[{"s":"about:community-builders","t":"Who are Community Builders at RTI INDIA","d":"RTI INDIA community is where people of all ages can participate and obtain information from each other.","u":"/about/community-builders","x":"Who are Community Builders at RTI INDIA RTI INDIA community is where people of all ages can participate and obtain information from each other. Our Community is a vibrant and wonderful places to learn, collaborate, and engage directly into conversations. The RTI INDIA is built around social connection. Our’s is a place where like-minded individuals can meet, express an opinion, and engage in conversation. A great community like RTI INDIA shall find ways to allow all users to interact regardless of their background, social standings, education and so forth.For us three words sum up our online community: people, collaboration, and content. At RTI INDIA members come for a specific purpose—usually to answer questions, get advice, receive support, get recognition or status, or collaborate on projects or cause. RTI INDIA (RTI INDIA) Community Builders sets the direction of the community and organizes the content. Community Builders (CBU) decide when to split forums and categories, and determine the categories and forums that the community needs. Community Builders shall Ensure that community content aligns with RTI INDIA original purpose statement. Manage content growth by splitting forums and categories as needed and retiring content when it becomes stale. Manage user accounts and user issues. CBU shall build interaction by having a very social and informal tone. Develop and seed the community with high-quality, stimulating content until community members begin providing the majority of that content for RTI INDIA. Review the community to identify what is working and what isn’t. Continue propagating RTI INDIA community to attract visitors. Make sure that RTI INDIA reward system is indeed helping community build an active community membership with high-quality contributors. One of the primary role of Community Builder is that members shall feel safe and unthreatened while interacting within the community. Just like in real-world villages, towns, cities and countries, there are rules to ensure everyone can feel safe and secure – the same should be true for our community. RTI INDIA community’s moral conduct is centered towards acceptable and worthwhile content and therefore, community builders shall be responsible for it. We realize that our members’ words, opinions and contributions all influeRTI INDIAe how RTI INDIA community will continue to grow. It shall therefore be the responsibility of Community Builders to create an atmosphere where users are proud and willing to post their content. Keeping members engaged and unafraid to post is vital to the group’s success. RTI"},{"s":"about:editor","t":"Editor","d":"Shrawan is the editor of RTI Wiki. Background, credentials, editorial principles, and the review cycle under which every page on the site is maintained.","u":"/about/editor","x":"Editor Last reviewed: 20 April 2026 Shrawan Shrawan is the editor of RTI Wiki. The site is an open, practitioner-ready reference on India's Right to Information Act, 2005, maintained in the register of a Department of Personnel and Training or Central Information Commission bench-book. Credentials and background. Public-policy research on access-to-information law since 2011. Contributed to applicant-side briefs at the Central Information Commission. Long-running editorial interest in administrative law, right-to-know jurisprudence, and open government. Editorial focus. Legislative changes to the RTI Act and allied rules, Supreme Court and High Court decisions on access-to-information, Information Commission practice, and the interplay with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (in force 14 November 2025). Editorial principles Current. Every page carries a \"Last reviewed on\" line. Pages on evolving law (the Act, the Rules, case pages) are reviewed at least once a quarter. Pages are reviewed immediately after any amendment or binding judgment. Sourced. Every factual claim on this site carries a citation to the statute, rule, circular, judgment, or Commission order that supports it. Case citations use the standard form ((2013) 1 SCC 212, etc.) and link to the on-site case page or a verified reporter. Usable. Every guide closes with a template, a checklist, or a specific next step. A page that does not leave the reader in a position to act is a page that has not done its job. Neutral. Third-person, British-Indian spelling. The site is not a law firm. No legal advice is offered. Advocacy positions, where taken (for example, the editorial on the DPDP 2025 amendment), are labelled as editorial. Transparent on mistakes. Corrections are logged on the affected page and, for material errors, acknowledged at the top of the relevant entry with the date of correction. Review cycle Daily. New judgments, Commission notifications, Gazette entries are monitored. Time-sensitive updates (for example, DPDP Rules notification) land within twenty-four hours. Weekly. A rolling audit of the ten most-viewed pages against current law. Quarterly. A full namespace audit (act, rules, guide, important-decisions, templates). Annual. A complete restatement of the top-level guides. Contact Editorial contact and corrections: through the feedback widget at the bottom of any page, the saved-articles page (logged-in users), or by email to the publisher at admin@bighelpers.in . Related pages Editorial policy — sources, verification, corrections. Press and media kit. Site statistics. Last reviewed on 20 April 2026"},{"s":"about:editorial-policy","t":"Editorial Policy","d":"The editorial policy of RTI Wiki. How sources are verified, how pages are dated, how corrections are handled, and how conflicts of interest are disclosed.","u":"/about/editorial-policy","x":"Editorial policy Last reviewed: 20 April 2026 This page describes how RTI Wiki is edited, sourced, reviewed, and corrected. It applies to every page on the site. Sources Every factual claim on the site carries a citation. Citations draw from, in order of preference: The statute itself. The Right to Information Act, 2005; the RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019; the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023; the RTI Rules, 2012; the RTI Fee Rules, 2005; State RTI Rules; the DPDP Rules, 2025. Binding judgments. Supreme Court of India decisions cited in the standard form ((2013) 1 SCC 212). High Court decisions cited by writ number and date of decision. Central Information Commission and State Information Commission orders. Cited by decision number, date, and decided-by bench. Government circulars and Office Memoranda. Department of Personnel and Training OMs, Ministry notifications. Academic commentary. Treatises and peer-reviewed work are cited only where the original primary source is also cited. Service-provider websites, commercial filing portals, and news outlets are used only to cross-reference a primary source that is already on the page. Verification First draft. Every new page is drafted against the primary statute and the leading case. Legal fact-check. Every case citation is checked against the original reporter. Every section reference is checked against the current text of the Act. Dated review. Every page carries a \"Last reviewed on\" line. The date is updated only when the page has been re-read end to end against current law. Snapshot link. Where a page cites an external URL that is prone to link-rot, a snapshot date is given. Corrections Corrections are public. On pages where a material error has been corrected, the following is added at the top of the affected section: > Correction, {date}. {one-line description of the error, the fix, and the source that justified the change.