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guide:applicant:application:sample:start [2023/04/15 10:43] Shrawanguide:applicant:application:sample:start [2026/06/03 17:01] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-====== RTI Application Forms====== +{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(sample RTI applications,RTI templates 2026,RTI format India,sample RTI passport,sample RTI EPF,sample RTI pension,sample RTI FIR,sample RTI ration card,sample RTI scholarship,sample RTI MGNREGA,sample RTI MPLAD,sample RTI toll collection,sample RTI PMAY,DPDP overlay Section 8(1)(j),AI RTI Drafter) 
-{{keywords>rti application form,rti form,right to information form,right to information act application form,rti application format,rti application format in word,rti offline form,}} +metatag-description=(40+ free RTI samples: passport, EPF, pension, FIR, ration, scholarship, MGNREGA, MPLAD, toll, PMAY. 2026 with DPDP overlay, real recovery cases, AI Drafter.)}}
-{{like>}} +
-{{:windows-7-award-icon.png?nolink |}} +
-Here are the compilation of Sample Right to Information Applications. These have been attempted based upon the feedback and experience gathered from our forum. You should use it just as a sample and customize it based upon the requirements. +
  
-If you want to share your Sample RTI, kindly do so with us and we would be happy to include it here.+====== Sample RTI Applications 2026: 40+ Free Citizen-Tested Templates ======
  
-<note> +{{ :social:auto:guide-applicant-application-sample-start.png?direct&1200 |Sample RTI Applications 2026: RTI Wiki}}
-Kindly remember that you will need to customize the sample to suit your RTI Application +
-</note>+
  
  
-----+**Quick answer.** A **Right to Information (RTI) sample** is a pre-formatted, citation-baked application that you customise with **your name, postal address, file number / application reference, and fee mode**: and post by **Speed Post (Acknowledgement Due)** to the **Public Information Officer (PIO)** of the relevant public authority. RTI Wiki publishes **40+ free samples** organised across nine categories: identity & travel (passport, voter ID, RC), banking & social security (EPF, pension, PMAY), education (scholarship, marksheet, answer-script), civic services (ration card, LPG, water, occupancy certificate), justice & police (FIR, charge-sheet, missing file), welfare (MGNREGA, MPLAD, MLA fund), public projects (tender, toll plaza, foreign tour), service records, and regional-language formats. Every sample includes the **Section 6(1) opening line, the records-to-demand list, the Rs 10 fee clause, the Section 7(1) 30-day deadline, the Section 8(1)(j) DPDP-overlay pre-emption (notified 14 November 2025), the Section 10 severability invocation, and the Section 6(3) transfer clause**: so the PIO has nothing procedural to refuse on. Total cost is **Rs 10** (zero for BPL applicants under §7(5)). Adapting a sample takes **8 minutes**; drafting from scratch takes 45+. The PIO must reply within **30 days under Section 7(1)**; silence past Day 30 is a **deemed refusal under Section 7(2)** triggering a **First Appeal under Section 19(1)** within 30 days. This page is the index: every sample below links to the full enriched guide with a real-life recovery case.
  
-{{indexmenu>:guide:applicant:application:sample#3|context}}+===== Decision treewhich sample do you actually need? =====
  
-----+<WRAP round info 100%> 
 +**The infographic.** Match your problem to the right starting point. The eight //enriched// samples (top of the table) carry the full citizen-journey treatment: direct answer, real recovery case, filing-ready letter, 12-Q FAQ, citations. The remaining samples are template-form for less common subjects. 
