• Application fee: Rs 10
• Photocopy (A4 b/w): Rs 2/page
• Inspection: First hour FREE, then Rs 5/hour (most states)
• CD / pen drive: Rs 50 per CD / Rs 100 per pen drive (varies)
• Certified copy: Rs 5/page additional
• First appeal under §19(1): FREE (no fee allowed)
• Second appeal to State IC: FREE (no fee allowed)

Yes — BPL ration card holders pay NO fee for application + photocopies.

• Enclose self-attested BPL ration card photocopy
• Cite §7(5) of RTI Act in cover letter
• PIO cannot demand fee even for voluminous requests

• Online (fastest): UPI / card / netbanking via state portal
• Demand Draft (DD): in favour of “Public Information Officer, [PA name]”
• Indian Postal Order (IPO): payable to specific PIO office
• Cash: in person at PIO office (insist on stamped receipt)

• Online: sic.hp.gov.in
• Postal: PIO of the concerned public authority directly
• Jurisdiction: HP state PAs.

• RTI fees in all states
• Fee Calculator (with photocopy estimate)
• RTI forms + downloads
• All schemes in Himachal Pradesh
• Full RTI Playbook

PIOs sometimes demand inflated fees (“voluminous”, “special collection”). RTI to State Information Commission for the official fee schedule + bring the PIO to compliance.

• AI RTI Drafter: Auto-fill PIO + Act sections
• First appeal if fee inflated: First Appeal Generator

Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.