Do BPL applicants pay RTI fees? The fee waiver explained.

The RTI Act recognises that a ₹10 fee — small as it is — can be a barrier for India's poorest citizens. §7(5) addresses this by exempting BPL applicants from every fee connected to an RTI request.

This means: no ₹10 application fee, no ₹2/page copy fee, no ₹5/15-minute inspection fee. Zero. The information is free.

Example: Govind is a daily-wage labourer with a BPL ration card. He wants to file an RTI about his MGNREGA payment. He writes his RTI application, attaches a photocopy of his BPL ration card, and sends it. He does not include any IPO or cash. The PIO must accept it and respond within 30 days.

1. Obtain proof of BPL status: a BPL ration card (the most common document), a BPL certificate from the Gram Panchayat or municipality, or state-issued Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) card.
2. Write “I am a BPL applicant. Proof enclosed. Fee waived under §7(5) of the RTI Act, 2005” in your RTI application.
3. Attach a photocopy of the proof. Retain the original.
4. Do not enclose any fee.

For online RTI (rtionline.gov.in): select “Below Poverty Line” in the applicant details section and upload a scan of your BPL document.

• Frequently overlooked. Many BPL citizens pay the ₹10 fee unnecessarily because they are unaware of the waiver. Spread the word.
• If PIO rejects on fee grounds, that is illegal — file a §18 Complaint to the Information Commission.
• Covers all fee types, not just the ₹10 application fee. You will not be charged for copies either.
• State portals may have separate BPL registration. On some state RTI portals, you need to upload the BPL document during online filing; the fee will auto-adjust to ₹0.

• BPL ration card (any colour — yellow/pink depending on state).
• Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) card.
• Certificate from the Gram Panchayat Secretary or Municipal Officer confirming BPL status.
• Income certificate (in some states, if it shows income below BPL threshold).

• §7(5) — BPL fee exemption.
• §7(3) — copy/inspection fees (also waived for BPL).
• §18(1)© — complaint if PIO illegally demands fee from BPL applicant.

• RTI Fee Calculator — includes BPL waiver logic.
• AI RTI Drafter — automatically inserts the §7(5) BPL fee waiver clause when you select BPL status.
• RTI fee in India — full guide.

Yes — §7(5) of the RTI Act is central legislation that applies uniformly across all public authorities in all states. State RTI rules cannot override this exemption.

It is still valid as proof of BPL status. The address on the card does not need to match your current address for the fee waiver. The BPL status is what matters.

The waiver applies to current BPL status. If you have been delisted from BPL, you are no longer eligible. However, many citizens who were listed at the time of application are not challenged — the PIO's obligation is to accept the BPL document on face value.

• Right to Information Act, 2005 — §7(5)
• Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005 — Rule 4
• National Food Security Act, 2013 (defines BPL categories)

Last reviewed: May 2026. Part of the RTI Wiki definitions series.