 +</WRAP>
  
-====== Download the RTI Act ======+^ Your problem ^ Best sample ^ Rough recovery time ^ 
 +| Passport stuck on "Police Verification Pending" | [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/passport|Passport]] | 22 days (Naveen Joshi, Pune) | 
 +| EPF / PF withdrawal pending past 30 days | [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/pf-withdrawal|PF withdrawal]] | 30 days, Rs 1.4 lakh + §7(2) EPF Scheme interest | 
 +| Scholarship sanctioned but not credited | [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/scholarship|Scholarship]] | 35 days (Aman Mishra, Madhubani: Rs 50,000) | 
 +| FIR not registered or charge-sheet copy denied | [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/fir|FIR / charge-sheet]] | 14 days (Sneha Verma, Lucknow) | 
 +| Ration card stuck or cancelled | [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/ration-card|Ration card]] | 28 days (Sunita Devi, Buxar) | 
 +| MGNREGA wages / muster roll missing | [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/mgnrega|MGNREGA wages]] | 41 days (Ramesh Yadav, Madhubani: Rs 8,400 + §3(3)) | 
 +| MPLAD fund / phantom-work accountability | [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/mplad|MPLAD]] | Rs 4.7 lakh recovered (Manjit Kaur, Tarn Taran) | 
 +| Land mutation pending past statutory window | [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/land-mutation|Land mutation]] | State-wise window: Tehsildar PIO target | 
 +| Toll plaza over-collection / FASTag double-deduct | [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/toll-collection|Toll plaza]] | Concession agreement on record (Ravi Mathur, Pune) | 
 +| PMAY-G / PMAY-U 2.0 stuck | [[:rti-for-pmay-status|PMAY status RTI]] | 38 days (Lakshmi Devi, Buxar: Rs 75,000 + Saubhagya) | 
 +| Voter ID / EPIC stuck or BLO rejected silently | [[:check-status/voter-id-status|Voter ID + RTI to ERO]] | 27 days (Anita Mehrotra, Bengaluru transposition) |
  
-{{indexmenu>:act#3}} +These **11 enriched guides** are the heaviest-trafficked, most citation-rich pages on RTI Wiki. Each carries the **full citizen-journey treatment**. If your problem matches one of them, do not start anywhere else. 
-~~socialite~~+ 
 +===== Real-life: how Aman Mishra adapted a sample and recovered Rs 50,000 ===== 
 + 
 +Aman Mishra, a 17-year-old NMMSS scholar from Madhubani, Bihar, had **Rs 50,000** sanctioned on the National Scholarship Portal in October 2025. Six months later, nothing had reached his Punjab National Bank account. He went to a CSC operator who told him //"do e-KYC again."// He didn't. 
 + 
 +His father pulled the **scholarship sample** from this page. He customised three things: the NSP application reference, the academic year, and the cohort. He filed three **parallel RTIs**: one to the **Ministry of Education PIO** (Department of School Education and Literacy), one to the **District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) Madhubani**, and one to his **PNB branch under Section 2(f)** (the bank holds information accessible to a public authority). 
 + 
 +  * **Day 18**: PNB replies: UTR was issued to the State Treasury but never forwarded to the branch. 
 +  * **Day 23**: DSWO replies: the file was stuck at "verification pending" because the school's Head-of-Institution signature was missing on the renewal form. 
 +  * **Day 31**: HoI signs after a follow-up meeting; manual disbursement instruction sent to PFMS. 
 +  * **Day 35**: Rs 50,000 hits Aman's account. 
 + 
 +The full case lives in our [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/scholarship|scholarship enriched guide]]. Total drafting time: **12 minutes**. Total cost: **Rs 30** (three Rs 10 fees + postage). 
 + 
 +===== AI Drafter vs Sample vs Plain RTI: when to use which ===== 
 + 
 +^ Path ^ Use when ^ Time to file ^ Strengths ^ 
 +| **AI RTI Drafter** ([[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|tool]]) | Your problem doesn't fit any sample, OR you want a tailored letter | **2 minutes** | Catches §8(1)(j) DPDP overlay, §10 severance, §6(3) transfer in one pass | 
 +| **RTI Wiki sample** | Your problem matches one of the categories below | **8 minutes** | Citation-baked, real-recovery-case proven, scoped to the right PIO | 
 +| **Plain first-RTI template** | You want maximum control over the language | **45 minutes** | Generic; needs you to add citations + records list manually | 
 +| **AwaazRTI voice tool** ([[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/awaaz-rti.html|tool]]) | You prefer to speak in Hindi / Tamil / Bengali / Telugu / Marathi / Gujarati / Kannada / Punjabi / Odia / Malayalam | **2 minutes** | Speech-to-text; auto-translates to filing-ready English; works offline-mode-friendly | 
 + 
 +→ Most users get the best result with the **AI Drafter** for one-off problems and a **sample** for recurring categories (every state has a slightly different ration / scholarship / FIR procedure; the sample bakes in the regional language and statute). 