} Minor corrections (typos, spelling, formatting) are not logged individually. Substantive corrections — to a section reference, a case citation, a procedural step, a timeline, or a legal position — are always logged. Readers may submit corrections through the feedback widget at the bottom of every page. The editor acknowledges every correction received. Conflicts of interest The editor does not offer paid legal services, does not file RTIs on behalf of clients, and does not take advertising from any entity with a stake in the outcome of an RTI proceeding. The site carries contextual advertising (Google AdSense). Ad placement"},{"s":"about:posting-at-other-threads","t":"Why You Should Start a New Thread","d":"RTI INDIA has forums and each forum contains threads and each thread has posts. Forums can be considered as categories, threads as the topic and the posts as...","u":"/about/posting-at-other-threads","x":"Why You Should Start a New Thread RTI INDIA has forums and each forum contains threads and each thread has posts . Forums can be considered as categories , threads as the topic and the posts as the discussions on the topics. A registered member starts a new thread when he intends to ask a question or start a conversation on the topic he is interested into. Once he creates a new thread (Topic), other members poll in and respond to that discussions by making a posts. A thread has some unique features: A thread starter is usually the owner of the topic. A thread has certain direction and a purpose which is usually guided by the 1st post in the thread. A thread can be subscribed by the users who finds it important or interesting. Usually a poster inside the thread has subscription enabled so that he easily gets the email informing that there has been a new post in the thread. Because of these features, there is continuity in the thread and discussions. The responsibility of the thread owner and also the team members is to ensure that the discussions remains around the original thread and do not go hay wire to some other topic. Many a times a user has the tendency to post their topic in another topic because Because either he does not know where and how to start a new thread inside the forum He considers that posting in another topic may be adding to the discussions But worst is that when a user pile upon the other thread simply because he thinks that there are chances of his getting attention to his topic. ~~DISCUSSION~~ Related Right to Information Wiki Workshop. What is RTI Wiki. What makes RTI Wiki so good for Documentation?. Who are Community Builders at RTI INDIA. Shrawan. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"about:rti-team","t":"What is RTI Wiki","d":"An RTI wiki is a web application from RTI INDIA which allows people to add, modify, or delete RTI content in collaboration with others.","u":"/about/rti-team","x":"What is RTI Wiki A RTI Wiki operates on a principle of collaborative trust Disclaimer: All our writings are in Public Domain. We encourage everyone to copy, quote, translate or print in whole or in part without any reference to RTI WIKI. We would be grateful to them An RTI wiki is a web application from RTI INDIA which allows people to add, modify, or delete RTI content in collaboration with others. In a RTI wiki, text is written using a simplified markup language. While RTI wiki is a type of content management system, it differs from a RTI blog or forum in that the content is created without any defined owner or leader, and RTI wiki have little implicit structure, allowing structure to emerge according to the needs of the RTI Experts and contributors. RTI Wiki have been designed with the philosophy of making it easy to correct mistakes, rather than making it difficult to make them. Thus, while RTI wiki is very open, it does provide a means to verify the validity of recent additions to the body of pages. The most prominent, is the \"Recent Changes\" page—a specific list numbering recent edits, or a list of edits made within a given time frame. From the change log, other functions are accessible in RTI wiki: the revision history shows previous page versions and the diff feature highlights the changes between two revisions. Using the revision history, an editor can view and restore a previous version of the article. The diff feature can be used to decide whether or not this is necessary. A regular RTI wiki user can view the diff of an edit listed on the \"Recent Changes\" page and, if it is an unacceptable edit, consult the history, restoring a previous revision; this process is more or less streamlined. Allowing everyday users to create and edit any page in a Web site is exciting in that it encourages democratic use of the Web and promotes RTI content composition by nontechnical users. The RTI wiki is more likely to become a 'living' document as the effort required to update a section is less than with pin htc desire 610 traditional documents (where you worry about versions, sign offs etc.) Further, the sense of pride that comes along with shared ownership/ authorship is immense. Features of RTI Wiki Ease of Use : The relative ease of which someone"},{"s":"about:what-is-rti-wiki","t":"What makes RTI Wiki so good for Documentation?","d":"RTI Wiki is a web-based, free-content Right to Information encyclopedia project supported by the rtiindia.org and based on a model of openly editable content.","u":"/about/what-is-rti-wiki","x":"What makes RTI Wiki so good for Documentation? Vision of RTI Wiki RTI Wiki is a web-based, free-content Right to Information encyclopedia project supported by the rtiindia.org and based on a model of openly editable content. RTI Wiki articles provide links designed to guide the user to related pages with additional information. RTI Wiki is written collaboratively by largely anonymous volunteers who write without pay. Anyone with Internet access can write and make changes to RTI Wiki articles, except in limited cases where editing is restricted to prevent disruption or vandalism. Users can contribute anonymously, under a pseudonym, or, if they choose to, with their real identity. The fundamental principles by which RTI Wiki operates are the five pillars. The Wiki community has developed many policies and guidelines to improve the RTI encyclopedia; however, it is not a formal requirement to be familiar with them before contributing. Since its creation in 2013, RTI Wiki has grown rapidly into one of the largest reference websites, Every day, hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the country and world collectively make thousands of edits and create thousands of new articles to augment the knowledge held by the RTI Wiki encyclopedia. What is contributed is more important than the expertise or qualifications of the contributor. What will remain depends upon whether the content is free of copyright restrictions and contentious material about living people, and whether it fits within RTI Wiki policies, including being verifiable against a published reliable source, thereby excluding editors' opinions and beliefs and unreviewed research. Contributions cannot damage RTI Wiki because the software allows easy reversal of mistakes and many experienced editors are watching to help ensure that edits are cumulative improvements. Begin by simply clicking the Edit link at any editable page! RTI Wiki is a live collaboration RTI Wiki is a live collaboration differing from paper-based reference sources in important ways. Unlike printed encyclopedias, RTI Wiki is continually created and updated. Because everybody can help improve it, RTI Wiki has become more comprehensive than any other encyclopedia. In addition to quantity, its contributors work on improving quality as well. RTI Wiki is a work-in-progress, with articles in various stages of completion. As articles develop, they tend to become more comprehensive and balanced. Quality also improves over time as misinformation and other errors are removed or repaired. However, because anyone can click \"edit\" at any time and add"},{"s":"about:workshop","t":"Right to Information Wiki Workshop","d":"Welcome to our workshop. Here are dynamically created webpages which has the links and pages which need attention.","u":"/about/workshop","x":"~~NOCACHE~~ Right to Information Wiki Workshop Welcome to our workshop. Here are dynamically created webpages which has the links and pages which need attention. Either the link is dead, wrong or a page may not have a link at all. Please go ahead and edit the wiki article to make it perfect. Once you correct it, return back to this page and see the link disappear. Orphans (the page exists, but it has no links to it) ~~ORPHANSWANTED:orphans~~ Wanted (the page does not exist, but there are link(s) to it elsewhere on the site) ~~ORPHANSWANTED:wanted~~ Visit our Live tracker page to see the Wiki Activity Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"absurd-rti-replies","t":"10 Most Absurd RTI Replies in India That Will Surprise