 11 weeks past the notified date. When it came, he was 0.5 marks short of the cut-off. He filed an RTI on plain paper to the PIO, SSC Northern Region:
The reply (day 28) revealed: 14 objections were accepted by the Commission post-publication; 3 of those objections covered questions Narendra had answered correctly per the revised key but were marked wrong in his published scorecard. He filed a representation citing the RTI reply. SSC issued a corrected scorecard 6 weeks later. Narendra's revised score crossed the cut-off. He was called for the next stage.
This is not unusual. Marking corrections after RTI exposure happen in 4–6% of contested cases. RTI is the only legal mechanism that forces the disclosure.
To, The Public Information Officer (PIO), [Name of recruiting body, e.g., Union Public Service Commission] [Address] Subject: RTI application under §6 of the RTI Act 2005 — request for examination result information Sir/Madam, Under §6 of the Right to Information Act 2005, I, [Full Name], roll number [XXXXXXX], candidate of [Exam Name] held on [Date], request the following information: 1. My section-wise marks scored in [exam], with the cut-off marks applied to my category ([General/OBC/SC/ST/EWS/PwBD]). 2. The model answer key applied to the objective section, including the record of all objections received against the preliminary answer key and the reasoned acceptance or rejection of each. 3. The marking scheme for the descriptive section (general distribution of marks across question types), if applicable. 4. If the result was delayed beyond the notified date, the reasons for the delay, with the file noting (s) on record. 5. The number of candidates appeared, qualified, and the category-wise cut-offs applied for [exam]. I enclose the prescribed application fee of ₹10 by Indian Postal Order No. [XXXX] dated [DD-MM-YYYY] in favour of [Accounts Officer, body name]. Please send the reply to the address below within 30 days as required under §7(1) of the RTI Act. Yours sincerely, [Signature] [Full Name] [Postal Address with PIN] [Phone] [Email] Date: [DD-MM-YYYY] Place: [City]
Use the Timeline Calculator to track every deadline automatically.
Q: Can I get my evaluated answer-sheet through RTI? Yes — this was settled in CBSE v Aditya Bandopadhyay (SC 2011). You can request inspection or photocopy of your own evaluated answer-sheet. Some bodies require you to ask for inspection first; the photocopy on demand.
Q: Will filing an RTI hurt my chances in the next exam? No. The RTI Act explicitly prohibits any retaliation. The body has no way to flag your file. Many candidates have filed multiple RTIs across years without issue.
Q: My exam was three years ago. Can I still file? Yes — there is no time-bar in the RTI Act. The body's record-retention policy may limit what's available (typically 3–5 years), but you can still ask. If they've destroyed records, they must say so under §8(1) basis, which is itself appealable.
Q: I'm not from India. Can I file an RTI for a UPSC exam I gave? The RTI Act explicitly extends to all citizens of India regardless of residence. Foreign nationals cannot directly file but can ask through an Indian friend/relative.
Q: How much does an RTI typically cost in total? ₹10 application fee + ~₹50 postage if you send Speed Post + photocopy charges if any (₹2/page Central rates). Total typically ₹60–₹500 depending on the volume of information requested.
Q: What's the success rate of result-correction RTIs? ~4–6% of contested cases see actual corrections. ~60–70% get useful information that helps you make an informed decision (file a PIL, prepare for next attempt, identify systemic issues).
If you have given a government exam and something feels off — delayed result, missing scorecard details, suspected error in marking — RTI is your legal right. It costs ₹10. It takes 30 days. It works.
Use the AI RTI Drafter to generate your application now. If you're stuck, the AwaazRTI voice tool drafts in Hindi or your state language in 60 seconds.
This is how citizen content actually spreads — not on X, on family / college / coaching-batch WhatsApp groups. The PDF below is one page, plain language, share-ready.
Tap the link below — opens in your browser. Then save the PDF or share to WhatsApp.
A4 size · ~270 KB · plain language · forward freely.
Forward to: anyone in your family, hostel, or coaching batch who has given a government exam in the last 5 years. One forward can save someone a year.
Written by the RTI Wiki editorial team. Last reviewed by the in-house RTI practitioners' panel on 2026-04-28. Names changed; story patterns are composites. Not legal advice for specific cases — consult a lawyer if your situation is complex.