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—guide:applicant:application:fee-structure-2026 [2026/06/03 17:01] (current) – created - external edit 127.0.0.1
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 +{{htmlmetatags>metatag-description=(RTI Act fee 2026, Central and State rules. Application fee, BPL waiver under §7 sub 5, photocopy charges, inspection fee, and modes of payment. Step-by-step. Free.)
 +metatag-og:title=(RTI Fee Structure 2026: Central, State-by-State, BPL Waiver, and Payment Modes Explained)}}
 +
 +====== RTI Fee Structure 2026 (Central + State + BPL Waiver) ======
 +
 +**The standard RTI application fee in 2026 is Rs. 10 for Central Government bodies and most State Governments.** §27 of the RTI Act gives each State the power to prescribe its own fee under its own RTI Rules. A few States charge less and a few charge more (up to Rs. 50). **BPL applicants pay nothing under §7(5) anywhere in India.** Additional charges for photocopies (Rs. 2 per page at the Centre) and inspection of records (Rs. 5 per hour after the first free hour) are billed separately. **No fee** for a First Appeal under the Central Rules.
 +
 +<WRAP info round center 90%>
 +**Quick lookup**
 +
 +| Item | Central | Typical State |
 +|---|---|---|
 +| **Application fee** | Rs. 10 | Rs. 10 (range Rs. 0 to Rs. 50) |
 +| **Photocopy per A4 page** | Rs. 2 | Rs. 2 to Rs. 5 |
 +| **Inspection (first hour)** | Free | Free |
 +| **Inspection (per subsequent hour)** | Rs. 5 | Rs. 5 to Rs. 10 |
 +| **BPL applicant** | Free | Free everywhere |
 +| **First Appeal fee** | Nil | Nil to Rs. 25 |
 +| **Second Appeal fee** | Nil | Nil to Rs. 50 |
 +
 +Save this table. The PIO will rarely volunteer the breakdown.
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +===== Central Government fee (RTI Rules, 2012) =====
 +
 +For Central Government bodies, Central PSUs, statutory bodies under Union list, and constitutional bodies, the fee structure under the RTI Rules, 2012 is:
 +
 +  * **Application fee:** Rs. 10.
 +  * **Photocopy (A4 / A3):** Rs. 2 per page.
 +  * **Larger paper size:** at actual cost.
 +  * **CD or DVD:** Rs. 50 each.
 +  * **Inspection of records:** Free for the first hour, Rs. 5 per subsequent hour or part thereof.
 +  * **Samples or models:** at actual cost.
 +
 +Modes accepted: **Indian Postal Order, Demand Draft, Court Fee Stamp, Banker's Cheque, or online payment** (debit card, credit card, net banking, UPI) where the public authority is on rtionline.gov.in.
 +
 +The fee is paid in favour of the **Accounts Officer of the public authority**. The PIO refuses applications without the fee, or treats them as not received until the fee arrives.
 +
 +===== State-by-state fee table =====
 +
 +| State | Application Fee | Notes |
 +|---|---|---|
 +| **Andhra Pradesh** | Rs. 10 | Court-fee stamp, DD, postal order, or pay order. Photocopy Rs. 2/page. |
 +| **Bihar** | Rs. 10 | Court-fee stamp or treasury challan. No First Appeal fee. |
 +| **Delhi** | Rs. 10 | Online via rtionline.delhi.gov.in. Photocopy Rs. 1/page. |
 +| **Gujarat** | Rs. 20 | Court-fee stamp. Photocopy Rs. 2/page. |
 +| **Haryana** | Rs. 50 | One of the highest in India. Court-fee stamp or treasury challan. |
 +| **Karnataka** | Rs. 10 | Online via rtionline.karnataka.gov.in. Photocopy Rs. 2/page. |
 +| **Kerala** | Rs. 10 | Court-fee stamp or postal order. Photocopy Rs. 2/page. |
 +| **Maharashtra** | Rs. 10 | Online via rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in. Photocopy Rs. 2/page. |
 +| **Madhya Pradesh** | Rs. 10 | Court-fee stamp or postal order. Photocopy Rs. 2/page. |
 +| **Odisha** | Rs. 10 | Online via rtiodisha.gov.in. Photocopy Rs. 2/page. |
 +| **Punjab** | Rs. 10 | Court-fee stamp or DD. Photocopy Rs. 2/page. |
 +| **Rajasthan** | Rs. 10 | Court-fee stamp or treasury challan. Photocopy Rs. 2/page. |
 +| **Tamil Nadu** | Rs. 50 | One of the highest. Treasury challan or court-fee stamp. |
 +| **Telangana** | Rs. 10 | Court-fee stamp or DD. Same rules as the AP Rules 2005. |
 +| **Uttar Pradesh** | Rs. 10 | Per the [[rules:up:up-rti-rules-2015-guide|UP RTI Rules 2015]]. Photocopy Rs. 2/page. |
 +| **West Bengal** | Rs. 10 | Per the [[rules:west-bengal:rti-rules-guide|WB RTI Rules]]. Photocopy Rs. 2/page. |
 +
 +Two outliers worth knowing: **Tamil Nadu and Haryana** charge Rs. 50. Andhra Pradesh charges separate inspection rates per the AP Rules.
