RTI Form Format — what a valid RTI application must contain (2026)

Valid RTI application — essential elements, fee, signature, addressee. Sample format + State variants + case law (2026).

What constitutes a valid RTI application?

• RTI Act, 2005 §6 (right to ask), §7 (reply), §27 (rule-making by State).
• RTI Rules of the relevant Government (Centre / State).

To:
The Public Information Officer (PIO),
[Office name + address].

Subject: RTI under §6 — RTI Form Format — what a valid query

Sir/Madam,

A valid RTI application typically contains:

1. **Addressee** — 'The Public Information Officer (PIO), [Office]'.
2. **Subject** — 'Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005'.
3. **Body** — Specific, numbered queries.
4. **Fee** — Rs. 10 IPO/DD/Court-fee stamp (varies by State).
5. **Signature + Date + Address**.
6. **Phone / Email** (recommended).

A sample query (you can copy):

To: The Public Information Officer, [Office Name].

Subject: Application under the RTI Act, 2005.

Sir/Madam, under the RTI Act, 2005, please provide:
1. [Specific query 1]
2. [Specific query 2]

Rs. 10 IPO No. [NUMBER] enclosed.

Yours faithfully, [Name + signature + address + date].

Yours faithfully,
[Name]
[Address + phone + email]
[Date]

• Day 31 File a First Appeal under §19(1) if there is no reply or the reply is incomplete.
• After the FAA window Use the Second Appeal guide for CIC/SIC escalation.
• For emergencies Use the life-and-liberty RTI format only where the 48-hour proviso genuinely applies.

• Khanapuram Gandaiah v. UoI (SC, 2010) — Queries must seek 'information' as defined; not opinions.
• Bhagat Singh v. CIC (Delhi HC, 2007) — Speaking-reasons doctrine.

• Asking opinions ('please clarify the position').
• Asking 'why' ('why was X done?') — seek the file noting instead.
• Wrong fee mode — check State Rule (some need court-fee stamp, some IPO).

Yes — Hindi, English, or official language of the State.

Most States accept online or paper. Online via rtionline.gov.in for Centre, State portals where notified.

• File RTI online — 12 steps
• Common RTI myths busted
• State RTI online portals
• RTI — 25 questions answered

• RTI Act, 2005 — full text.
• Citation chain in body.
• Citizen Charter of the relevant authority.
• Case-law database at /cases/search.

Last reviewed: 24 April 2026.