Right to Information Wiki
RTI fee rationalisation — the 2024-25 debate, and what 2026 looks like

DoPT proposed Rs 50 fee in 2024; deferred after backlash. The debate, the data, and what citizens should expect in 2026.

RTI fee rationalisation — the 2024-25 debate, and what 2026 looks like

RTI fee rationalisation — the 2024-25 debate, and what 2026 looks like — RTI Wiki

Currently: Rs. 10 application fee + Rs. 2/page. DoPT's 2024 OM proposed Rs. 50 + Rs. 20/page, citing inflation and processing costs.

Why DoPT proposed it

  • Rs. 10 unchanged since 2005 (~5x inflation).
  • “Vexatious applicants” filing 50+ RTIs per month.
  • Processing-cost study placed average per-application cost at ~Rs. 380.

Why activists pushed back

  • Fee is a barrier to access — particularly rural, low-income.
  • Vexatious-applicant data thin — most applicants file 1-2 RTIs lifetime.
  • §7(5) BPL exemption doesn't cover lower-middle-class.
  • Article 19(1)(a) chilling-effect concern.

Where 2026 stands

  • Central rule — Rs. 10 + Rs. 2/page stands (DoPT deferred indefinitely).
  • State rules vary — UP Rs. 10; Maharashtra Rs. 25; Delhi Rs. 10.
  • HC orders in 2025 reaffirmed reasonableness as standard.

Practical takeaways

  1. Always file via RTI Online Portal (Rs. 10 secure payment).
  2. For BPL, attach certificate copy and invoke §7(5).
  3. For state portal fees > Rs. 50, challenge under Article 19(1)(a) reasonableness.

Sources

  1. DoPT OM 1/2/2024-IR.
  2. Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI (2019) on RTI accessibility.

Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.

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Why this matters for citizens

This blog post is part of RTI Wiki's editorial coverage of India's information-rights ecosystem under the Right to Information Act, 2005. We track court rulings, policy changes, RTI activist work, and citizen success stories monthly. Subscribe to the monthly newsletter for a curated digest.

Citizen action steps

  1. File a free RTI on a related issue using the AI RTI Drafter.
  2. Track deadlines with the Timeline Tracker (Day 30 + Day 60 alerts).
  3. If your reply is evasive, paste it into the PIO Reply Checker.
  4. For voice input in 11 Indian languages, use AwaazRTI.

Citations and sources

  • Right to Information Act, 2005 — full text
  • CPIO Supreme Court v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal (2020) 5 SCC 481 — Constitution Bench
  • Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI (2019) 9 SCC 199 — IC accountability
  • DPDP Act 2023 + DPDP Rules 2025 (in force 14 Nov 2025)