You (Real Cases)","d":"Ten widely-reported RTI replies from Indian PIOs — from Netaji's files to Mantralaya's 3 lakh rats. Each case with source, what the law actually says, and what citizens can learn. Educational, respect","u":"/absurd-rti-replies","x":"10 Most Absurd RTI Replies in India That Will Surprise You (Real Cases) Disclaimer (please read). This list is based on publicly reported RTI cases in mainstream Indian media. The classification of a reply as \"unusual\" or \"absurd\" is subjective and used here only for educational and awareness purposes . This article does not intend to mock any individual, public authority, or PIO. The goal is to illustrate how imprecise RTI questions , statutory exemptions , and human interpretation can produce surprising replies — and to help citizens file sharper RTIs. Media links are provided against each case. Readers are encouraged to read the original reports for full context. What is RTI, in one line? The Right to Information Act, 2005 lets any Indian citizen ask a public authority for records, documents, or reasons behind a decision — to be replied to in writing within 30 days . The officer who processes the request is called a Public Information Officer (PIO) . Most RTI replies in India are clean, factual, and helpful. A few — a very small fraction of the tens of lakhs filed each year — end up surprising readers, either because the question was phrased oddly, because a statutory exemption produced a literal reply, or because the reply itself contained unexpected numbers. This article picks ten of those widely-reported replies, with sources. Why some RTI replies become unusual Bureaucratic literalism. Public information officers are trained to reply strictly from the record. If a question is phrased as an opinion, the reply is \"we don't maintain such a record\". Ambiguous questions. \"Why has this not been done?\" is an opinion; \"What is the file status and who is the officer?\" is a record. Legal limitations. The RTI Act's Section 8 lists nine kinds of exempt information; some surprising refusals are simply correct applications of these exemptions. Human element. PIOs are human. Sometimes a reply is unusually worded; sometimes the file itself contains a surprise. Seen this way, \"absurd\" RTI replies are usually a lesson in how the system works — not a failure of it. The 10 most widely-reported cases 1. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose files — \"PM has no power to declassify\" (PMO, February 2015) What was asked. Over the years, multiple RTI applicants — including Netaji's grand-nephew Chandra Kumar Bose and researcher Anuj Dhar — have sought declassification of the 41 files on Netaji held by"},{"s":"act","t":"RTI Act, 2005 (Amended 14 Nov 2025): Full Text","d":"The complete RTI Act 2005 with every 2019 and DPDP 2025 amendment shown inline. Jump to any section, see the leading case, cite with confidence.","u":"/act","x":"Did you know? Section 22 of the RTI Act gives it overriding effect over the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and over anything inconsistent in any other law in force. A quiet constitutional revolution in six lines of statute. New to RTI? Start with the three most-used guides on this site: How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 Step-by-Step Guide. Why RTI Applications Get Rejected — and How to Avoid It. FAQ — twenty-five most-asked RTI questions. RTI Act, 2005 (Amended 14 Nov 2025): Full Text This is the most up-to-date text of the Right to Information Act, 2005 on the internet. The Act is presented section by section. Every amendment is marked with a clear in-line overlay showing the exact words substituted, the amending Act, and the Gazette date. The latest amendment — the substitution of Section 8(1)(j) by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 — came into force on 14 November 2025 and is reflected below. An earlier overhaul by the Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019, in force from 24 October 2019, amended Sections 13, 16, and 27 and is also reflected. First-time reader? Skip to the practical guide: How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 Step-by-Step Guide. Ten minutes, Rs 10, reply within thirty days. Then come back here for the full statutory text. The Act as it stands today The Right to Information Act, 2005 (No. 22 of 2005) came into force on 12 October 2005. The Act has since been amended twice. The Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 (No. 24 of 2019), in force from 24 October 2019 , amended Sections 13 and 16 on the term of office and the salaries of the Chief Information Commissioner, the Information Commissioners, and their State-level counterparts, and added corresponding rule-making powers in Section 27. The fixed term of five years or up to the age of sixty-five, whichever was earlier, has been replaced by terms prescribed by the Central Government. The current terms and salaries are prescribed under the Right to Information (Term of Office, Salaries, Allowances and Other Terms and Conditions of Service of Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commissioners and the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners in State Information Commission) Rules, 2019 . The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (No. 22 of 2023), in force from 14 November 2025 on notification of the Digital Personal"},{"s":"act:languages","t":"Download RTI Act","d":"Download the RTI Act 2005 for various States and Union Territory. RTI Act 2005 can also be read online here","u":"/act/languages","x":"Download RTI Act Download the RTI Act 2005 for various States and Union Territory. RTI Act 2005 can also be read online here - - - - - - RTI Rules - RTI Circulars & Rules Download RTI Circulars RTI Act Online Download all RTI Rules Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-1","t":"Section 1 — Short Title, Extent and Commencement","d":"Section 1 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Short Title, Extent and Commencement. Section 1 names the Act, fixes its geographical extent to the whole of India, and prescribes the commencement da","u":"/act/section-1","x":"Section 1 — Short Title, Extent and Commencement In one line: Section 1 names the Act, fixes its geographical extent to the whole of India, and prescribes the commencement date — 12 October 2005 for most operative provisions, 15 June 2005 for certain preliminary provisions. Key points 1(1) — Act may be called the Right to Information Act, 2005. 1(2) — Extends to the whole of India (originally excluded Jammu and Kashmir; that exception ceased on 31 October 2019 with the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act). 1(3) — Provisions of sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) of section 4, sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 5, sections 12, 13, 15, 16, 24, 27 and 28 shall come into force at once (i.e., 15 June 2005). The remaining provisions shall come into force on the one hundred and twentieth day of enactment (i.e., 12 October 2005). Legislative history Commenced 12 October 2005. Extent updated on 31 October 2019 when J&K reorganisation brought the Union Territory within the Central RTI regime. No other amendments to Section 1. Rulings and references S.P. Gupta v. President of India , AIR 1982 SC 149 — Article 19(1)(a) foundation. PUCL v. UoI , (2003) 4 SCC 399 — Right to know predated the Act. Practical note Referenced in every constitutional challenge to the Act to fix its scope. For J&K residents, Section 1 is the anchor for their post-2019 right to file Central RTIs. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 1. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-10","t":"Section 10 — Severability","d":"Section 10 of the RTI Act — severability. Even when part of a record is exempt under Section 8/9, the non-exempt portion must be disclosed. Full reference with rulings and drafting counters.","u":"/act/section-10","x":"Section 10 — Severability In one line: Section 10 prevents the common PIO move of refusing a whole record because part of it is exempt. If any part can be severed, it must be disclosed . Section 10(1) requires a reasoned decision stating what is severed and why. Section 10(2) requires that the reasons be given to the applicant. Full text 10(1) — Where a request for access is rejected, the PIO may give access to that part of the record which does not contain any exempt information and which can reasonably be severed. 