Bihar RTI rules — 2026 citizen guide
Bihar applies the Bihar Right to Information Rules, 2006 (made under §27 of the RTI Act, 2005) for all state public authorities. The fee is ₹10 per application (BPL: zero). Reply deadline: 30 days under §7(1) of the central RTI Act. Online filing via the rtps.bihar.gov.in portal (state public-service guarantee + RTI co-located). Postal Speed Post (AD) remains the universal fallback.
Quick fee schedule
| Stage | Fee | Mode |
| Application (§6) | ₹10 | IPO / court-fee / DD / online |
| Per A4 photocopy | ₹2 | paid on collection |
| Larger size copy | actual cost | paid on collection |
| CD (electronic record) | ₹50 per CD | paid on collection |
| Inspection of records | free for first hour, ₹5 per 15 min after | pay at office |
| BPL applicant | Zero | attach BPL certificate |
| First Appeal | Zero | - |
| Second Appeal to Bihar SIC | Zero | - |
Statutory framework
Central: Right to Information Act, 2005.
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State public-service: Bihar Right to Public Service Act, 2011 — this is separate from RTI but works in parallel. RTPS guarantees a service (caste certificate, ration card, etc.); RTI gives information about the file.
Land-mutation specific: Bihar Land Mutation Act, 2011 — 75-day statutory window for mutation, helpful when filing land RTIs.
Where to file
District-level: PIO at the Office of the District Magistrate / DM in your district.
State-level: PIO at the department secretariat in Old Secretariat / New Secretariat, Patna.
First Appeal: Appellate Authority named on the same office's RTI page (one rung above PIO).
Second Appeal:
Bihar State Information Commission, Birchand Patel Path, Patna 800001.
biharsic.gov.in.
Sample RTI letter for Bihar
Use our AI RTI Drafter — auto-fills the Bihar fee paragraph and addresses the DM / Secretariat / Tehsil PIO format.
For state-specific scenarios:
Common mistakes filing in Bihar
Mixing RTI and RTPS — they are separate. Use RTPS for service delivery (e.g., issue my caste certificate); use RTI for information about the file (status / file noting / officer holding the file). Filing the wrong one delays you.
Wrong office at the secretariat — many departments have moved between the Old Secretariat (now Vidhan Sabha campus) and the New Secretariat post-2014. Verify on department website.
Hindi-only application to a non-Hindi-only PIO — Hindi is the dominant office language but English is accepted. Bilingual is fastest.
No fee proof — non-acceptance. Always include the IPO / court-fee receipt.
Bihar SIC — state of pendency
The Bihar SIC has had moderate vacancy issues monitored under Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI (2019). Average second-appeal disposal time: 8-14 months. Annual reports and disposal data available on the SIC website. If your second appeal has been pending 18+ months, you can approach the Patna High Court under Article 226.
Citations and sources
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Bihar RTI Rules, 2006 — General Administration Department notification
Bihar Right to Public Service Act, 2011 — companion service-guarantee law
Bihar Land Mutation Act, 2011 — relevant for land-mutation RTIs
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Last reviewed: 4 May 2026.