📖 Citizen Crash Course in RTI

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:07:45 +0000

2026/05/03 12:11	current
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	+	{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(citizen rti course, free rti course, beginner rti, first rti, file rti india, rti for citizens, rti certificate, rti crash course, learn rti)&metatag-description=(Free 3-module crash course on the RTI Act, 2005 for first-time citizens. File your first RTI by the end of module 3. Verifiable certificate on completion.)}}
	+
	+	====== 📖 Citizen Crash Course in RTI ======
	+
	+	===== What you'll be able to do after this course =====
	+
	+	* Decide in 30 seconds whether your problem can be solved by an RTI — or needs a different remedy (consumer court, Lokayukta, grievance portal).
	+	* Draft a §6(1) application that survives PIO scrutiny — using plain English, no legal jargon needed.
	+	* Pick the right PIO in your state and post the application correctly (IPO + Speed Post).
	+	* Read the PIO's reply like an insider — spot defects, severability errors, and missing reasons.
	+	* File a §19(1) First Appeal when the PIO refuses or stays silent.
	+
	+	===== Course at a glance =====
	+
	+	\| Modules \| 3 \|
	+	\| Duration \| ~3 hours of reading + practice \|
	+	\| Quizzes \| 10 questions per module · 70% to pass \|
	+	\| Final exam \| 15 questions · 10 minutes · 3 attempts · 70% \|
	+	\| Certificate \| Print-ready · serial CCC-XXXXXXXXXX · verifiable \|
	+	\| Fee \| Free (no statutory cost; only ₹10 if you actually file an RTI) \|
	+	\| Prerequisite \| None — you can read this page \|
	+
	+	===== The 3 modules =====
	+
	+	==== Module 1 — What RTI is, and what it isn't ====
	+
	+	* The Right to Information Act, 2005: history, why it matters
	+	* What you can and cannot ask for (records, not opinions)
	+	* The 4 things every RTI needs: PIO, fee, signature, citizenship
	+	* Common myths debunked
	+	* Quiz · 10 q · 70%
	+
	+	[[:courses:citizen-crash:module-01\|→ Open Module 1]]
	+
	+	==== Module 2 — Drafting + filing ====
	+
	+	* The 4-line template that works for 90% of cases
	+	* How to find the right PIO (Central / state / municipal)
	+	* Fee + payment modes by state
	+	* Speed Post vs online portal
	+	* Tracking + acknowledgement
	+	* Quiz · 10 q · 70%
	+
	+	[[:courses:citizen-crash:module-02\|→ Open Module 2]]
	+
	+	==== Module 3 — Reading replies + first appeal ====
	+
	+	* Anatomy of a good PIO reply
	+	* The 7 ways PIOs (improperly) refuse — and what to say
	+	* §10 severability — what to demand if the PIO refuses the whole record
	+	* Filing First Appeal under §19(1) — template + deadlines
	+	* When to escalate to Second Appeal (CIC/SIC)
	+	* Quiz · 10 q · 70%
	+
	+	[[:courses:citizen-crash:module-03\|→ Open Module 3]]
	+
	+	===== Final exam =====
	+
	+	* 15 questions drawn across all 3 modules
	+	* 10-minute timer · 3 attempts · 70% to pass
	+	* Honor Code + typed signature required
	+	* Tab-switching forfeits the attempt
	+
	+	===== Certificate =====
	+
	+	On passing the final, you receive:
	+
	+	* A print-ready PDF certificate (A4 + letter sizes) with your name, course name, date.
	+	* A unique 10-character serial in format CCC-XXXXXXXXXX.
	+	* A public verification URL at //righttoinformation.wiki/verify-cert?serial=CCC-XXX...//. Anyone can verify your certificate is real.
	+	* A LinkedIn-ready badge image for social profiles.
	+
	+	The certificate is valid for 12 months from issue. To renew, take the 20-question refresher quiz when next year's update is published.
	+
	+	===== Why this course is free =====
	+
	+	RTI was designed for citizens, not for paid intermediaries. We build free tools and free courses because a charge gates the very transparency the RTI Act exists to deliver. We're funded by ads + donations.
	+
	+	If you find it useful, share with one friend (the WhatsApp button at bottom-right is one tap), or [[:donate\|drop us a small donation]] to keep things running.
	+
	+	===== How to start =====
	+
	+	- Log in (or [[doku.php?do=register\|create a free account]]) — your progress and certificate are saved to your account.
	+	- Open Module 1 above. Read end-to-end.
	+	- Mark as read when done. Take the quiz.
	+	- Repeat for Modules 2 and 3.
	+	- Final exam unlocks once all 3 module quizzes are passed.
	+	- Earn your certificate.
	+
	+	===== Related =====
	+
	+	* [[:cpd:start\|PIO/FAA CPD Course (advanced)]] — 12 modules, 30 hours
	+	* [[:courses:\|All certified courses]]
	+	* [[:file-rti-help\|I just need help filing now]]
	+	* [[:state-rti-portals-directory\|My state's portal + PIO]]
	+	* [[:tools:ai-rti-draft-app\|🪄 AI Drafter (60-second RTI)]]
	+
	+	//Last reviewed: 24 April 2026.//
	+
	+	{{tag>course citizen-crash rti free certified}}