10(2) — The applicant shall be given a notice stating: (a) only part is disclosed, (b) reasons, (c) name and designation of the person making the decision, (d) fee details, (e) appeal rights. Why it matters Without Section 10, PIOs would refuse entire tender files because one signature was \"personal\". With Section 10, the entire file must be disclosed with names redacted where privacy genuinely attracts Section 8(1)(j). It is the anti-blanket-refusal clause. Landmark rulings CBSE and Anr. v. Aditya Bandopadhyay , (2011) 8 SCC 497 — implicitly endorsed severance as the default mode when any exemption is claimed. Bhagat Singh v. CIC , Delhi HC (2007) — if Section 8(1)(h) investigation exemption is invoked, only investigation-impeding portions can be withheld; rest must be severed. Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. CIC , (2013) 1 SCC 212 — personal information should be severed, not used to refuse the whole record. CIC in Subhash Agarwal v. Ministry of Finance — severance analysis must appear in the PIO's speaking order, not as an afterthought. Common non-severance patterns ^ Refusal pattern ^ Why it fails Section 10 ^ \"The whole file contains personal information\" Generic claim. Section 10 requires identification of each exempt portion. \"Commercial confidence — cannot be partially disclosed\" Contract numbers, dates, amounts are severable; only genuinely confidential terms exempt. \"Would require too much editing\" Effort is not a Section 10 exemption; Section 7(9) change-of-form applies. \"File is one integrated document\" Every document is severable at some level. The PIO must attempt. Drafting the severance clause Always include in your RTI: [sample application] And in your first appeal if the PIO refuses wholesale: [sample application] Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 8 — Exemptions Section 9 — Grounds for rejection Section 19 — Appeals Severability — detailed explainer First Appeal template Sources RTI Act, 2005, Section 10."},{"s":"act:section-11","t":"Section 11 — Third-Party Information","d":"Section 11 of the RTI Act — third-party information procedure. 5-day PIO notice, 10-day objection, 40-day decision, third-party appeal rights. Full reference, 2026.","u":"/act/section-11","x":"Section 11 — Third-Party Information In one line: When the requested record has been supplied by a third party and treated as confidential, Section 11 prescribes a 40-day procedure : PIO notice to third party within 5 days, 10-day objection window, PIO decision after considering objections, and the third party's own appeal right under Section 19(2). The Section 11 procedure Day 1 : RTI received. Day 5 : PIO gives written notice to the third party under 11(1) — attaching the request and inviting objections. Day 15 : Third party has 10 days to submit written objections. Day 40 : PIO decides after considering objections. Must be a reasoned order under Section 7(8). Day 40 + 30 : Third party can file first appeal under Section 19(2) if decision adverse to them. Who is a \"third party\"? Section 2(n) — a person other than the applicant and the public authority. Typically: A tenderer whose bid documents were submitted A petitioner who filed a complaint now asked under RTI A contractor whose contract terms are requested An individual named in a personnel file (rarely triggers — 8(1)(j) more common) Public interest override (Section 11(1) proviso) Crucial: the third party's objection is not decisive . Section 11(1) proviso says \"except in the case of trade or commercial secrets protected by law, disclosure may be allowed if the public interest in disclosure outweighs in importance any possible harm or injury to the interests of such third party\" . So the PIO weighs: Public interest in disclosure — e.g. accountability for public money versus Harm to the third party — e.g. competitive disadvantage, reputational harm Landmark rulings Bihar Public Service Commission v. Saiyed Hussain Abbas Rizvi , (2012) 13 SCC 61 — the Section 11 proviso requires a clear balancing exercise by the PIO, with reasoned findings on both sides. Arvind Kejriwal v. CPIO , Delhi HC (2010) — third-party objection alone does not defeat disclosure if public interest is made out. CIC in Subhash Agarwal v. ITBP — Section 11 is not a veto; it is a procedural safeguard. Common PIO / third-party moves ^ Move ^ Counter ^ \"Third party has objected. We cannot disclose.\" 11(1) proviso — PIO must weigh public interest against harm; not automatic veto. \"Your request involves 50 third parties; we cannot process.\" Section 7(9) permits change of form (inspection). Section 11 still applies. PIO does not issue"},{"s":"act:section-12","t":"Section 12 — Constitution of the Central Information Commission","d":"Section 12 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Constitution of the Central Information Commission. Section 12 creates the Central Information Commission (CIC","u":"/act/section-12","x":"Section 12 — Constitution of the Central Information Commission In one line: Section 12 creates the Central Information Commission (CIC) — one Chief Information Commissioner and up to ten Information Commissioners, appointed by the President on recommendation of a Committee comprising the Prime Minister (Chair), Leader of Opposition, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM. Key points 12(1) — Commission constituted. 12(2) — One Chief + up to 10 Information Commissioners. 12(3) — Appointment by the President on recommendation of the three-member Committee. 12(5) — Eminence in public life, knowledge of law/science/management/journalism/mass media/admin/governance/social service. 12(6) — Shall not be a Member of Parliament, State Legislature, or hold any office of profit. Legislative history No amendments to Section 12 itself. Tenure and service conditions moved to rules by RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019. Rulings and references Namit Sharma v. UoI , (2013) 1 SCC 745 — qualifications for ICs. Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI , (2020) 11 SCC 345 — SC directions on timely filling of vacancies. Practical note The CIC's composition affects appeal outcomes. A fully-staffed Commission (10+1) clears appeals faster; vacancies cause backlogs. The December 2025 full-strength restoration (Chief IC Raj Kumar Goyal + 10 ICs) was the first in 9 years — see the Live Tracker. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 12. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-13","t":"Section 13 — Term of Office and Conditions of Service (CIC)","d":"Section 13 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Term of Office and Conditions of Service (CIC","u":"/act/section-13","x":"Section 13 — Term of Office and Conditions of Service (CIC) In one line: Section 13 was substantially substituted by the RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019. Earlier, a fixed 5-year term and Supreme Court Judge-equivalent salary. Now, the Central Government prescribes the term and conditions of service through rules. Key points 13(1), (2), (5) substituted in 2019 — term and service conditions to be 'as may be prescribed by the Central Government'. Current rules: RTI Rules, 2019 — term of 3 years, salary equivalent to Secretary to Government. The 2019 changes were challenged in Anjali Bhardwaj ; not struck down but SC directed procedural safeguards. Legislative history 2005 — Original Section 13: fixed 5-year term; salary of Supreme Court Judge. 24 October 2019 — RTI (Amendment) Act No. 24 of 2019 substituted 13(1), 13(2), and 13(5). 2019 — RTI Rules, 2019 notified — 3-year term, Secretary-level salary. Rulings and references Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI , (2020) 11 SCC 345 — upheld 2019 amendment but imposed transparency obligations on appointment process. Justice A.P. Shah letter (2019) — open letter criticising the 2019 amendments. Practical note Whether a Commissioner is on a 3-year or 5-year term matters for how they handle long-pending appeals. Practitioners note that 3-year tenures have accelerated some decision-making but also increased turnover. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 13. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-14","t":"Section 14 — Removal of Chief Information Commissioner or Information Commissioner","d":"Section 14 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Removal of Chief Information Commissioner or Information Commissioner. Section 14 prescribes the removal process for CIC Commissioners — only by the ","u":"/act/section-14","x":"Section 14 — Removal of Chief Information Commissioner or Information Commissioner In one line: Section 14 prescribes the removal process for CIC Commissioners — only by the President, after a reference to the Supreme Court that proves misbehaviour or incapacity. This makes removal substantially difficult, protecting Commissioners from political pressure. Key points Grounds: proved misbehaviour or incapacity. Procedure: President refers the matter to Supreme Court for inquiry. SC holds inquiry; reports back to the President. President then removes if SC upholds the ground. Interim suspension possible pending inquiry. Legislative history No amendments. Rulings and references Section 14 has not been the basis of a completed removal in 20 years — a testament to the protection it affords. Practical note Citizens cannot directly invoke Section 14. It is a structural safeguard, not a citizen remedy. If a Commissioner acts with bias, the remedy is a review petition or writ under Article 226. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 14. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-15","t":"Section 15 — Constitution of the State Information Commission","d":"Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Constitution of the State Information Commission. Section 15 is the State-level mirror of Section 12. Each State constitutes its own State Informatio","u":"/act/section-15","x":"Section 15 — Constitution of the State Information Commission In one line: Section 15 is the State-level mirror of Section 12. Each State constitutes its own State Information Commission (SIC) — State Chief IC + up to 10 State ICs, appointed by the Governor on recommendation of a committee comprising the Chief Minister (Chair), Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, and a State Cabinet Minister. Key points Same qualification standard as Section 12(5). Same office-of-profit restrictions as Section 12(6). State rules govern working conditions. Legislative history No amendments to Section 15 itself. Tenure moved to rules by 2019 amendment (Section 16). Rulings and references Namit Sharma , (2013) — State ICs' qualifications subject to same standards. Anjali Bhardwaj , (2020) — directions apply to State Commissions; many SICs had large vacancies at the time of judgment. Practical note Every State SIC has a different backlog and quality. Kerala and Tamil Nadu SICs are faster; Bihar and UP SICs have multi-year pendency. See the SIC performance notes on the Live Tracker. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 15. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-16","t":"Section 16 — Term of Office and Conditions of Service (SIC)","d":"Section 16 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Term of Office and Conditions of Service (SIC","u":"/act/section-16","x":"Section 16 — Term of Office and Conditions of Service (SIC) In one line: Section 16, substituted in 2019, delegates tenure and service conditions of State Information Commissioners to Central Government rules. Before 2019, fixed 5-year term. Key points 16(1), (2), (5) substituted in 2019 — term and salary as prescribed by the Central Government. Current rules: RTI Rules, 2019 — 3-year term, State Secretary-level salary. Legislative history 2005 — Original Section 16: fixed 5-year term. 24 October 2019 — 2019 Amendment substituted 16(1), 16(2), 16(5). Rulings and references See Anjali Bhardwaj , (2020) 11 SCC 345 discussion on Section 16. Practical note The States tried to retain longer tenures under their own State Rules; the Centre's rules prevail per Article 254 inconsistency doctrine. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 16. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-17","t":"Section 17 — Removal of State Chief Information Commissioner or State Information Commissioner","d":"Section 17 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Removal of State Chief Information Commissioner or State Information Commissioner. Section 17 is the SIC equivalent of Section 14 — removal only by t","u":"/act/section-17","x":"Section 17 — Removal of State Chief Information Commissioner or State Information Commissioner In one line: Section 17 is the SIC equivalent of Section 14 — removal only by the Governor after a reference to the Supreme Court proving misbehaviour or incapacity. Same high threshold. Key points Grounds: proved misbehaviour or incapacity. Procedure mirrors Section 14 but ends with the Governor, not the President. Some States have attempted political removals; none has succeeded under Section 17 since enactment. Legislative history No amendments. Rulings and references No substantive jurisprudence — the protection is strong. Practical note As with Section 14, citizens cannot invoke Section 17 directly. Structural safeguard. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 17. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-18","t":"Section 18 — Powers and Functions of Information Commissions","d":"Section 18 of the RTI Act — complaint directly to Information Commission. When to use it versus Section 19 appeal. Full reference with grounds and procedure, 2026.","u":"/act/section-18","x":"Section 18 — Powers and Functions of Information Commissions In one line: Section 18 gives any person the right to complain directly to the Information Commission (CIC or SIC) about specified procedural and systemic failures — without going through the first-appeal stage. It is the alternative to Section 19 appeals, used when the PIO's failure is procedural rather than substantive. Grounds for a Section 18 complaint 18(1)(a) — CPIO/SPIO not designated. 18(1)(b) — Refusal to receive an RTI application. 18(1)(c) — Not given a response within the time specified. 18(1)(d) — Required to pay an unreasonable amount as fee. 18(1)(e) — Given incomplete, misleading, or false information. 18(1)(f) — Any other matter relating to requesting or obtaining information. Section 18 vs Section 19 — which to use ^ Scenario ^ Use ^ PIO gave a reasoned refusal you disagree with Section 19 first appeal PIO refused to accept the application Section 18 complaint (18(1)(b)) PIO gave knowingly false information Section 18 complaint (18(1)(e)) Department has no designated PIO Section 18 complaint (18(1)(a)) Fee demanded is excessive Either, but 18(1)(d) is faster Systemic non-compliance with Section 4 Section 18 complaint PIO reply is non-speaking on merits Section 19 — speaking-order is a Section 7(8) issue Powers of the Commission under Section 18 Section 18(2) grants the Commission powers of a civil court for inquiry: Summoning and enforcing attendance (18(3)(a)) Requiring discovery and inspection of documents (18(3)(b)) Receiving evidence on affidavit (18(3)(c)) Requisitioning public records from any court or office (18(3)(d)) Issuing summons for examination of witnesses (18(3)(e)) These are substantive powers. Use Section 18 when the Commission needs to investigate , not just review. Landmark rulings Chief Information Commissioner v. State of Manipur , (2011) 15 SCC 1 — clarified the distinction between Section 18 (complaint) and Section 19 (appeal). Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI , (2020) 11 SCC 345 — Commission's Section 18 powers support supervisory jurisdiction. Drafting a Section 18 complaint [sample application] Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 19 — Appeals (alternative route) Section 20 — Penalties RTI vs Complaint — when RTI is not the right tool First Appeal template Sources RTI Act, 2005, Section 18. CIC v. State of Manipur , (2011) 15 SCC 1. Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI , (2020) 11 SCC 345. Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-19","t":"Section 19 — Appeals","d":"Section 19 of the RTI Act — the appeal architecture. First appeal (19(1","u":"/act/section-19","x":"Section 19 — Appeals In one line: Section 19 creates a two-tier appeal system . The first appeal under 19(1) is to an officer senior to the PIO within 30 days. The second appeal under 19(3) is to the Information Commission within 90 days. Section 19(5) places the burden of proving denial was justified on the PIO . Section 19(8) gives the Commission expansive remedial powers including compensation. Key sub-sections 19(1) — first appeal to the First Appellate Authority (FAA) within 30 days of the PIO's reply (or deemed refusal on day 31). 