 + 
 +===== Drafting principles (read once before you customise) ===== 
 + 
 +  - **Ask for documents, not opinions.** RTI gives access to existing records. Phrase each query as a demand for a //certified copy// or a //factual status as on date//. Never ask "why": ask for the **recorded reason / decision / order**. 
 +  - **Be specific.** Include file number, application reference, postal-receipt number, or date range so the PIO identifies the record in one step. Vague RTIs come back marked "request not specific" under §6(2). 
 +  - **One question per numbered paragraph.** Easier for the PIO to dispose, harder to misroute, and clearer for the FAA to direct. 
 +  - **Multi-office matters → multiple RTIs.** File separately to each PIO. Bundling into one application typically gets rejected with //"the PIO does not hold this information"//
 +  - **DPDP Rules 2025 overlay.** Requests about a **named individual** other than yourself now engage **§8(1)(j)** of the RTI Act //as amended by §44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023//, notified **14 November 2025**. Frame such requests around a **public-interest ground** if one exists (recruitment, public-fund disbursal, statutory office). See [[:blog:pio-reply-section-8-1-j-after-dpdp-2025|practitioner note on the amendment]]. 
 +  - **Always cite §10 severability.** If part of your RTI is exempt, the PIO can refuse the entire application unless §10(1) and §10(2) are invoked. Every sample on this page already cites them. 
 +  - **Pre-empt the §8 traps.** Wrong invocations of §8(1)(d) (commercial confidence), §8(1)(e) (fiduciary), §8(1)(j) (privacy) are the top three refusal grounds. Each sample carries a **counter-citation** ready: //Bhagat Singh v. CIC//, //RBI v. Jayantilal N. Mistry//, //CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay//. See [[:explanations/grounds-for-rejection|grounds for rejection: counter-strategies]]. 
 + 
 +===== All samples by category ===== 
 + 
 +==== Identity & travel documents ==== 
 + 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/passport|Passport: full enriched guide 2026]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:passport-delays|Passport delay (most-asked)]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:ownership-vehicle|Vehicle ownership / RC details]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:owner-land|Land ownership records]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:irctc|IRCTC complaint / refund delay]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:rc-book-delay|Vehicle RC book delay]] 
 +  * [[:check-status/voter-id-status|Voter ID / EPIC: RTI escalation guide]] 
 + 
 +==== Banking, EPF, Pension, PMAY, Tax ==== 
 + 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:epf-transfer|EPF transfer between accounts]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:epf-withdrawal|EPF withdrawal status]] 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/pf-withdrawal|PF withdrawal: full enriched guide]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:pension|Pension delay (8-month rule)]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:income-tax|Income Tax notice / refund]] 
 +  * [[:rti-for-pmay-status|PMAY status: citizen guide for BDO/CMO PIO]] 
 + 
 +==== Education ==== 
 + 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:marksheet|Marksheet duplicate / correction]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:exam-paper|Answer-sheet inspection (//Aditya Bandopadhyay// 2011)]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:competitive-exam-marks|Competitive exam marks]] 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/scholarship|Scholarship: full enriched guide]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:scholarship-delay|Scholarship delay (legacy template)]] 
 + 
 +==== Civic services & utilities ==== 
 + 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:lpg-delay|LPG connection / refill delay]] 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/ration-card|Ration card: full enriched guide]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:ration-card-delay|Ration card delay (legacy template)]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:road-work|Road / drain not done]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:illegal-construction|Illegal construction in your locality]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:occupancy-certificate|Occupancy certificate (OC) delay]] 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/land-mutation|Land mutation: full enriched guide]] 
 + 
 +==== Justice & police ==== 
 + 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/fir|FIR / charge-sheet / closure report: full enriched guide]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:complaint|General complaint follow-up]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:missing-file-record|Missing file / record at office]] 
 + 
 +==== Government welfare ==== 
 + 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:gram-panchayat|Gram Panchayat fund / works]] 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/mgnrega|MGNREGA wages / muster-roll: full enriched guide]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:mla-fund|MLA Local Area Development Fund]] 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/mplad|MPLAD: full enriched guide]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:grievancesstatus|CPGRAMS grievance status]] 
 + 
 +==== Public projects & contracts ==== 
 + 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:tender|Tender award / process]] 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/application/sample/toll-collection|Toll plaza: full enriched guide]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:rti-application-on-issues-referred-by-mp|MP-referred-issue follow-up]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:rti-application-for-foreign-tour-details|Foreign tour details of public officials]] 
 + 
 +==== Service records (govt employees) ==== 
 + 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:service-record|Service record / APAR]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:commencement|RTI Act commencement / notification dates]] 
 + 
 +==== Regional language samples ==== 
 + 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:hindi|Hindi RTI format (हिन्दी)]] 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:rti-form-marathi|Marathi RTI format (मराठी)]] 
 + 
 +===== What's new in 2026: the four updates that matter ===== 
 + 
 +  - **DPDP Rules 2025 (notified 14 November 2025)** amended §8(1)(j). The internal "public-interest override" is removed; the override now operates only via §8(2). Every PIO refusal that ports the pre-DPDP language to a 2026 RTI is open to an //"order based on wrong text"// challenge: file the **First Appeal** with this ground citing §44(3) DPDP Act, 2023. 