Module 01 — What RTI is, and what it isn't

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:07:45 +0000

2026/05/03 12:11	current
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	+	{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(citizen crash course module 01, rti module 01, what rti is, and what it isn't)&metatag-description=(Citizen Crash Course in RTI — Module 01: What RTI is, and what it isn't. By the end of this module, you can decide in 30 seconds whether an RTI fits your problem.)}}
	+
	+	====== Module 01 — What RTI is, and what it isn't ======
	+
	+	{{ :social:auto:citizen-crash-module-01.png?direct&1200 \|Citizen Crash Course Module 01}}
	+
	+	<WRAP center round info 95%>
	+	Goal: By the end of this module, you can decide in 30 seconds whether an RTI fits your problem.
	+	</WRAP>
	+
	+	===== A 1-page primer on the RTI Act, 2005 =====
	+
	+	Passed by Parliament in October 2005. Repealed and replaced the older Freedom of Information Act, 2002. Comes into force across India (except Jammu & Kashmir until 2019; now also covered).
	+
	+	The Act has one big idea: //a citizen can ask any public authority for any record it holds, and the authority has 30 days to give it.// 10 specific exemptions exist, but the default is disclosure.
	+
	+	The Act has 6 chapters and 31 sections. As a citizen, you'll mostly use §3, §6, §7, §8, §10, §19, §20.
	+
	+	===== Who is a public authority? (§2(h)) =====
	+
	+	Four kinds:
	+	- Body established by/under the Constitution (e.g. Supreme Court, Election Commission)
	+	- Body established by Parliament/State Act (e.g. RBI, SEBI, AIIMS)
	+	- Body owned, controlled, or substantially financed by Government (PSUs like LIC, BEL)
	+	- NGOs substantially financed by Government
	+
	+	So: police, panchayats, municipal corporations, schools/colleges (govt + aided), hospitals (govt), banks (PSU + RBI), railways, defence (subject to §24), passports, IT, GST — all public authorities.
	+
	+	===== What can you ask for? (§2(f)) =====
	+
	+	Information — defined widely: "//any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form//."
	+
	+	Key words: records, documents, data. These are things that already exist at the public authority.
	+
	+	What you cannot ask for: future opinions, hypotheticals, why decisions were made (only what is recorded), or 'how should we…' questions.
	+
	+	===== The 4 things every RTI needs =====
	+
	+	- PIO — addressed to the Public Information Officer of the right department.
	+	- Fee — usually ₹10 by Indian Postal Order (BPL exempt).
	+	- Signature — your handwritten signature with name + address + phone.
	+	- Citizenship — "I am a citizen of India" stated explicitly. Only Indian citizens can file under §3.
	+
	+	===== Myths busted =====
	+
	+	* "You need a lawyer." False. Citizens were the design target. AI Drafter generates a legally-correct application in 60 seconds.
	+	* "You need to state a reason." False. §6(2) explicitly forbids the PIO from asking why you want the information.
	+	* "It costs a lot." False. ₹10 statutory fee. ₹50 in Tamil Nadu/Punjab/Haryana. ₹20 in Gujarat. BPL applicants pay ₹0.
	+	* "Civil servants protected from RTI." False. Service records are disclosable to the extent they form 'public activity' (Deshpande boundary).
	+	* "PIO can refuse without reason." False — that's a §7(8)(i) violation; First Appeal will set it aside.
	+
	+	===== ✅ Quiz =====
	+
	+	10 questions, 70% to pass. Take it from your [[:courses:citizen-crash:app\|course dashboard]].
	+
	+	===== Next =====
	+
	+	* [[:courses:citizen-crash:start\|← Course overview]]
	+	* Next module: [[:courses:citizen-crash:module-02]]
	+
	+	//Last reviewed: 24 April 2026.//
	+
	+	{{tag>course citizen-crash rti module-01}}

Right to Information Wiki

📖 Citizen Crash Course in RTI

Module 01 — What RTI is, and what it isn't