Karnataka RTI rules — filing, fees and appeals

A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Karnataka. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, it is noted. Fee and portal status verified against state sources on 26 August 2026; for a live matter, confirm against the Karnataka Government Gazette or the Commission's website.

The Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) is constituted under Section 15 of the RTI Act, 2005, seated at Bengaluru. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 concerning State Government departments, local bodies, and State universities. Filing a second appeal or complaint before the Commission costs nothing — Karnataka prescribes no appeal fee.

• The Karnataka Right to Information Rules, 2005 — the form, fee, and procedure for filing and disposal.
• The Karnataka Information Commission (Appeal Procedure) Rules — the procedure before the Commission.
• Language: applications may be filed in Kannada or English (§6(1) read with Article 350).

Payment on paper: Indian Postal Order, demand draft, or cash against receipt at the counter. Payment online: through the portal, including UPI.

• Online: rtionline.karnataka.gov.in — register, pick the department, pay ₹10 online (UPI supported). One of the working state portals; keep the registration number.
• On paper: to the PIO of the department or district office — for Revenue, Health, Home, Urban Development, Panchayati Raj and others, the district-level office is usually fastest.
• Central offices in Karnataka (Income Tax, Railways, Posts, GST): file at rtionline.gov.in — the ₹10 there is the central fee, not Karnataka's.
• Step-by-step for either route: How to File RTI Online in India.

• Reply due in 30 days (48 hours where life or liberty is involved) — the same Act applies statewide.
• No reply or a bad reply: first appeal to the First Appellate Officer of the same department — free, within a safe 30 days.
• FAA silent or wrong: second appeal to the KIC within 90 days of the FAA order (§19(3)); a §18 complaint for refusal-to-accept or fee misuse can go straight to the Commission.
• Drafting help: First Appeal Generator.

No — paper to the PIO works equally; the portal is a convenience and creates a clean digital trail.

Central offices follow the central position: English or Hindi, or the official language of the area — Kannada is lawful in Karnataka; English is smoothest for inter-state transfers.

No. Application ₹10; both appeal levels free.

The PIO must transfer under §6(3) within 5 days; if the portal closed it instead, first appeal citing the registration number.

• RTI Rules — Central, State, and Commission rules
• RTI fees in every state
• The RTI Act, 2005 — current text
• How to File RTI Online in India
• Why RTI Applications Get Rejected
• Guide for applicants
• The RTI Playbook book

1. The Right to Information Act, 2005 (No. 22 of 2005), Sections 6, 7, 15, 18, 19, 27; §7(5).
2. The Karnataka Right to Information Rules, 2005; Karnataka Information Commission (Appeal Procedure) Rules.
3. Fee and portal status cross-checked against state sources on 26 August 2026 (see the state fee hub for the verification note).

Last reviewed: 27 August 2026. Fee firmed to Rs 10, appeal-free position and portal UPI status added from the 26-August-2026 hub verification; the old headline's unfulfilled “2 quirks” promise removed.