What is a State Information Commission (SIC)?

India has one CIC at the national level and 28 SICs (one for each state/UT that has set one up). The SIC is for RTI matters involving state governments — everything from your local municipal corporation to the state police, state education department, or state-level PSU.

The SIC is headed by the State Chief Information Commissioner and can have multiple State Information Commissioners. It functions like the CIC — a quasi-judicial body with binding powers, penalty authority, and the ability to award compensation.

Example: Deepa files an RTI with the Tamil Nadu Health Department about a government hospital's drug procurement. The PIO refuses. The FAA upholds the refusal. Deepa files a Second Appeal with the Tamil Nadu SIC. The SIC orders disclosure and imposes a penalty on the PIO.

• Most citizens' RTIs are state matters — roads, water, schools, health, land records, ration cards — all go to the SIC, not the CIC.
• SIC quality varies widely by state. Some SICs (Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan) are considered active; others have significant vacancies or backlogs.
• SIC commissioner vacancies are a known problem. Several states have functioned with zero or one commissioner. If the SIC in your state is non-functional, you can petition the High Court for mandamus.
• Second Appeals to SIC are free — no fee whatsoever.

• §15 — constitution of SICs.
• §16 — tenure of State Information Commissioners.
• §19(3) — Second Appeal to SIC within 90 days of FAA order.
• §18(1) — Complaint to SIC.
• §19(8) — SIC powers (same as CIC — penalty, compensation, disclosure orders).

• First Appeal Builder — prerequisite Second Appeal step.
• Timeline Calculator — 90-day Second Appeal window.
• State RTI portals directory — links to each state's SIC portal.

Each state has its own SIC portal. The State RTI Portals Directory lists all 28 active SIC portals with direct filing links.

This is a known constitutional issue. You can file a writ petition in the relevant High Court for a mandamus directing the state government to fill SIC vacancies. Civil society organisations have successfully obtained such orders in multiple states.

Yes — to the relevant High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution, and ultimately to the Supreme Court. SIC orders are quasi-judicial and are subject to judicial review.

• Right to Information Act, 2005 — §§15, 16, 18, 19, 20
• State RTI portals (state-specific)
• Supreme Court: Namit Sharma v. Union of India (2012) on SIC composition

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