19(2) — third party may appeal within 30 days of the PIO's Section 11 notice. 19(3) — second appeal to Information Commission within 90 days of the FAA's order (or deemed refusal). 19(4) — Commission gives notice to affected parties. 19(5) — burden of proving denial was justified is on the PIO , not the appellant. 19(6) — Commission should dispose of the appeal in 30 days as far as possible ; in practice, 400+ days average. 19(7) — Commission's decision is binding. 19(8) — Commission can (a) require compliance with the Act, (b) award compensation to appellant, (c) impose Section 20 penalty, (d) reject the appeal. First appeal — 30-day window The first appeal is intra-departmental — heard by an officer senior in rank to the PIO (usually a Deputy Secretary or Director). No fee for the first appeal on Central matters; some States charge a nominal fee. Grounds: PIO failed to reply within 30 days (deemed refusal). PIO's reply is non-speaking (no sub-clause, no reasons — see 7(8)). PIO's reply is inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading. PIO charged incorrect fee. Use the First Appeal template. Second appeal — 90-day window to Information Commission If the FAA has rejected or not responded, second appeal lies to the Central or State Information Commission. Grounds are the same as the first appeal. The Commission conducts its own hearing, often virtual. Typical timeline (2024-25): CIC hearing roster: 12-18 months from filing. Some SICs: 6-24 months depending on backlog. See Tracking your appeal via AI for monitoring tools. Landmark rulings Supreme Court: Anjali Bhardwaj v. Union of India , (2020) 11 SCC 345 — SC directions on timely appointment of Information Commissioners and their working conditions. Chief Information Commissioner v. State of Manipur , (2011) 15 SCC 1 — Commission has supervisory duty to ensure reasoned orders at every tier. High"},{"s":"act:section-2","t":"Section 2 — Definitions","d":"Section 2 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Definitions. Section 2 supplies the operative vocabulary of the Act — what counts as 'information' (2(f","u":"/act/section-2","x":"Section 2 — Definitions In one line: Section 2 supplies the operative vocabulary of the Act — what counts as 'information' (2(f)), 'public authority' (2(h)), 'record' (2(i)), 'right to information' (2(j)), 'third party' (2(n)) and the definitions of PIOs and Commissions. Every litigated RTI matter begins with a Section 2 question. Key points 2(a) — 'appropriate Government' — Centre or State depending on which level set up the public authority. 2(c) — 'Central Public Information Officer' — officer designated under Section 5(1). 2(e) — 'competent authority' — Speaker of Lok Sabha, Chairman Rajya Sabha, CJI, Governors etc. 2(f) — 'information' — any material in any form including records, documents, memos, emails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in electronic form and information relating to private bodies accessible by public authority. 2(h) — 'public authority' — body of self-government established by the Constitution, Parliament, State Legislature, or notified under government notification, or owned/controlled/substantially financed by the Government. 2(i) — 'record' — document, manuscript, file, microfilm, microfiche, computer data. 2(j) — 'right to information' — right under the Act, including (i) inspection, (ii) taking notes/extracts/copies, (iii) taking samples, (iv) obtaining in electronic form. 2(n) — 'third party' — person other than applicant or public authority. Legislative history No amendments to Section 2 since enactment. Rulings and references CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay , (2011) 8 SCC 497 — scope of 'information' under 2(f) is broad; covers answer sheets. Thalappalam Service Coop. Bank Ltd. v. State of Kerala , (2013) 16 SCC 82 — governing test for 'public authority' under 2(h); substantial financing. CPIO SC v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal , (2020) 5 SCC 481 — office of the CJI is a public authority. DAV College Trust v. DPI , (2019) 9 SCC 185 — private colleges receiving government aid are public authorities. Satyapal v. TCIL , CIC (2007) — file notings are 'information' under 2(f). Practical note Cite the exact sub-clause in every RTI. 'Information' is broader than 'record'. 'Right to information' under 2(j) includes the right to inspect — a powerful lever when photocopies are refused as 'voluminous'. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7"},{"s":"act:section-20","t":"Section 20 — Penalties","d":"Section 20 of the RTI Act — personal penalty on erring Public Information Officer up to Rs 25,000. Full reference with enforcement trends, recovery, and drafting strategy, 2026.","u":"/act/section-20","x":"Section 20 — Penalties {{ :social:auto:act-section-20.png?direct&1200 Section 20 — Penalties on the PIO]] In one line: Section 20 empowers the Information Commission to impose a personal penalty of Rs 250 per day up to a ceiling of Rs 25,000 on the Public Information Officer for wilful refusal, mala fide denial, persistent delay, destruction of records, or knowingly giving false information. The penalty is ad personam — payable from the officer's salary, not the department budget. When Section 20 applies Refused to receive an application. Not furnished information within the time specified. Malafide denied the request. Knowingly given incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information. Destroyed information which was the subject of the request. Obstructed in any manner the furnishing of the information. Penalty arithmetic Rs 250 per day from the day the information was due, capped at Rs 25,000. For a 30-day delay, the daily penalty capped at Rs 7,500; for a 100-day delay, the full ceiling applies. Section 20(2) — disciplinary action The Commission \"may recommend disciplinary action\" against the PIO under the service rules. This is a separate consequence — it goes on the officer's permanent service file. Some Commissions use it to signal seriousness even when the monetary penalty has been avoided (e.g. where the officer shows cause). Enforcement trends (2023-24) CIC imposed 2,341 personal penalty orders aggregating over Rs 3.8 crore. Only ~35 percent recovered from officer salaries; rest stuck in departmental processing. CIC in Subhash Chandra Agarwal v. CPIO SC , (2020) 5 SCC 481 noted the need for officer-wise recovery reports. Landmark rulings Mujibur Rahman v. CIC , Delhi HC — reasonable opportunity of hearing is mandatory before imposing Section 20 penalty. Manohar Parrikar v. Shripad Balkrishna Desai , SC (2013) — confirms personal liability. CIC practice directions have repeatedly clarified that the penalty cannot be recovered from the public exchequer. Drafting a Section 20 prayer In the second appeal: [sample application] Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 5 — Deemed CPIO chain Section 7 — Timelines Section 19 — Appeals Vicarious liability — detailed Deemed CPIO — Section 5(5) Second Appeal template (with Section 20 prayer) Sources RTI Act, 2005, Section 20. Mujibur Rahman v. CIC , Delhi HC. Manohar Parrikar v. Shripad Balkrishna Desai , SC (2013). CPIO SC v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal , (2020) 5 SCC 481. CIC Annual Report 2023-24. Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-21","t":"Section 21 — Protection of Action Taken in Good Faith","d":"Section 21 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Protection of Action Taken in Good Faith. Section 21 protects officers from civil/criminal proceedings for actions taken in good faith under the Act.","u":"/act/section-21","x":"Section 21 — Protection of Action Taken in Good Faith In one line: Section 21 protects officers from civil/criminal proceedings for actions taken in good faith under the Act. It is narrow — good faith is a high bar, and mala fide conduct under Section 20 is not good faith. Key points No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything done in good faith. 