 +
 +For the full list and the latest notification, read the relevant state RTI Rules page on this site.
 +
 +===== BPL exemption procedure (§7(5)) =====
 +
 +§7(5) of the Act: **no fee shall be charged from persons below the poverty line**.
 +
 +To claim the BPL exemption:
 +
 +  - **Get a BPL card** from your Gram Panchayat (rural) or Municipal Corporation (urban) if you do not already hold one. State-issued cards have State-specific names: //Antyodaya Anna Yojana// card, //Yellow ration card//, //BPL ration card//, and similar. All are accepted.
 +  - **Attach a copy of the BPL card** with the RTI application. A photocopy is enough; no notarisation required.
 +  - **State in the application:** //"I am a Below Poverty Line cardholder. A copy of the BPL card is enclosed. §7(5) of the RTI Act exempts me from fee."//
 +  - **Do not pay any fee.** Not the application fee, not the photocopy charge, not the inspection charge.
 +
 +The BPL exemption applies across all stages: original application, First Appeal, Second Appeal, photocopies, inspection, samples. Some State Rules also extend the exemption to senior citizens above 65 (Kerala, for instance). Check the state's own Rules.
 +
 +===== Photocopy and inspection fee =====
 +
 +After the PIO has identified the records, additional charges apply for supply:
 +
 +  * **A4 / A3 photocopy:** Rs. 2 per page (Centre and most States). Some States charge Rs. 1 (Delhi) or Rs. 5 (Bihar municipal records).
 +  * **Larger paper (drawings, maps):** at actual cost. The PIO must give a written estimate before charging.
 +  * **Inspection of records:** **first hour free**, then Rs. 5 per hour at the Centre. The PIO must give a written estimate of total time before the visit.
 +  * **Information in printed form:** at the price the publication is sold for.
 +  * **CD or DVD:** Rs. 50 each.
 +  * **Email or PDF:** no fee. Some PIOs charge a "scanning fee" of Rs. 2 per page; this is informal and not legally binding for digital delivery.
 +
 +When the PIO sends a fee estimate, the 30-day clock pauses until you pay. Pay within 7 days to keep the file alive.
 +
 +===== Modes of payment =====
 +
 +  * **Indian Postal Order (IPO):** the safest mode. Buy from any Post Office. Made out to "Accounts Officer, [Department]".
 +  * **Demand Draft (DD):** from any nationalised bank. Higher cost than IPO. Made out to "Accounts Officer, [Department]".
 +  * **Court Fee Stamp:** affixed to the application. Common for State Government bodies.
 +  * **Treasury Challan:** for some State Government bodies. The applicant pays at a State Bank of India branch and attaches the challan stub.
 +  * **Online (UPI / cards / net banking):** through rtionline.gov.in for Central bodies, or each State's own portal for State bodies.
 +  * **Cash:** rarely accepted, never advised. Get a receipt if the PIO insists.
 +
 +===== First Appeal and Second Appeal fee =====
 +
 +Under the Central RTI Rules, 2012: **no fee** for a First Appeal under §19(1) and **no fee** for a Second Appeal under §19(3).
 +
 +A handful of States charge a token fee:
 +
 +  * **Bihar:** Rs. 25 for the Second Appeal.
 +  * **Tamil Nadu:** Rs. 50 for the Second Appeal.
 +  * **Gujarat:** Rs. 25 for the First Appeal.
 +
 +Most other States follow the Central rule of no fee at the appeal stage. Check the State's own RTI Rules before paying.
