Sample RTI for MPLAD funds — citizen guide 2026

MPLADS is a non-lapsable central-sector scheme run by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). Each Member of Parliament recommends works (roads, school buildings, drinking water, community toilets, healthcare equipment, sports facilities) up to ₹5 crore per year. The District Magistrate sanctions, supervises and certifies execution. Citizens have full RTI access to every paisa.

• Founding instrument — Cabinet decision, December 1993. Central-sector scheme, not statutory, but every rupee is public money.
• Operational framework — MPLADS Guidelines 2023 (4th major revision; supersedes the 2016 Guidelines), issued by MoSPI. Read the official PDF on mplads.gov.in.
• Per-MP entitlement — ₹5 crore per year, released in two ₹2.5 crore tranches, non-lapsable, carried over after term ends until utilised. Implementation period 18 months from sanction; works lapsing get reverted.
• MoSPI to State to District flow — funds released to district authority (DM/DC) on the MP's recommendation. The District Nodal Officer (typically the DM or an officer designated by the DM) is the principal record holder and the right PIO target for an RTI.
• Public-authority status under RTI — every district administration handling MPLADS works is a public authority under §2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Records you can ask for: sanction notes, work orders, beneficiary lists, completion certificates, utilisation certificates, third-party inspection reports, and audit reports.
• Constitutional anchor — *Bhim Singh v Union of India* (2010) 5 SCC 538 (Constitution Bench) upheld MPLADS but expressly underscored “transparency and accountability through public scrutiny including the Right to Information Act” as the safeguard against misuse (paragraph 96). Use this citation in every MPLADS RTI.

1. PIO confusion — the dealing officer is unsure whether the District Nodal Officer's MPLADS file is a “personal” record (it is not — it's a public-fund record).
2. Work-code mismatch — your RTI cites a work code that has been re-numbered after the 2023 Guidelines update. Check mplads.gov.in for the current code.
3. Inter-district works confusion — Rajya Sabha MPs can recommend across their state, so work executed in District A might be in District B's MPLADS file.
4. MP changeover — after election, files transfer between outgoing + incoming MP entries. Period of confusion 3-6 months post-result.
5. Third-party inspection report (TPI) missing — paragraph 4.7 of MPLADS Guidelines 2023 mandates TPI; if missing on file, PIO may stall.
6. Photographs missing — paragraph 4.10 mandates dated, geo-tagged photographs of completed work. Often missing in older 2018-2020 files.
7. Pure delay — backlog of 200+ similar RTIs around budget season (Feb-Mar).
8. Vested interest — if the work is suspect, the dealing officer may slow-walk the file.

In FY 2024-25, MoSPI processed ₹4,140 crore of MPLADS sanctions across 543 LS + 243 RS members combined. The CAG Performance Audit Report No 31 of 2017 found systemic leakage in 17 states, much of it surfaced through citizen RTIs like Manjit's. Citizen-led RTIs have produced suspensions and fund recoveries in Punjab, Maharashtra, UP, Bihar, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu since 2018.

1. Step 1 — Find your MP. Visit sansad.in → Members → filter by state + constituency. Or use our MP/MLA Tracker which jumps to your MP from your PIN code.
2. Step 2 — Find work codes (optional but useful). Visit mplads.gov.in → Fund Utilisation → search by MP name + financial year. Works show with codes like MPL-XX-NN/YYYY-YY.
3. Step 3 — Identify the PIO. Public Information Officer of the District Nodal Officer (MPLADS Cell), Office of the District Magistrate / Deputy Commissioner / Collector in any district your MP recommended works in. For Rajya Sabha MPs, you can also write to the MPLADS Cell at MoSPI, Sardar Patel Bhavan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi 110001.
4. Step 4 — Draft the application. Use the sample below. Keep questions sharp and record-shaped (not opinion-shaped). Include MP name, MP constituency, period (FY 2024-25 onwards), and specific work names/codes if known.
5. Step 5 — Pay the fee. ₹10 for central public authorities. BPL applicants pay zero under §7(5). Pay by Indian Postal Order (IPO) in favour of *Accounts Officer* of the addressed authority, by court-fee stamp (most states), online via rtionline.gov.in, or DD.
6. Step 6 — Post by Speed Post (AD). India Post Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due gives you the filing-date proof that starts the §7(1) 30-day clock. Keep the AD card.
7. Step 7 — Wait 30 days. PIO must reply by Day 30 under §7(1). Silence = deemed refusal under §7(2).
8. Step 8 — Use the reply. Cross-check the work-list, the dates, the bills against ground reality. Match the third-party inspection report against actual completion. Photographs must be dated and geo-tagged.
9. Step 9 — Escalate. §19(1) First Appeal in 30 days using First Appeal Builder. §19(3) Second Appeal in 90 days to CIC / SIC. CIC has decided several MPLADS-related cases in citizens' favour — see case law database.

