Maharashtra RTI Guide 2026 — RTI Wiki Citizen Guide 2026

The Right to Information Act, 2005 applies fully in Maharashtra. State-specific rules under §27 govern fee, format, and First Appeal procedure. Capital: Mumbai. State Information Commission: https://sic.maharashtra.gov.in. RTI fee: ₹10. Online portal: rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in. This guide gives you the operational rules + sample RTIs + key state authorities + escalation ladder for Maharashtra citizens.

Reviewed on: 2026-09-01.

1. Online (where available): Use the state portal rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in.
2. By post: Address to the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. Send by Registered Post.
3. Walk-in: At the department's office during working hours. Get a dated receipt.
4. Pay ₹10 by affixing a ₹10 court fee stamp to the application, by demand draft or banker's cheque payable to the public authority, or in cash against a receipt — OR via the online portal payment gateway.
5. BPL applicants: No fee. Attach BPL/Antyodaya/AAY card.

Maharashtra SIC · BMC · MMRDA · Mantralaya departments

For Central Government RTIs filed FROM Maharashtra, use rtionline.gov.in which routes to the relevant central ministry.

To:
The Public Information Officer,
[Department name],
Government of Maharashtra,
[Department address, Mumbai].

Subject: RTI under §6 of the RTI Act, 2005 — [your subject]

Sir/Madam,

Under the Right to Information Act, 2005, I, [Name], resident of
[address with PIN], request the following information:

1. [Specific item 1.]
2. [Specific item 2.]
3. Copy of the noting sheet of the file from receipt till the date
   of this reply.
4. Name, designation, and contact of the dealing officer at present.
5. Service standard / SLA applicable to this matter and the reason
   for delay, if any.

I am enclosing the ₹10 application fee by court fee stamp
affixed to this application. (BPL applicants: card copy enclosed; fee waived under §7(5).)

Yours faithfully,
[Name]
[Address, mobile, email]
Date: [Today]

To:
The First Appellate Authority,
[Senior officer designation, e.g., Joint Secretary],
[Department name], Government of Maharashtra,
[Address, Mumbai].

Subject: First Appeal under §19(1) of the RTI Act, 2005

[See full template at https://righttoinformation.wiki/rti-first-appeal-second-appeal-guide]

To:
The Registrar,
Maharashtra State Information Commission,
[Address from https://sic.maharashtra.gov.in].

Subject: Second Appeal under §19(3) of the RTI Act, 2005

[See full template at https://righttoinformation.wiki/rti-first-appeal-second-appeal-guide]

• No Bombay High Court ruling makes online filing compulsory — under §6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 a request may be made in writing or through electronic means, so postal and walk-in filing remain fully valid in Maharashtra.
• For SIC precedent, see Maharashtra SIC — passport delay (2014).
• General Supreme Court rulings apply: see 10 Landmark SC RTI Rulings.
• Apply HC rulings of your jurisdiction.

• Passport delay → Passport Delay RTI
• EPF / PF claim → EPFO Claim Status RTI · EPF claim ruling (2016)
• Income Tax refund → IT Refund RTI
• PAN card delay → PAN Card Delay RTI · Maharashtra SIC order (2023)
• FIR copy → How to Get an FIR Copy
• MGNREGA wage delay → MGNREGA RTI
• PMAY status → PMAY Status RTI
• Driving licence → Driving Licence RTI · driving licence ruling (2017)
• Ration card → Ration Card RTI
• IRCTC refund → IRCTC RTI

1. Day 0 — File RTI to PIO (online or registered post).
2. Day 30 — PIO reply due under §7(1).
3. Day 60 — First Appeal under §19(1) to FAA (within 30 days of PIO order).
4. Day 60-105 — FAA decision due (30-45 days under §19(6)).
5. Day 195 — Second Appeal under §19(3) to Maharashtra SIC.
6. Last resort — Writ under Article 226 to the High Court of Maharashtra.

• CPGRAMS (Central): pgportal.gov.in
• State portal: rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in
• State SIC: https://sic.maharashtra.gov.in
• National RTI helpline: Use the state's general grievance number.

₹10 under the Maharashtra RTI Rules, 2026. BPL exempt under §7(5). Pay by court fee stamp, demand draft or banker's cheque for postal filings, or via the online portal where available.

Yes — at rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in. Most state departments respond within 30 days.

The Maharashtra SIC composition is updated on its website https://sic.maharashtra.gov.in. Composition changes periodically — check the website for current Commissioners.

If the Second Appeal hearing is delayed beyond reasonable time, file a writ petition under Article 226 to the High Court of Maharashtra. The HC has supervisory jurisdiction over the SIC.

(a) Court fee stamp of ₹10 affixed to the application; (b) Demand Draft or banker's cheque payable to the public authority; © Online via the state portal where it accepts payment; (d) Cash at counter during walk-in filing (get receipt).

• All-states RTI comparison
• Gujarat RTI guide (neighbouring state)
• First Appeal & Second Appeal Complete Guide
• §8 Exemptions explained
• Fee Calculator
• Deadline Calculator
• AI RTI Drafter
• Andaman & Nicobar (UT) RTI Guide 2026
• Assam RTI Guide 2026
• Delhi RTI Guide 2026
• The RTI Playbook

• How to file an RTI for income certificate in Maharashtra

• Right to Information Act, 2005 — cic.gov.in
• Maharashtra RTI Rules, 2026 — Gazette notification, GAD, 7 July 2026
• Maharashtra State Information Commission — https://sic.maharashtra.gov.in
• Central Information Commission — cic.gov.in