Module 02 — Drafting + filing — RTI Wiki Citizen Guide 2026

Citizen Crash Course in RTI — Module 02: Drafting + filing. By the end of this module, you have a draft RTI ready to post.

Open this in a word processor. Fill the bracketed fields. Print + sign + post.

To,
The Public Information Officer
[Department name]
[Address]

Subject: Application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005

Sir/Madam,

1. I, [Your name], a citizen of India, residing at [Your address], hereby request the following information under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005:

   (a) [Your specific question 1]
   (b) [Your specific question 2]

2. The required fee of Rs. 10 is enclosed by way of Indian Postal Order [IPO no. ___].

3. I am a citizen of India.

Date: [DD-MM-YYYY]                                                Signature: ________
Place: [City]                                                     Name: [Your name]
                                                                  Phone: [Mobile no.]

Bad: “Why is my driving licence delayed?” — asks for opinion, not record.

Good:

• Date my application reference no. [LL-2025-XXX] was received by your office.
• Current status of my application as on [today's date].
• Reasons recorded by the dealing officer for any delay beyond the SOP timeline.
• Name + designation of the dealing officer.
• Backlog of similar applications pending at your office for >30 days.

Pattern: ask for records that exist (status, copies, names, lists, counts). Don't ask why — ask for the reasons recorded.

1. Central matter (passport, IT, EPF, Railways, UIDAI): file via rtionline.gov.in (Central RTI portal). UPI ₹10.
2. State matter (police, education, health, revenue, RTO): use the state portals page on this site. Some states have working portals; others need postal.
3. Municipal (water, garbage, property tax, building approval): file with the ULB PIO. See your city page.
4. PSU (LIC, BEL, BHEL): each has its own PIO — published on PSU website.

If unsure, address to “The Public Information Officer, [Department], [Capital City]” — they're obligated to forward under §6(3) within 5 days.

Standard ₹10 (some states ₹50 or ₹20). Payment modes:

• Indian Postal Order (IPO) — most reliable. Available at any post office. Payable to “Accounts Officer, [department]”.
• Demand Draft (DD) — bank-issued.
• UPI / online — for state portals + central portal.
• Court fee stamp — accepted in some states.
• BPL applicants exempt under §7(5) — attach BPL card photocopy.

Online portal (where available — see state portals page):

+ Faster (5 min)
+ Built-in tracking
- Limited to working states
- Some state portals fail to forward to PIO

Speed Post + IPO:

+ Works for everyone
+ AD card = legal proof of receipt
+ Reliable across all 36 states
- Slower (write + post)
- 30-60 min effort

Hybrid (recommended for important RTIs): do both. Counts as one application; doubles reliability.

• Speed Post — note the consignment number. Track at indiapost.gov.in.
• AD card — Acknowledgement Due — comes back within 7-10 days with PIO's office stamp + signature. Save this. It's your §7(1) clock-start proof.
• Online portal — auto-acknowledges. Save the registration number screenshot.
• Day 30 — if no reply, it's deemed refusal under §7(2). Move to First Appeal.

10 questions, 70% to pass. Take it from your course dashboard.

• ← Course overview
• Next module: Module 03 — Reading replies + First Appeal

Last reviewed: 24 April 2026.