• Photo ID (Aadhaar / Voter ID / driving licence) — only for the citizen-of-India test under §6(1); not required to be attached
• ₹10 IPO (or court-fee stamp / DD / online receipt). BPL certificate if claiming §7(5) exemption
• MP name + constituency. From sansad.in (LS) or sansad.in/rs (RS), or our MP/MLA Tracker
• Work names / codes if known. From Fund Utilisation dashboard
• Speed Post (AD) receipt — your filing-date proof

To,
The Public Information Officer,
Office of the District Nodal Officer (MPLADS Cell),
Office of the District Magistrate / Deputy Commissioner,
[District name], [State]

Subject: Application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 -
       records relating to MPLADS works recommended in this district

Date: [DD Month YYYY]

Respected Sir / Madam,

1. I, [Your full name], a citizen of India residing at [your address], am filing
   this application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005,
   seeking the following records concerning works recommended by Shri / Smt
   [MP name], [Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha] Member of Parliament representing
   [constituency / state], under the MPLAD Scheme during financial year
   2024-25 onwards (or specify period).

2. Information sought (please supply certified copies and not opinions):

   (a) The complete list of works recommended by the said MP for execution in
       [District name], with each entry showing: work code, work name, location
       (panchayat / ward / address), date of MP's recommendation, sanctioned
       amount, executing agency, date of work order, date of fund release,
       expected and actual completion dates, status as on date of reply.

   (b) Certified copy of the sanction note (administrative sanction + technical
       sanction) of work code [MPL-XX-XX/YYYY-YY] (if you know a specific code;
       otherwise replace with "the most recently sanctioned 5 works").

   (c) Certified copy of the work order issued to the executing agency, naming
       the agency, the contract value, and the work-completion timeline as
       prescribed under paragraph 3.7 of the MPLADS Guidelines 2023.

   (d) Certified copy of the bill paid against the said work, the cheque /
       e-payment number, and the date of debit from the MPLADS sub-account.

   (e) Certified copy of the third-party inspection report mandated under
       paragraph 4.7 of the MPLADS Guidelines 2023, and the photographs of
       the completed work as required under paragraph 4.10.

   (f) Certified copy of the Utilisation Certificate submitted to MoSPI for
       the most recent financial year, with annexures showing fund release,
       fund used, fund balance and works completed.

   (g) Name, designation, and contact of the District Nodal Officer (MPLADS
       Cell) currently posted in this office.

   (h) The Grievance Register entries pertaining to MPLADS works in this
       district during the period 1 April 2024 onwards.

3. Fee: An Indian Postal Order (IPO) of Rs. 10 in favour of the Accounts
   Officer of the above authority is enclosed.

4. Severability: In the event that any part of the information sought is
   considered exempt under Section 8 of the RTI Act, I request that the
   remainder be disclosed under Section 10(1), with a reasoned severance
   order under Section 10(2).

5. Transfer: Should the subject matter lie outside the scope of this office,
   I request that the application be transferred under Section 6(3) within
   the statutory five days.

