Goa RTI Guide 2026 — RTI Wiki Citizen Guide 2026
The Right to Information Act, 2005 applies fully in Goa. State-specific rules under §27 govern fee, format, and First Appeal procedure. Capital: Panaji. State Information Commission: https://goasic.gov.in. RTI fee: ₹10. Online portal: Not yet — file by post. This guide gives you the operational rules + sample RTIs + key state authorities + escalation ladder for Goa citizens.
TL;DR — Goa RTI:
Fee: ₹10 (BPL exempt under §7(5)).
First Appeal fee: ₹0.
Reply deadline: 30 days (48 hours for life/liberty).
First Appeal: 30 days from PIO order.
Second Appeal: 90 days from FAA order, to State Information Commission (Goa).
Online filing: Not yet — file by post.
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Reviewed on: 23 April 2026.
Goa — at a glance
| Item | Detail |
| State capital | Panaji |
| RTI application fee (state) | ₹10 |
| First Appeal fee | ₹0 |
| Reply deadline | 30 days (§7(1)) |
| Online portal | Not yet — file by post |
| State Information Commission | website |
| Key authorities | Goa SIC, Panaji · Mining Department · Tourism Department |
How to file an RTI in Goa
Online (where available): Use the state portal Not yet — file by post.
By post: Address to the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. Send by Registered Post.
Walk-in: At the department's office during working hours. Get a dated receipt.
Pay ₹10 via Indian Postal Order (IPO) in favour of “Accounts Officer, [Department]” — OR via the online portal payment gateway.
BPL applicants: No fee. Attach BPL/Antyodaya/AAY card.
Key Goa authorities (most-used)
Goa SIC, Panaji · Mining Department · Tourism Department
For Central Government RTIs filed FROM Goa, use rtionline.gov.in which routes to the relevant central ministry.
Sample RTI — to a Goa state department
To:
The Public Information Officer,
[Department name],
Government of Goa,
[Department address, Panaji].
Subject: RTI under §6 of the RTI Act, 2005 — [your subject]
Sir/Madam,
Under the Right to Information Act, 2005, I, [Name], resident of
[address with PIN], request the following information:
1. [Specific item 1.]
2. [Specific item 2.]
3. Copy of the noting sheet of the file from receipt till the date
of this reply.
4. Name, designation, and contact of the dealing officer at present.
5. Service standard / SLA applicable to this matter and the reason
for delay, if any.
I am enclosing ₹10 via IPO in favour of "Accounts Officer,
[Department]". (BPL applicants: card copy enclosed; fee waived under §7(5).)
Yours faithfully,
[Name]
[Address, mobile, email]
Date: [Today]
Sample First Appeal — to the FAA
To:
The First Appellate Authority,
[Senior officer designation, e.g., Joint Secretary],
[Department name], Government of Goa,
[Address, Panaji].
Subject: First Appeal under §19(1) of the RTI Act, 2005
[See full template at https://righttoinformation.wiki/rti-first-appeal-second-appeal-guide]
Sample Second Appeal — to Goa SIC
To:
The Registrar,
Goa State Information Commission,
[Address from https://goasic.gov.in].
Subject: Second Appeal under §19(3) of the RTI Act, 2005
[See full template at https://righttoinformation.wiki/rti-first-appeal-second-appeal-guide]
Goa-specific case law
Common citizen RTIs in Goa (with our guides)
Escalation ladder (Goa)
Day 0 — File RTI to PIO (online or registered post).
Day 30 — PIO reply due under §7(1).
Day 60 — First Appeal under §19(1) to FAA (within 30 days of PIO order).
Day 60-105 — FAA decision due (30-45 days under §19(6)).
Day 195 — Second Appeal under §19(3) to Goa SIC.
Last resort — Writ under Article 226 to the High Court of Goa.
Helplines & grievance portals
FAQ
What is the RTI fee in Goa?
₹10 under the Goa RTI Rules. BPL exempt under §7(5). Pay via Indian Postal Order (IPO) for postal filings or via the online portal where available.
Can I file RTI online in Goa?
The Goa SIC composition is updated on its website https://goasic.gov.in. Composition changes periodically — check the website for current Commissioners.
What if my Second Appeal at Goa SIC takes too long?
If the Second Appeal hearing is delayed beyond reasonable time, file a writ petition under Article 226 to the High Court of Goa. The HC has supervisory jurisdiction over the SIC.
How do I pay the RTI fee in Goa?
(a) Indian Postal Order (IPO) in favour of the Accounts Officer of the concerned department; (b) Demand Draft in some districts; © Online via the state portal where it accepts payment; (d) Cash at counter during walk-in filing (get receipt).
Sources
Last reviewed: 23 April 2026 by the RTI Wiki editorial team.