 +  - **Online filing** is now supported on **rtionline.gov.in** (central) and most state portals (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu). The first-appeal portal at rtionline.gov.in is fully integrated with the original RTI registration number. 
 +  - **Awaas+ 2024-25 enumeration** has been progressively merged with **AwaasSoft** for PMAY-G beneficiary listing. Citizens whose names were on the SECC 2011 list but missing from Awaas+ should file an RTI to BDO surfacing the migration date: see the [[:rti-for-pmay-status|PMAY RTI guide]]. 
 +  - **Voter Helpline 1950 + Voter Helpline App + voters.eci.gov.in** now consolidate the EPIC + electoral-roll citizen interface. e-EPIC (PDF voter card) is **legally valid for voting since 25 January 2021**. See the [[:check-status/voter-id-status|Voter ID page]]. 
 + 
 +===== Step-by-step: how to use a sample ===== 
 + 
 +  - **Pick the closest sample** to your problem from the categories above. If your subject is in the //top-11// table, use that: those are deeply researched. 
 +  - **Open the sample** and copy the body text into a Word / Google Docs file. 
 +  - **Customise** these five fields (always present in every sample): 
 +    * **Public Information Officer (PIO) office address**: never a person's name; offices, not officers, are addressed 
 +    * **Subject line** with file number / application reference / date range 
 +    * **Numbered queries**: replace placeholder file numbers and dates with yours 
 +    * **Your details**: full name, postal address, phone, email 
 +    * **Fee mode**: IPO number, online receipt number, or BPL exemption clause 
 +  - **Print and sign** at the bottom. Hand-written, typed, or printed all valid. 
 +  - **Submit** by: 
 +    * **In person** to the PIO office (insist on date-stamped acknowledgement) 
 +    * **Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due (AD)** from India Post: keep tracking number 
 +    * **rtionline.gov.in** for central public authorities (Rs 10 online) 
 +    * **State portals** for state authorities: see our [[:state-rti-portals-directory|state portals directory]] 
 +  - **Track the 30-day clock**. Day 31 onwards is deemed refusal: file a First Appeal. 
 + 
 +===== Or skip the manual step: use the tools ===== 
 + 
 +→ **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|🪄 AI RTI Drafter]]**: type your problem in plain language, get a complete §6(1) RTI drafted in 60 seconds. Pre-fills the PIO authority + 5-7 records-shaped questions + Section 8 risk pre-emption. **Free, no login.** 
 + 
 +→ **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/awaaz-rti.html|🎤 AwaazRTI]]**: speak in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Punjabi, Odia, Malayalam, English. 
 + 
 +→ **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/first-appeal-app.html|⚖ First Appeal Builder]]**: for Day 31 if the PIO doesn't reply. 
 + 
 +→ **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/pio-reply-checker-app.html|🔍 PIO Reply Checker]]**: paste a PIO refusal and the tool flags wrong-Section 8 invocations + missing severability. 
 + 
 +→ **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/timeline-calculator-app.html|📅 Timeline Calculator]]**: track the 30-day / 90-day clocks. 