6. Constitutional anchor: I respectfully draw attention to *Bhim Singh v.
   Union of India* (2010) 5 SCC 538, paragraph 96, where the Constitution
   Bench held that MPLADS operates with constitutional sanction only on the
   condition of complete transparency through the RTI Act. This RTI is filed
   in furtherance of that constitutional safeguard.

7. I respectfully request that the information be supplied within the statutory
   period of 30 days under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act. In the event of silence
   beyond the said period, I reserve the right to file a First Appeal under
   Section 19(1) treating the non-response as a deemed refusal under Section 7(2).

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,


([Your full name])

Applicant details:
Name    : [Your full name]
Address : [Your full postal address with PIN]
Phone   : [Your phone — optional]
Email   : [Your email — optional]

Encl.: Indian Postal Order of Rs. 10 in favour of the Accounts Officer.

For LS: the MP's primary district is the natural starting point. For RS: file to MoSPI for the master list, then drill to specific districts. For nominated MPs (e.g., from arts / sports / sciences quota): MoSPI is the primary public authority.

• Asking the MP directly — MPs are NOT public authorities under the RTI Act. The right target is the District Nodal Officer / DM who holds the records.
• Asking why an MP chose work X — MPs' rationale is not on file (they only recommend). Instead ask for the sanction note, technical sanction, administrative sanction, work order, and utilisation certificate — all of which exist on file.
• Asking for personal information of beneficiaries — likely refused under §8(1)(j). Re-frame as “anonymised list of beneficiaries with category (SC/ST/General/Other), village, and benefit value”.
• No fee proof — non-acceptance memo. Always include the IPO / court-fee / online receipt.
• Sending to the wrong office — invoke §6(3) in the letter (sample above already does this); the receiving PIO must transfer within 5 days.
• Forgetting Section 10 severability — if part of your RTI hits §8 exemption, the PIO can refuse the whole thing. The sample explicitly invokes §10(1) + §10(2) so non-exempt parts must still be supplied.
• No constitutional anchor — citing *Bhim Singh v UoI* (2010) paragraph 96 makes refusal much harder. Always include.
• Vague work identification — say “work code MPL-XX-NN/YYYY-YY” or “the 5 most-recently-sanctioned works”, not “all work in my village”.

Visit sansad.in. For Lok Sabha, click Members and filter by state and constituency. For Rajya Sabha, Members → Listing. Or use our MP/MLA Tracker which jumps straight to the MP for your PIN code.

No. Members of Parliament are not public authorities under the RTI Act. The right targets are the District Nodal Officer (MPLADS Cell) of every district where your MP recommends works, and the MPLADS Cell at MoSPI, New Delhi for the all-India view.

The DM is the principal record holder under MPLADS Guidelines 2023 paragraph 4.5. The DM cannot delegate that responsibility. If pushed back, cite paragraph 4.5 and §5(4) of the RTI Act (PIO must seek assistance of any officer to compile the reply). *Bhagat Singh v. CIC* (Delhi HC, 2007) makes this principle binding.

No. MPLADS funds and CSR funds are separate streams. CSR works are governed by the Companies Act, 2013 and Schedule VII; the records sit with the company's CSR committee, not with the DM. Different RTI route.

Yes — multiple. *Common Cause v. Union of India* (Delhi HC, 2014) directed CAG to audit MPLADS books. The 2017 CAG report found systemic leakage in 17 states. Citizen-led RTIs have produced suspensions and recoveries in Punjab, Maharashtra, UP, Bihar, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu since 2018.

Outside MPLADS. MP travel and personal expenses come from the Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament Act, 1954, paid by the Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha Secretariat. RTI those secretariats separately. See our companion guide RTI for money and schemes.

Yes — that is a public record held in the DM's MPLADS file. Add to query (b) of the sample: “*the MP's recommendation letter dated [date] for the said work, certified copy*”.

Central authorities (which the DM-MPLADS Cell is, via its MoSPI linkage): ₹10. Several states charge ₹50 for state-level RTIs (e.g., Maharashtra, Bihar). See state-wise fee chart. BPL applicants always pay zero under §7(5).

