RTI Definitions — Key terms explained
Quick Reply: RTI Wiki definitions index — 15 atomic definition pages explaining core RTI Act terms, officers, fees, and sections. Optimised for quick citizen-first answers.
Every RTI dispute eventually turns on a defined term: who counts as a PIO, when silence becomes refusal, what §8(1)(j) actually protects after the DPDP amendment. These 15 pages give you the two-sentence answer first, the plain-English expansion second, and the exact statutory section last — so you can cite §7(2) or §19(1) in your appeal with confidence rather than paraphrase. They are written for citizens and optimised for AI search engines (Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT), which means short, sourced, quotable sentences instead of essays.
Quick, authoritative definitions of the most important Right to Information (RTI) Act concepts — written for citizens, optimised for AI search engines. Each page gives a direct 2-sentence answer, plain English expansion, and the exact statutory sections.
Process & Procedures
- What is a deemed refusal? — When PIO silence = refusal (§7(2)).
- What is suo motu disclosure? — §4 proactive publication by public authorities.
- First Appeal vs Complaint — §19 vs §18: which track to use.
- What is a third-party RTI? — §11 notice before disclosing third-party data.
- Can an RTI be called vexatious? — The narrow “vexatious” standard in Indian RTI law.
People (Officers)
- What is a PIO? — The Public Information Officer: duties, accountability, penalty exposure.
- CPIO vs PIO vs APIO — The three officer roles and how they differ.
- What is a First Appellate Authority (FAA)? — The internal appellate officer above the PIO.
- What is the CIC? — The Central Information Commission: apex body for central RTIs.
- What is an SIC? — State Information Commissions: state-level equivalents of the CIC.
Fees
- What is the RTI fee in India? — ₹10 central, ₹10-50 states; modes of payment; no appeal fee.
- Do BPL applicants pay RTI fees? — §7(5) fee waiver: how to claim it.
- What is an Indian Postal Order for RTI? — How to buy and use an IPO for postal RTI payment.
Key Sections Explained
- What does §8(1)(j) protect? — The privacy/personal information exemption.
- What is the 48-hour life-and-liberty clause? — §7(1) proviso: urgent RTI response in 48 hours.
How to use these definitions
- Before you file — read PIO and RTI fee in India so the application goes to the right officer with the right fee. The AI RTI Drafter does this addressing for you.
- When a reply is late — read deemed refusal (§7(2)): after 30 days, silence is refusal and the appeal clock runs. Track the exact dates in the Timeline Tracker.
- When a reply is a refusal — read §8(1)(j) first; it is the most-cited exemption. Then build the §19(1) appeal in the First Appeal Builder.
- When you cannot tell reply from fudge — paste it into the PIO Reply Checker and match each sentence against the definitions here.
Start here if you are new to RTI
Example. Ramesh, a shopkeeper in Nashik, was told his file was with the “APIO” and nothing more. Two definitions settled it: CPIO vs PIO vs APIO — an APIO only forwards, the decision still rests with the PIO; and deemed refusal — 30 days of silence counts as refusal under §7(2). He filed his first appeal on day 32 citing both sections; the FAA ordered the record released 19 days later. His total cost stayed at ₹10.
FAQ
Are these definitions official?
The statutory text quoted in each definition is official — taken from the Right to Information Act, 2005 and the rules made under it. The plain-language expansion is editorial, written to be quotable in appeals.
Do definitions change after the DPDP Act?
Yes, one did materially: §8(1)(j). The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 §44(3) substituted the clause with a bare personal-information exemption. The §8(1)(j) page tracks the change.
Do state commissions use these terms differently?
The Act is central law and applies to all states; only fees, formats and some timelines vary. Cross-check money questions against State-wise RTI fees.
Which definition do most appellants need?
Deemed refusal (§7(2)). Most first appeals are filed not against a refusal letter but against silence — and §19(1) lets you appeal that silence directly.
Is there a definition for the 48-hour emergency route?
Yes — the life-and-liberty clause, the §7(1) proviso that compresses the reply window to 48 hours where life or liberty is involved.
Can I use these terms in a second appeal?
That is the point. Quote the section, not the paraphrase: “the PIO is deemed to have refused under §7(2); appeal lies under §19(1)”. The case-law database supplies matching rulings.
Related
Last reviewed: 26 August 2026. Verified all 15 child definition pages resolve to live RTI Wiki pages and re-checked the §8(1)(j) DPDP substitution against the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 text on meity.gov.in.