The §7(1) “30 days” rule sounds simple. In practice, the clock can be paused, restarted, or extended through five circulars and ten CIC orders since 2024.

§7(1) RTI Act 2005: PIO must reply within 30 days of receipt. §7(1) proviso: 48 hours if life/liberty. §7(5): if information requires “third party” consultation under §11, add 40 days.

• Receipt vs allotment. Earlier, some PAs ran the clock from “allotment to PIO”. CIC/2024 ruled the clock starts from receipt at the PA, not internal routing.
• Online filing. RTI Online Portal logs receipt timestamp. PIOs cannot dispute the start date.
• Defective application. A 2024 DoPT OM clarified: a “defective” application requesting clarification does not pause the clock. The PIO must reply with information available + the clarification request.
• Fee-deficiency. §7(3) lets PIO ask for additional fee. Clock pauses only on this written request, restarts on payment.
• Transfer under §6(3). When PIO transfers to another PA, original PIO has 5 days to transfer; the receiving PIO's clock starts on receipt — but cannot exceed 35 days from original receipt.

1. Always file via RTI Online Portal for unambiguous timestamp.
2. If transferred under §6(3), follow up at day-30 with both PAs.
3. Defective application — re-submit promptly but without conceding the clock.
4. Day 30 + 1: file First Appeal under §19(1) — do not wait.

The clock favours the precise applicant. Print these rules; pin in your RTI folder.

1. RTI Act 2005 §7, §6, §11.
2. DoPT Master Circular on RTI 2024 update.
3. CIC orders 2024-25 on §7 timeline.

Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.