RTI in Goa: Rules, fees, online portal, and common issues (2026)
Filing RTI in Goa — complete guide on rules, fees, and the process for 2026:
Step 1: Goa RTI Rules and framework. (a) the RTI Act, 2005 — applies to Goa — and the Goa Right to Information Rules, 2006 — govern the procedure, (b) the key officials: (i) the Public Information Officer (PIO) — at each public authority, (ii) the First Appellate Authority (FAA) — at each public authority, (iii) the Goa State Information Commission (GSIC) — at Panaji — for the second appeals, © the application fee: (i) Rs 10 — for the general applicants — by the IPO — or the court fee stamp — or the cash, (ii) no fee — for the BPL applicants — with the BPL certificate, (iii) Rs 2 per page — for the photocopy, (d) the time limit: (i) 30 days — for the normal applications, (ii) 48 hours — if the information concerns the life or liberty.
Step 2: How to file RTI in Goa. (a) offline: (i) write the application — in English, Hindi, or Konkani — on a plain paper, (ii) address it to the PIO — of the concerned department, (iii) pay the fee — by the IPO — or the court fee stamp — or the cash, (iv) submit by hand — or by registered post, (b) online: (i) the Goa government — has the online RTI portal — goaonline.gov.in — or rti.goa.gov.in, (ii) register — and fill the application — online, (iii) pay the fee — online, © the application must include: (i) the name and the address, (ii) the information sought, (iii) the fee — and the mode.
Step 3: Key departments and PIOs in Goa. (a) the Revenue Department: (i) the Mamlatdar — is the PIO — at the taluka level, (ii) the Collector — is the PIO — at the district level, (b) the
Police Department: (i) the PI — is the PIO — at the police station level, (ii) the SP — is the PIO — at the district level, © the Panchayat Department: (i) the Sarpanch — is the PIO — at the village panchayat level, (ii) the BDO — is the PIO — at the block level, (d) the Tourism Department: (i) the Tourism Director — is the PIO — for the tourism-related queries, (ii) the Tourism Department — is important — in Goa — because of the tourism — and the RTI can be used — to get: (a) the tourism policy, (b) the licenses issued, © the beach shack allocations, (d) the tourism budget — and the spending.
Step 4: Common RTI issues in Goa and solutions. (a) the PIO refuses to accept: (i) send by the registered post — with the AD, (ii) keep the postal receipt — as the proof, (b) the PIO does not reply: (i) wait for 30 days — then file the first appeal — with the FAA, (ii) the FAA — must reply — within 30 days, © the FAA does not reply: (i) wait for 45 days — then file the second appeal — with the GSIC, (ii) the GSIC — at Panaji — takes 6-12 months — to hear, (d) the GSIC does not act: (i) file a writ — in the
Bombay High Court at Goa — under Article 226, (ii) the High Court — can direct the GSIC — to hear, (e) mining-related RTI: Goa has the mining issues — and the RTI can be used — to get: (i) the mining leases, (ii) the environmental clearances, (iii) the mining revenue, (iv) the illegal mining — and the action taken.
Step 5: The Goa State Information Commission (GSIC). (a) the GSIC — is at Panaji — and has the jurisdiction — over the entire state, (b) the GSIC — has: (i) the Chief Information Commissioner, (ii) the Information Commissioners, © the second appeal — must be filed: (i) within 90 days — of the FAA order, (ii) with the copies — of the RTI application, the FAA order, and the correspondence, (d) the GSIC — can: (i) direct the PIO — to provide the information, (ii) impose a penalty — under Section 20, (iii) recommend disciplinary action.
Step 6: Sample RTI application for Goa. “To, the PIO, [Department], [Office], Goa. Subject: Application under RTI Act, 2005. Sir, I request the following information — under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005: [specific information sought]. I am paying the application fee of Rs 10 — by court fee stamp. Yours faithfully, [Name, Address].”
Step 7: Practical tips. (a) use the online portal (the Goa online portal — is available — for the RTI applications), (b) file in Konkani (the application — can be filed — in Konkani — and the PIO — must reply — in Konkani — or English), © focus on the tourism and mining (the RTI — is powerful — in Goa — for the tourism — and the mining — because of the public interest), (d) file the appeals (if the PIO — or the FAA — does not reply — file the appeals — within the time limit), (e) Example: A resident — of Panaji — sought the beach shack allocation records — from the Tourism Department — the PIO did not reply — he filed the first appeal — the FAA directed the PIO — to reply — within 7 days — the PIO provided the records — and the resident — found that the shacks — were allocated — without the proper auction — he filed a complaint — with the Goa Lokayukta.
See RTI Goa and State RTI Master Guide.