Before October 2005, an Indian citizen who wanted a government file had to know someone, or do without. The RTI Act inverted that. Today, 30 days is the legal maximum a public authority can hold information from you. ₹10 is the legal maximum fee. Section 8 lists exactly 10 exemptions — anything outside those 10 must be disclosed.

The Act has produced over 6 crore RTI applications since 2005. It has surfaced corruption (2G scam roots, Commonwealth Games scams, Adarsh scam), improved welfare delivery (PMAY ghost beneficiaries, MGNREGA wage arrears), and quietly trained millions of citizens in civic literacy.

1. Chapter I — Preliminary (definitions, applicability) → Sections 1-3
2. Chapter II — Right to Information & Obligations of Public Authorities → Sections 4-11
3. Chapter III — The Central Information Commission → Sections 12-14
4. Chapter IV — The State Information Commissions → Sections 15-17
5. Chapter V — Powers and Functions of Information Commissions, Appeals → Sections 18-20
6. Chapter VI — Miscellaneous → Sections 21-31

Section 2(f) — what is "information": Records, documents, memos, emails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, log books, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, electronic data. Very broad. The CIC has held that file notings, working papers and post-decisional notes are all “information” — see R.K. Jain v. UoI 2013.

Section 2(h) — "public authority": Any authority constituted under the Constitution, by Parliament, or substantially financed by Government. Includes PSUs (LIC, ONGC, MTNL), substantially-financed private bodies (post-Thalappalam test), constitutional bodies (ECI, CAG, CIC). Excludes most private companies.

Section 4 — proactive disclosure: Every public authority MUST publish 17 categories of information voluntarily without anyone asking — organisation chart, powers, decision-making norms, budget, beneficiary lists, etc. Few comply fully. Filing an RTI on §4 gaps is one of the strongest moves citizens have.

Section 6 — application procedure: Apply in writing or electronically, in English/Hindi/the official state language. ₹10 fee. No reason needs to be stated. PIO has 5 days to transfer wrongly-addressed applications to the right PA under §6(3).

Section 7 — 30-day timeline: Reply within 30 days. Information concerning life or liberty must be supplied in 48 hours (§7(1) proviso). Third-party consultation (§11) extends by 40 days. Under §7(6), if the deadline is missed, information must be supplied free.

Section 8 — the 10 exemptions: National security (§8(a)), Parliament privilege (§8©), commercial confidence (§8(d)), fiduciary relationship (§8(e)), foreign government (§8(f)), informant safety (§8(g)), investigation (§8(h)), Cabinet papers (§8(i)), personal information (§8(j)). Each has a public-interest override.

Section 9 — third-party copyright: Where copyright would be infringed, PIO can refuse — but only if the third party objects.

Section 19 — appeals: First Appeal to FAA within 30 days of PIO reply; FAA disposes in 30+15 days. Second Appeal to CIC/SIC within 90 days of FAA decision.

Section 20 — penalty on PIO: ₹250/day (max ₹25,000) for malafide refusal, false answer, destruction of records, obstruction. Imposed by the Commission.

Section 24 — exempt agencies: 22 intelligence/security agencies (RAW, IB, NSG, CBI, etc.) are exempt — but the proviso says corruption + human-rights-violation information from these agencies is still disclosable.

For citizens filing their first RTI:

• RTI for beginners — what to know first
• How to file RTI in 5 minutes
• How to file online — 12-step guide
• AI Drafter — get your RTI in 60 seconds
• RTI FAQ — 25 questions answered

For PIOs and FAAs doing their job:

• PIO/FAA knowledge base — 25-article hub
• How to reply to an RTI properly
• Section 8(1)(j) framework for PIOs
• FAA appellate review checklist

For specific scenarios — pick yours:

• RTI for delayed pension · Property mutation · Passport status · FIR status · Ration card · PMAY · PM-KISAN · MGNREGA wages · Electricity bill · RTE admission
• 87 more scenarios at RTI scenarios index

For state-level filing:

• All 36 state portals — the working ones
• Maharashtra · Tamil Nadu · UP · Bihar · Karnataka · Kerala · 30 more

For case-law research:

• RTI case database — 300+ decisions
• 10 SC rulings every PIO must know
• Landmark CIC decisions

Recent updates:

• 2025-26 amendments — DPDP §44(3), CIC vacancies, fee debate
• Last 12 months of SC rulings
• Why rejections rose 30% in 2025

• 🎤 AwaazRTI — voice-to-RTI in 11 Indian languages
• 🪄 AI RTI Drafter — 60-second §6 application
• 🔮 Outcome Predictor — score your RTI
• ⚖️ First Appeal Generator — §19(1) draft
• 📬 PIO Reply Checker — analyse evasive replies
• 📅 Timeline Calculator — track 30-day clock
• 🔍 RTI Research — AI Q&A cited from this site