 + 
 +===== After you file: the statutory ladder ===== 
 + 
 +^ Day ^ What happens ^ Statutory anchor ^ 
 +| Day 0 | RTI submitted; acknowledgement received | §6(1) RTI Act | 
 +| Day 1-5 | If PIO is wrong, transfer to right office is mandatory within 5 days | §6(3) | 
 +| Day 30 | **PIO must decide**: supply or reject with reasons | §7(1) | 
 +| Day 31 | If no reply → **deemed refusal**; eligible for First Appeal | §7(2) | 
 +| Day 31-60 | **File First Appeal** to FAA (officer senior to PIO) | §19(1) | 
 +| Day 31-90 | FAA must decide within 30 days; max 45 days with reasons recorded | §19(6) | 
 +| Day 91 + | If FAA fails → **Second Appeal** to CIC / SIC + plead **§20 penalty** up to Rs 25,000 | §19(3) + §20 | 
 + 
 +→ See **[[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/first-appeal/faa|First Appeal procedure & format]]**: the day the deemed refusal hits, this is where you go. 
 + 
 +===== 8 common mistakes when using a sample ===== 
 + 
 +  - **Forgetting to change the PIO name + address.** Sample-default-name on a real envelope is the fastest way to get an RTI rejected administratively. 
 +  - **Vague references** like //"all files relating to my matter"//: PIO returns it under §6(2) as "not specific". Always include file number, application reference, or date range. 
 +  - **Bundling multiple offices** into one RTI. File separately to each PIO so each has its own 30-day clock. 
 +  - **Asking "why" or "explain"**: RTI gives existing records only. Ask for the //recorded reason / decision / order//. 
 +  - **No fee remittance.** Rs 10 IPO / online / DD must accompany. **BPL exemption** under §7(5) needs the BPL certificate copy attached. 
 +  - **Wrong officer cited as FAA.** The First Appellate Authority is **senior to the PIO** of the same public authority. Get this wrong and your appeal goes to the wrong place: the 30-day appeal window may lapse. 
 +  - **Asking about a named individual** without a public-interest ground: invokes §8(1)(j) (DPDP-amended). Frame around public interest. 
 +  - **Filing on the wrong portal.** Central authorities accept rtionline.gov.in. State authorities accept their own portal: check our [[:state-rti-portals-directory|state portals directory]] before posting. 
 + 
 +===== When NOT to use a sample ===== 
 + 
 +  * **Highly fact-specific service-matter disputes** (APAR, denied promotion, transfer order). The sample helps with structure, but the //grounds// must be drafted around your service rules: use the [[:templates:first-rti|generic first-RTI template]] as a base. 
 +  * **CIC / SIC second appeals.** Samples here are for the **first** RTI and the **first** appeal. Second-appeal grounds need the FAA order on record. 
 +  * **PIL-style records spanning hundreds of pages.** RTI fee per page (Rs 2 each) makes this expensive. Consider a §4 suo-motu disclosure search first via the public authority's website. 
 + 
 +===== Frequently asked questions ===== 
 + 
 +==== Do I need a sample, or can I write my own RTI? ==== 
 +Either works. Samples save 30+ minutes of drafting and pre-empt the most common rejection grounds. The [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]] (free, no login) combines both: sample logic + your specific facts. 
 + 
 +==== Are these samples legally valid? ==== 
 +Yes. The Right to Information Act, 2005 doesn't mandate any specific format. Any application that includes (a) name, (b) postal address, (c) Rs 10 fee, (d) clear request addressed to the PIO is valid under §6(1). Every sample on this page follows that format. 
 + 
 +==== Can I email an RTI? ==== 
 +**Most central authorities** accept email RTI **only via rtionline.gov.in**. **State authorities** generally do not accept email: use post or the state portal. Email-only RTI outside rtionline.gov.in is risky. 
 + 
 +==== What if my problem doesn't match any sample? ==== 
 +Pick the **closest sample** + adapt the queries. Or use the [[:templates:first-rti|generic first-RTI template]]. Or use the [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]] which works for any subject. 
 + 
 +==== Can I file an RTI in a regional language? ==== 
 +Yes: Hindi or any **scheduled language** under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The PIO must respond in the same language or English under §4(4) read with the State RTI Rules. See [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:hindi|Hindi sample]] and [[:guide:applicant:application:sample:rti-form-marathi|Marathi sample]]. 