 +
 +===== Common fee disputes =====
 +
 +  * **PIO demanding fee in advance for inspection.** Wrong. The first hour is free. Pay only if the inspection runs past one hour.
 +  * **PIO demanding Rs. 5 per page for photocopies.** Wrong at the Centre. Rs. 2 per page is the rate under the 2012 Rules. Cite the Rule in your appeal.
 +  * **PIO refusing to accept BPL card.** Demand a written refusal, then file a First Appeal citing §7(5).
 +  * **PIO insisting on cash.** Refuse. Send an IPO by registered post. Cash has no statutory backing under the 2012 Rules.
 +  * **PIO charging a "scanning fee" for email delivery.** No statutory backing. Refuse and cite the absence in the Rules.
 +
 +<WRAP info round center 90%>
 +**Wrong fee charged? Appeal under §19(1).**
 +
 +Wrong fee, wrong mode, or wrong amount each give a ground for the First Appeal. Cite the Rule the PIO has breached. The FAA has powers under §19(6) to set the fee or refund excess paid.
 +
 +**Templates:** [[templates:first-rti|RTI Application Format]] · [[templates:first-appeal|First Appeal Format]] · [[templates:second-appeal|Second Appeal Format]]\\
 +**Stuck?** Use the [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]] to draft a fee-dispute appeal in 60 seconds.
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +===== Frequently asked questions =====
 +
 +==== What is the standard RTI application fee in 2026? ====
 +Rs. 10 at the Centre and in most States. Two outliers: Tamil Nadu and Haryana charge Rs. 50. Andhra Pradesh charges Rs. 10 with separate inspection rates. BPL applicants pay nothing under §7(5).
 +
 +==== Is there any fee for filing a First Appeal? ====
 +No under the Central RTI Rules, 2012. A few States charge a token fee (Gujarat Rs. 25, others typically nil). Check the State's own RTI Rules before paying.
 +
 +==== Will the PIO accept a photocopy of the BPL card? ====
 +Yes. A clear photocopy is enough; no notarisation is required. The PIO is required to accept the BPL exemption claim under §7(5) without further proof.
 +
 +==== How is the photocopy charge calculated for a 100-page reply at the Centre? ====
 +Rs. 2 per A4 page = Rs. 200 for 100 pages. The PIO will send a written fee estimate. Pay within 7 days to keep the file alive.
 +
 +==== Is the inspection fee charged from the moment I arrive at the PIO's office? ====
 +No. The first hour is free. The Rs. 5 per hour fee starts only from the second hour onward. Track the start and end time at the inspection.
 +
 +==== Will the PIO refuse my application if I pay through a different mode than the State Rules allow? ====
 +Yes, the PIO will likely return it. Each State prescribes accepted modes (court-fee stamp, IPO, DD, treasury challan, online). Check the [[rules:up:up-rti-rules-2015-guide|relevant State Rules]] before paying.
 +
 +==== Are there any free RTI applications under any category? ====
 +BPL applicants are exempt across the board under §7(5). Some States also exempt senior citizens above 65, disabled applicants, or freedom-fighter dependants. Check the State's own RTI Rules.
 +
 +===== Related on RTI Wiki =====
 +
 +  * [[guide:applicant:application:format-2026|RTI Application Format 2026]]
 +  * [[guide:applicant:application:file-online-rtionline-2026|File an RTI online via rtionline.gov.in]]
 +  * [[rules:up:up-rti-rules-2015-guide|UP RTI Rules 2015]]
 +  * [[rules:andhrapradesh:ap-rti-rules-2005-guide|Andhra Pradesh RTI Rules]]
 +  * [[rules:west-bengal:rti-rules-guide|West Bengal RTI Rules]]
 +  * [[act:section-7|§7 of the RTI Act, fees]]
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/book|The RTI Playbook]]. The complete guide to filing RTI in 2026.
 +
 +===== Sources =====
 +
 +  * The Right to Information Act, 2005. §7(1), §7(3), §7(5), §27, §28.
 +  * Right to Information Rules, 2012 (Central). Department of Personnel and Training. [[https://dopt.gov.in|dopt.gov.in]].
 +  * RTI Online Portal. [[https://rtionline.gov.in|rtionline.gov.in]].
 +  * Central Information Commission. [[https://cic.gov.in|cic.gov.in]].
 +
 +//Last reviewed: 28 May 2026, RTI Wiki editorial team.//
 +
 +{{tag>rti fee 2026 §7-5 bpl central state photocopy inspection}}