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• City-by-city RTI guide — 50 cities, every municipal service (2026)
• Free RTI AI tools — the complete suite (2026)
• State-by-state RTI guide — every state, every scheme (2026 master)
• Citizen RTI playbook — file, escalate, win (2026)
• File RTI Online — 12 steps + free tools

New citizen-first guides (May 2026):

• Sample RTI for MPLAD funds — full guide with MPLADS Guidelines 2023, sample letter, recovery case
• Sample RTI for land mutation delays — state-wise statutory windows, Tehsildar PIO target
• Financial Schemes Finder — 80+ central + state schemes by your profile, PDF export
• Government API & open-data directory — API Setu + data.gov.in, filterable

These supporting articles walk through individual Act provisions, the manual filing route, and the master appeal templates. Use them after you have the overview from the chapters above.

* File RTI Online in India — Manual 12-Step Guide

• How RTI Has Helped Improve Society
• Pillar 5 — RTI Mastery (Legal + Process)
• RTI Act, 2005 Explained Simply
• RTI First Appeal & Second Appeal — Complete 2026 Guide
• RTI First Appeal under Section 19(1)
• RTI Form Format — what a valid RTI application must contain (2026)
• RTI News & Weekly Updates — RTI Wiki Citizen Guide 2026
• RTI Second Appeal under Section 19(3)
• Section 4(1)(b) RTI Act — Proactive Disclosure
• Section 8 of the RTI Act, 2005
• Urgent RTI — Life & Liberty 48-hour reply (§7(1) proviso) (2026)
• Why RTI is (essentially) free — and why you don't need to pay anyone

The Right to Information Act, 2005 — complete guide covering all key sections, rights, fees, appeals, and penalties:

1. Step 1: Overview. (a) the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) was enacted by Parliament on June 15, 2005 — and came into force on October 12, 2005 — it gives every citizen of India the right to obtain information from public authorities — under the control of the Central Government, State Governments, and Union Territory Administrations, (b) the objective (as stated in the preamble): to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens — to secure access to records under the control of public authorities — in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority — and to contain corruption and to hold governments and their instrumentalities accountable to the governed, © the scope: the Act applies to all public authorities — including: (i) Central Government ministries and departments, (ii) State Government departments, (iii) local bodies (municipalities, panchayats), (iv) public sector undertakings (government companies — under Section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956), (v) non-governmental organisations substantially financed by the government (under Section 2(h)(d)(ii) — including NGOs receiving government grants — above Rs 2 lakh per year), (vi) authorities established by the Constitution or by law (including the Supreme Court, High Courts, Election Commission, CAG, UPSC, etc.).
2. Step 2: Key definitions. (a) “information” (Section 2(f)): any material in any form — including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advice, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models — and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law, (b) “right to information” (Section 2(j)): includes the right to: (i) inspect works, documents, records, (ii) take notes, extracts, or certified copies, (iii) take certified samples, (iv) obtain information in electronic form, (v) obtain certified copies of documents, © “public authority” (Section 2(h)): any authority or body or institution of self-government established or constituted by or under the Constitution, by any law, by notification, or by any order of the appropriate government — and includes any body owned, controlled, or substantially financed by the government — and any non-government organisation substantially financed by the government, (d) “Public Information Officer” (PIO) (Section 2(1)): the officer designated under Section 5(1) — to provide information to citizens requesting under the Act, (e) “Central Public Information Officer” (CPIO) (Section 2(1)(b)): the PIO of a Central public authority, (f) “State Public Information Officer” (SPIO) (Section 2(1)©): the PIO of a State public authority.
3. Step 3: How to file an RTI application. (a) who can file: any citizen of India (non-citizens cannot file — the Act is only for citizens — under Section 3), (b) how to file: (i) in writing (on plain paper — or in the prescribed format — if any), (ii) through electronic means (online — through rtionline.gov.in — or the state portal), (iii) through the APIO (at the designated post office — who forwards to the PIO — under Section 5(5)), © where to file: with the PIO of the concerned public authority (if the applicant does not know the PIO — the CPIO/SPIO will forward — under Section 6(3) — within 5 days — to the correct PIO), (d) the fee: Rs 10 for Central government (payable by IPO, court-fee stamp, cash, or online — check state rules for the fee — which varies from Rs 5 to Rs 20), (e) the content: name, address, and the information sought (clearly and specifically — with the time period — and the format), (f) the timeline: the PIO must respond within 30 days (48 hours if the information concerns life or liberty — under Section 7(1)).
4. Step 4: Key sections explained. (a) Section 3: right to information (every citizen has the right — subject to the exemptions in Section 8 and 9), (b) Section 4: obligations of public authorities (to maintain records — and to publish information suo motu — on the website — and at the office — including: (i) the organisation structure, (ii) the powers and duties of officers, (iii) the rules and regulations, (iv) the decision-making process, (v) the budget — and the expenditure, (vi) the subsidy programmes — and the beneficiaries), © Section 5: designation of PIOs (every public authority must designate PIOs — for all administrative units — and APIOs — at the post office — under Section 5(5)), (d) Section 6: filing the application (in writing or electronic — with the fee — to the PIO — who must respond within 30 days), (e) Section 7: disposal of requests (the PIO must respond within 30 days — 48 hours for life or liberty — and if the information is exempt — must communicate the rejection — with reasons — and the appeal details — under Section 7(8)), (f) Section 8: exemptions (10 sub-sections — under which the PIO can deny information — but the exemptions are not absolute — the public interest override under Section 8(2) applies), (g) Section 9: grounds for rejection (infringement of copyright — or the information would disproportionately divert resources — under Section 7(9)), (h) Section 10: severability (the PIO must sever the exempt portion — and provide the rest — under Section 10(1)), (i) Section 11: third party information (the PIO must give the third party a chance to respond — before disclosing — under Section 11(1)), (j) Section 19: appeals (first appeal — with the FAA — within 30 days — second appeal — with the Information Commission — within 90 days), (k) Section 20: penalties (the Commission can impose a penalty of Rs 250 per day — up to Rs 25,000 — under Section 20(1) — and recommend disciplinary action — under Section 20(2)).
5. Step 5: Appeals. (a) First Appeal (Section 19(1)): (i) filed with the FAA — within 30 days of the PIO's response — or non-response, (ii) the FAA must respond within 30 days (or 45 days — with reasons for the extension), (iii) the FAA can order the PIO to provide the information — or uphold the rejection, (b) Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): (i) filed with the Central/State Information Commission — within 90 days of the FAA's order — or non-response, (ii) the Commission can: (a) order the PIO to provide the information, (b) impose a penalty (Rs 250 per day — up to Rs 25,000), © recommend disciplinary action, (d) order compensation, © Complaint (Section 18): (i) filed with the Commission — for refusal to accept the application — or not responding — or giving false information — or demanding excessive fees, (ii) the Commission can investigate — and impose a penalty, (d) Writ Petition (Article 226): (i) filed with the High Court — if the Commission does not respond — or the order is not implemented, (ii) the court can direct the PIO — and the Commission — to act.
6. Step 6: Penalties and compensation. (a) penalty under Section 20(1): (i) Rs 250 per day (for each day of delay — beyond the 30-day period — up to Rs 25,000), (ii) the Commission can impose the penalty — on the PIO — after giving the PIO a reasonable opportunity to be heard, (b) disciplinary action under Section 20(2): (i) the Commission can recommend disciplinary action (against the PIO — under the service rules applicable to the PIO), (ii) the public authority must initiate the disciplinary proceedings — and report back to the Commission, © compensation under Section 19(8)(b): (i) the Commission can award compensation (to the appellant — for the harm caused by the non-disclosure — the amount is determined by the Commission — based on the harm), (d) the penalty and the compensation are in addition to the order to disclose the information — the Commission can order all three — disclosure + penalty + compensation.
7. Step 7: Practical tips. (a) file RTI online (rtionline.gov.in — for faster filing — and tracking — and electronic records), (b) be specific (the more specific the request — the harder it is for the PIO to reject — or to give vague responses), © file the first appeal (if the PIO does not respond — or gives incomplete information — do not file a second RTI — file a first appeal — within 30 days), (d) cite the law (cite the specific section — and the CIC/SIC order — and the Supreme Court/High Court judgment — to strengthen the case), (e) demand penalty and compensation (under Section 20 — for the PIO's non-response — or wrongful rejection), (f) use RTI for public causes (the RTI Act is a powerful tool — for transparency and accountability — use it for public causes — like corruption, environment, human rights — not just for personal grievances), (g) Example: A citizen filed RTI with the Municipal Corporation — asking for the road repair budget — and the expenditure — the PIO did not respond — the citizen filed a first appeal — the FAA ordered the PIO to respond — the PIO provided the data — showing that the budget was Rs 5 crore — but only Rs 2 crore was spent — the citizen filed a complaint with the Lokayukta — and the case was investigated — and the corrupt officials were prosecuted — the RTI reply was the key evidence.

See RTI Act 2005 Complete Guide and Find PIO.