Yes, if you retain Indian citizenship. NRI status does not affect RTI eligibility — citizenship does. The reply will come to your foreign address (you may need to enclose international postage / pre-paid envelope, or use email-only reply via rtionline.gov.in).

No. OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) is not Indian citizenship — RTI does not apply. For OCI matters, use the MEA grievance route or the consular post in your country.

The §7(1) proviso requires reply in 48 hours “where the information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person”. MPLADS-related RTIs typically don't qualify — they're about public funds, not individual liberty. The 30-day window applies.

Yes, citing *Bhim Singh v UoI* (2010) paragraph 96 (constitutional sanction tied to RTI transparency) + *CPIO SC v Subhash Agarwal* (2020) 5 SCC 481 (public-interest balance under §8(2)) + *Girish Deshpande* (2013) 1 SCC 212 (substantive personal-information test). The MPLADS public-fund context strongly favours disclosure.

Marginally. §44(3) of DPDP 2023 (in force 14 November 2025) deleted the proviso to §8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. The substantive test for “personal information” is unchanged. The public-interest balance now sits in §8(2) of the RTI Act. For MPLADS records (which are largely public-fund records), the change has minimal effect.

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• Bhim Singh v. Union of India (2010) 5 SCC 538 — Constitution Bench upholds MPLADS only with RTI safeguard
• Common Cause v. Union of India (Delhi HC, 2014) — CAG audit of MPLADS
• Peoples Watch v. UoI — citizen-led audit precedent
• CPIO SC v. Subhash Agarwal — public-interest balance under §8(2)
• Bhagat Singh v. CIC — procedural objections cannot defeat RTI
• Adesh Kumar v. UoI — irrelevance is not a ground
• Full RTI case-law database (300+)

• 🪄 AI RTI Drafter — free, 60 seconds, auto-fills MP + DM details
• 🎤 AwaazRTI — voice in 11 Indian languages
• 👤 MP / MLA Tracker — find your MP from PIN code
• ⚖ First Appeal Builder — for §19(1) appeals
• 📅 Timeline Tracker — Day 30 + Day 60 alerts
• 📬 PIO Reply Checker — analyse evasive replies
• 🌐 Citizen 360 — PIN code → all civic services + MP
• 🔖 Citation Formatter — for case-law citations

• Right to Information Act, 2005 — Sections 6, 7, 8, 10, 19, 20. Full text on RTI Wiki.
• MPLADS Guidelines 2023 — official PDF on mplads.gov.in.
• Bhim Singh v. Union of India (2010) 5 SCC 538 — Constitution Bench, paragraph 96 (RTI safeguard).
• Common Cause v. Union of India (Delhi HC, 2014) — directed CAG audit of MPLADS.
• CAG Performance Audit Report on MPLADS — Report No 31 of 2017, available on cag.gov.in.
• Bhagat Singh v. CIC (Delhi HC, 2007) — procedural objections cannot defeat RTI.
• CPIO Supreme Court v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal (2020) 5 SCC 481 — Constitution Bench, §8(2) public-interest balance.
• Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. CIC (2013) 1 SCC 212 — §8(1)(j) personal-information test.
• mplads.gov.in — official MPLADS portal with fund-utilisation dashboard.
• sansad.in — Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha official portal.
• rtionline.gov.in — central RTI online filing.

• All sample RTI letters
• How to file an RTI application
• How to file a §19(1) First Appeal
• 10 fundamental facts every RTI applicant should know
• RTI case-law database (300+)
• Master directory of landmark RTI rulings
• State-wise RTI fees
• State RTI rules
• RTI Act, 2005 — full text

Last reviewed: 4 May 2026 by RTI Wiki editorial team. MPLADS Guidelines + sample format cross-checked against MoSPI 2023 PDF and *Bhim Singh* (2010). Real-life case (Manjit, Tarn Taran) used with consent. Statute citations verified against IndiaCode.