 + 
 +==== What if the PIO claims the document is exempt under Section 8? ==== 
 +Demand the **specific clause** of §8(1) invoked. The PIO must give a **speaking order** with reasons: //Bhagat Singh v. CIC//, Delhi HC W.P.(C) 3114/2007. If the invocation is wrong, file a First Appeal under §19(1). Use our [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/pio-reply-checker-app.html|PIO Reply Checker]] to analyse the exemption. See also the [[:explanations/grounds-for-rejection|grounds for rejection]] page. 
 + 
 +==== Where do I submit the Rs 10 fee? ==== 
 +**Indian Postal Order (IPO)** in favour of //"Accounts Officer / DDO / [Authority]"//: call the office and ask which name to use. **Cash** in person at the office. **UPI / netbanking** via rtionline.gov.in for central authorities or the state portal for state ones. Court-fee stamp where the State RTI Rules permit. 
 + 
 +==== After I file, how do I confirm my RTI was received? ==== 
 +Insist on an **acknowledgement receipt** with **date stamp + signature** if filing in person. Speed Post with AD gives the tracking number and delivery confirmation. Online portals issue an **Application Reference Number (ARN)** automatically. 
 + 
 +==== The sample asks too many things: can I cut it down? ==== 
 +Yes, reduce to what you need. Long applications are no faster than short ones, and a focused 3-5-question RTI is easier for the PIO to dispose within 30 days. Padding multiplies the chance of a partial reply citing fee on extra pages. 
 + 
 +==== Is the sample valid if I just type and sign it? ==== 
 +Yes: typed, hand-written, or printed are all valid under §6(1). Signature must be original. Digital sign is accepted on rtionline.gov.in but not at most physical PIO offices. 
 + 
 +==== What if the PIO never replies: what happens after Day 30? ==== 
 +Day 31 onwards is a **deemed refusal** under §7(2). File a **First Appeal under §19(1)** to the FAA (an officer senior to the PIO of the same authority) within 30 days. See [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/first-appeal/faa|First Appeal: full procedure]]. If the FAA also fails, **Second Appeal to the Information Commission** under §19(3) within 90 days. 
 + 
 +==== Will the sample work for a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) or government bank? ==== 
 +Yes: most PSUs and public-sector banks are "public authorities" under §2(h), and they have designated PIOs. For a private bank holding records of a government scheme (PMJDY, PMJJBY, MUDRA, PMAY-CLSS), file under §2(f): the public authority that financed the scheme is bound to procure and supply. 
 + 
 +==== What changed in 2026 that I should know? ==== 
 +Three things: (a) **DPDP Rules 2025** notified 14 November 2025 amended §8(1)(j); (b) Online first-appeal filing on **rtionline.gov.in** is integrated with the original RTI registration number; (c) **Awaas+ 2024-25 PMAY-G survey** + **voters.eci.gov.in EPIC tracker** + **PMAY-U 2.0 (2024)** all opened new RTI angles for citizens. 
 + 
 +==== Can I use the [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/pmay-eligibility-check.html|PMAY eligibility tool]] before filing an RTI? ==== 
 +Yes: it's a useful pre-RTI check. If the tool says you appear eligible but your application is stuck, the [[:rti-for-pmay-status|PMAY RTI guide]] surfaces the next step. 
 + 
 +==== How do I know whether to file an RTI or a §18 complaint to the CIC? ==== 
 +**RTI + First Appeal under §19** is for getting records. **§18 complaint** is for sanctioning the PIO when the refusal is mala-fide / pattern-based. Both can run in parallel. See the [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/first-appeal/faa|FAA full guide]] for the §19-vs-§18 comparison table. 
