RTI fee rationalisation — the 2024-25 debate, and what 2026 looks like
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
- Always file via RTI Online Portal (Rs. 10 secure payment).
- For BPL, attach certificate copy and invoke §7(5).
- For state portal fees > Rs. 50, challenge under Article 19(1)(a) reasonableness.
Sources
- DoPT OM 1/2/2024-IR.
- Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI (2019) on RTI accessibility.
Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.