 + 
 +===== Citizen-action checklist ===== 
 + 
 +  - **[ ]** Problem matched against the **top-11 enriched samples** table 
 +  - **[ ]** If matched: opened the relevant sample page and read the recovery case 
 +  - **[ ]** If unmatched: opened the [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]] OR the [[:templates:first-rti|generic first-RTI template]] 
 +  - **[ ]** PIO office address verified (not a person's name) 
 +  - **[ ]** Records-list customised to your facts 
 +  - **[ ]** Rs 10 IPO purchased (or BPL certificate copy attached) 
 +  - **[ ]** Speed Post (AD) tracking number saved 
 +  - **[ ]** 30-day clock set in [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/timeline-calculator-app.html|Timeline Calculator]] 
 +  - **[ ]** First Appeal letter pre-drafted in [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/first-appeal-app.html|First Appeal Builder]] as Day 31 fallback 
 +  - **[ ]** Calendar reminder set for Day 30, Day 45, Day 90 
 + 
 +===== Related on RTI Wiki ===== 
 + 
 +  * [[:guide:applicant|Guide for applicants: full procedure]] 
 +  * [[:templates:first-rti|Generic first-RTI template]] 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/guide/applicant/first-appeal/faa|First Appeal procedure & format (Section 19(1))]] 
 +  * [[:explanations/grounds-for-rejection|RTI grounds for rejection: 10 valid §8 grounds + counter-strategies]] 
 +  * [[:rti-for-pmay-status|RTI for PMAY status (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana)]] 
 +  * [[:check-status/voter-id-status|Voter ID status: EPIC tracker, RTI escalation]] 
 +  * [[:check-status/start|All status-check pages: passport, PAN, GST, EPF, scholarship, voter ID, MGNREGA, PMAY, etc.]] 
 +  * [[:udan-scheme-india-2026|UDAN scheme: citizen guide to RCS + Modified UDAN airfare caps]] 
 +  * [[:swadesh-darshan-india-2026|Swadesh Darshan: tourism scheme pillar guide]] 
 +  * [[:file-rti-online-india|How to file RTI online: 12-step guide]] 
 +  * [[:why-rti-gets-rejected|Why RTIs get rejected: 5 reasons]] 
 +  * [[:rules:start|RTI Rules: central + state fee structures]] 
 +  * [[:blog:pio-reply-section-8-1-j-after-dpdp-2025|PIO reply after DPDP Rules 2025]] 
 +  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]] · [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/awaaz-rti.html|AwaazRTI voice]] · [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/first-appeal-app.html|First Appeal Builder]] · [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/pio-reply-checker-app.html|PIO Reply Checker]] · [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/timeline-calculator-app.html|Timeline Calculator]] · [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/rti-fee-calculator-app.html|Fee Calculator]] · [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/pmay-eligibility-check.html|PMAY Eligibility Check]] 
 +  * [[:government-schemes-india-2026|Government schemes hub]] 
 +  * [[:citizen-rti-playbook|All 100+ citizen scenarios]] 
 + 
 +===== Sources ===== 
 + 
 +  * The Right to Information Act, 2005 (No. 22 of 2005): [[https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/1362|full text]] 
 +  * The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005: Central Government 
 +  * The Right to Information Rules, 2012 (Central): appeal fee and format 
 +  * The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (No. 22 of 2023): Section 44(3) 
 +  * **DPDP Rules, 2025** (notified 14 November 2025): overlay on §8(1)(j) RTI Act 
 +  * //Bhagat Singh v. Chief Information Commissioner//, Delhi HC W.P.(C) 3114/2007 
 +  * //CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay//, (2011) 8 SCC 497 
 +  * //ICAI v. Shaunak Satya//, (2011) 8 SCC 781 
 +  * //Reserve Bank of India v. Jayantilal N. Mistry//, (2016) 5 SCC 136 
 +  * //Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. UoI//, (2017) 10 SCC 1 
 +  * //Adesh Kumar v. UoI//, Delhi HC 2014: burden of proof on the PIO under §19(5) 
 +  * **rtionline.gov.in**: Central Government online RTI + First Appeal portal 
 +  * State RTI portals: see [[:state-rti-portals-directory|state portals directory]] 
 +  * Helpline: **1800-180-1855** (Department of Personnel & Training) 
 + 
 +{REVIEWED} 
 + 
 +//Last reviewed: 4 May 2026: RTI Wiki editorial team. All citations verified against the RTI Act 2005, RTI Rules 2012, state RTI rules, the DPDP Act 2023 + DPDP Rules 2025, and CIC / SC / HC orders as on 4 May 2026.// 
 + 
 +{{tag>rti sample-rti applicant application guide 2026 templates pmay voter-id passport scholarship fir mgnrega mplad}}