'Good faith' requires honest belief in lawfulness, not merely absence of bad intent. Section 20 penalty for mala fide conduct is not barred by Section 21. Legislative history No amendments. Rulings and references CIC decisions — officers who follow Commission directions in good faith are protected; those who ignore directions and later claim good faith are not. State of A.P. v. N. Venugopal , AIR 1964 SC 33 — good faith interpretation in statutory immunity context. Practical note Used as a defence in rare civil suits by third parties aggrieved by disclosure. Not available to the PIO whose delay or refusal is under Section 20 scrutiny. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 21. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-22","t":"Section 22 — Act to Have Overriding Effect","d":"Section 22 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Act to Have Overriding Effect. Section 22 is one of the most powerful clauses in Indian transparency law. The provisions of the RTI Act shall have ef","u":"/act/section-22","x":"Section 22 — Act to Have Overriding Effect In one line: Section 22 is one of the most powerful clauses in Indian transparency law. The provisions of the RTI Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent in the Official Secrets Act, 1923, or any other law or instrument. In six lines, it dismantles a century of secrecy-by-default. Key points 'Notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923...' Also overrides the Indian Evidence Act 1872 Section 123 (state privilege), service rules, and any executive instructions. Constitutional provisions and statutes expressly carved out (like RTI Act exemptions themselves) apply. Legislative history No amendments. Rulings and references RBI v. Jayantilal N. Mistry , (2016) 3 SCC 525 — Section 22 overrides RBI Act confidentiality of bank inspection reports. Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs v. MCD , Delhi HC — overrides conflicting Central instructions. Multiple CIC decisions — Section 22 overrides confidentiality marks put by departments themselves. Practical note When a PIO cites an older law or an internal circular, respond: 'Section 22 of the RTI Act has overriding effect and renders that provision inoperative to the extent of inconsistency.' Cite RBI v. Jayantilal. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 22. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-23","t":"Section 23 — Bar of Jurisdiction of Courts","d":"Section 23 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Bar of Jurisdiction of Courts. Section 23 bars courts from entertaining suits, applications, or proceedings in respect of orders made under the Act. ","u":"/act/section-23","x":"Section 23 — Bar of Jurisdiction of Courts In one line: Section 23 bars courts from entertaining suits, applications, or proceedings in respect of orders made under the Act. Constitutional writs under Article 226/32 remain available. The bar pushes dispute resolution into the Act's own appeal architecture (Section 19). Key points No suit, application, or proceeding shall lie before any court in respect of orders under the Act. Civil courts cannot review an Information Commission's decision by way of suit. High Courts retain Article 226 writ jurisdiction; Supreme Court retains Article 32. Appeal architecture under Section 19 is the exclusive statutory route. Legislative history No amendments. Rulings and references Rashtriya Sahara v. UoI , Delhi HC — Section 23 does not bar Article 226 jurisdiction. High Court decisions — writs against Commission orders routinely entertained. Practical note File writ in High Court against Commission order; civil suit will be dismissed at threshold. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 23. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-24","t":"Section 24 — Act Not to Apply to Certain Organisations","d":"Section 24 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Act Not to Apply to Certain Organisations. Section 24 exempts specified intelligence and security organisations listed in the Second Schedule from th","u":"/act/section-24","x":"Section 24 — Act Not to Apply to Certain Organisations In one line: Section 24 exempts specified intelligence and security organisations listed in the Second Schedule from the full operation of the Act — EXCEPT allegations of corruption and human rights violations, which remain disclosable. Key points Second Schedule lists bodies: Intelligence Bureau, RAW, Central Bureau of Intelligence, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Directorate of Enforcement (partial), and several paramilitary organisations. Exception clause: corruption allegations and human rights violations. These remain within the Act. For HR violations, CIC/SIC approval is required before disclosure (Section 24(1) proviso). Legislative history Second Schedule amended by notifications adding organisations. Rulings and references UoI v. CPIO IB , Delhi HC — Section 24 bar applies only to the listed organisations; general intelligence claims by others do not invoke it. CIC on Army courts-martial — disciplinary proceedings involving corruption or HR abuses must be disclosed even from exempted bodies. Practical note If you want information from an IB/RAW-like body, anchor the request in 'allegations of corruption' or 'human rights violations' in the opening paragraph. Without that, Section 24 defeats the request. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 24. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-25","t":"Section 25 — Monitoring and Reporting","d":"Section 25 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Monitoring and Reporting. Section 25 obliges every public authority to file an annual return to the Information Commission. The Commission aggregates","u":"/act/section-25","x":"Section 25 — Monitoring and Reporting In one line: Section 25 obliges every public authority to file an annual return to the Information Commission. The Commission aggregates these into an annual report laid before Parliament or the State Legislature. These reports are the backbone of RTI accountability data. Key points 25(3) — each Ministry/Department collects data: RTIs received, disposed, refused, rejections by sub-clause, appeals, costs, training conducted. 25(4) — Commission aggregates into an annual report. 25(5) — Report laid before Parliament/State Legislature within 12 months. Forms the statistical picture of the RTI regime year after year. Legislative history No amendments. Rulings and references Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI , (2020) — emphasised the role of Section 25 reports in transparency governance. CIC Annual Reports — publicly accessible on cic.gov.in. Practical note File an RTI for your target department's Section 25 report. Reveals how many RTIs they received, how many were refused, and on what grounds. Useful for Section 18 pattern complaints. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 25. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-26","t":"Section 26 — Appropriate Government to Prepare Programmes","d":"Section 26 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Appropriate Government to Prepare Programmes. Section 26 requires the Appropriate Government to (a","u":"/act/section-26","x":"Section 26 — Appropriate Government to Prepare Programmes In one line: Section 26 requires the Appropriate Government to (a) develop programmes to promote understanding of the Act among disadvantaged communities, (b) train officers, (c) compile and publish a user's guide, and (d) translate the Act into official languages. Key points Outreach programmes targeting rural and marginalised sections. Officer training curricula. User guides in English, Hindi, and 22 scheduled languages. Periodic updating of the guide as the Act evolves. Legislative history No amendments. Rulings and references DoPT Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 (2013, updated periodically) — the user guide contemplated by Section 26. CIC has repeatedly directed publication of translated versions. Practical note If you need the Act in a regional language, the Section 26 translation should be available on rti.gov.in or the State RTI portal. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 26. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-27","t":"Section 27 — Power to Make Rules by Appropriate Government","d":"Section 27 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Power to Make Rules by Appropriate Government. Section 27 is the rule-making power of the Central and State Governments — they make rules on fee, app","u":"/act/section-27","x":"Section 27 — Power to Make Rules by Appropriate Government In one line: Section 27 is the rule-making power of the Central and State Governments — they make rules on fee, application form, appeal procedure, and Information Commissioners' conditions of service. The 2019 amendment expanded 27 to include IC tenure and salary rule-making. Key points Original Section 27 — fees, forms, appeal procedure, other matters. 2019 amendment expanded — now also covers term of office and conditions of service of CIC/SIC Commissioners. Rules made: Central RTI Fees Rules 2005, RTI Rules 2012 (inspection), RTI Rules 2019 (Commissioner tenure). Legislative history 2005 — Original Section 27 framed. 24 October 2019 — RTI (Amendment) Act expanded Section 27 to include IC tenure. 2019 — RTI Rules, 2019 notified under expanded Section 27. Rulings and references Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI , (2020) — held the 2019 amendment constitutional but imposed procedural safeguards. Namit Sharma , (2013) 1 SCC 745 — earlier interpretation of Section 27's scope. Practical note When challenging a State fee or procedure that deviates from Central norms, check the State's Section 27 rules. If the State rule is inconsistent with a Central rule on a matter within Central competence, Article 254 inconsistency may apply. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 27. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-28","t":"Section 28 — Power to Make Rules by Competent Authority","d":"Section 28 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Power to Make Rules by Competent Authority. Section 28 empowers the 'competent authority' (Speaker of Lok Sabha, Chairman of Rajya Sabha, CJI, Chief ","u":"/act/section-28","x":"Section 28 — Power to Make Rules by Competent Authority In one line: Section 28 empowers the 'competent authority' (Speaker of Lok Sabha, Chairman of Rajya Sabha, CJI, Chief Justices of High Courts, Governors for certain bodies) to frame rules for RTI implementation within their own institution. Rules made under Section 28 cover Supreme Court administrative-side RTI, High Court RTI, and Legislature Secretariat RTI. Key points Competent authority defined in Section 2(e). Rules cover fees, forms, appellate procedure. Cannot override Sections 8/9 exemptions or Section 7(5) BPL waiver. Must be laid before the appropriate House (Section 29). Legislative history No amendments. Rulings and references Registrar SC v. R.S. Misra , Delhi HC (2017) — Supreme Court administrative-side records are subject to Section 28 rules made by the CJI. High Court decisions — each HC has its own Section 28 rules. Practical note For RTIs to courts or legislatures, use the competent authority's own rules on fee and form. See the detailed competent-authority explainer. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals Competent authority — detailed explainer All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 28. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-29","t":"Section 29 — Laying of Rules","d":"Section 29 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Laying of Rules. Every rule made under Sections 27 and 28 must be laid before the appropriate Parliament or State Legislature (or, for competent-auth","u":"/act/section-29","x":"Section 29 — Laying of Rules In one line: Every rule made under Sections 27 and 28 must be laid before the appropriate Parliament or State Legislature (or, for competent-authority rules, the appropriate House) for 30 days. The House can modify or annul the rule. This is the legislative check on the executive rule-making power. Key points 29(1) — Central Government rules under Section 27 laid before Parliament for 30 days. 29(2) — State Government rules under Section 27 laid before State Legislature. 29(3) — Competent-authority rules under Section 28 laid before appropriate House. Modification or annulment vote by the House binds the rule. Legislative history No amendments. Rulings and references No substantive jurisprudence — procedural provision. Practical note If you want to challenge a rule made under Section 27/28, check whether it was properly laid under Section 29. Failure to lay can be a procedural ground for invalidity. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 29. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-3","t":"Section 3 — Right to Information","d":"Section 3 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Right to Information. Section 3 is the substantive grant — 'Subject to the provisions of this Act, all citizens shall have the right to information.' ","u":"/act/section-3","x":"Section 3 — Right to Information In one line: Section 3 is the substantive grant — 'Subject to the provisions of this Act, all citizens shall have the right to information.' It is the entitlement; Section 6 is the procedure; Section 8 the exceptions. Key points The right vests in 'citizens' — read with the Citizenship Act, 1955. 'Subject to the provisions of this Act' means bounded by Sections 8, 9 and 24. Not available to: foreign nationals, OCI/PIO-card holders, corporations as juristic persons, unregistered associations (with exceptions for representative filing). Legislative history No amendments. The one constitutional challenge — Commissioner's remuneration review in Namit Sharma — did not touch Section 3. Rulings and references S.P. Gupta v. President of India , AIR 1982 SC 149 — right to know is part of Article 19(1)(a). State of U.P. v. Raj Narain , (1975) 4 SCC 428 — foundational right-to-know jurisprudence. Raj Sharma v. CIC , Delhi HC (2016) — foreign citizens cannot file directly; but can through a citizen proxy. CIC orders — Aadhaar, passport, or voter-ID proof of citizenship may be asked only if genuinely in doubt. Practical note Sign your RTI yourself if you are a citizen. If a non-citizen, an Indian citizen (relative, advocate) must sign. For public-interest litigation under Section 6(2), no reason needed, so citizenship rather than purpose is the only threshold. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 3. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-30","t":"Section 30 — Power to Remove Difficulties","d":"Section 30 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Power to Remove Difficulties. Section 30 gave the Central Government a time-limited power to issue orders removing difficulties in giving effect to t","u":"/act/section-30","x":"Section 30 — Power to Remove Difficulties In one line: Section 30 gave the Central Government a time-limited power to issue orders removing difficulties in giving effect to the Act during its early years. The power could be exercised up to 2010 (five years from commencement). It is a transitional clause. Key points Central Government could issue removal-of-difficulty orders for first 5 years. Orders so made had the force of law but could not override substantive provisions. Power has lapsed since 12 October 2010. Legislative history No amendments. Rulings and references No substantive jurisprudence — transitional clause. Practical note Of historical interest. The power was used sparingly in 2005-2010 and has since lapsed. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 30. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-31","t":"Section 31 — Repeal","d":"Section 31 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Repeal. Section 31 repealed the Freedom of Information Act, 2002 — a predecessor statute that had been enacted but never brought into force. With the","u":"/act/section-31","x":"Section 31 — Repeal In one line: Section 31 repealed the Freedom of Information Act, 2002 — a predecessor statute that had been enacted but never brought into force. With the RTI Act's commencement, the 2002 Act was extinguished. Key points The Freedom of Information Act, 2002 (Act 5 of 2003) hereby repealed. Savings clause: actions taken under the 2002 Act remain valid to the extent they would have been valid under the 2005 Act. Legislative history No amendments. Rulings and references No substantive jurisprudence. Practical note Of historical interest. The FOI Act 2002 was drafted but never operationalised — the 2005 Act replaced it entirely. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 31. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-4","t":"Section 4 — Obligations of Public Authorities","d":"Section 4 of the RTI Act — proactive disclosure by public authorities. 17 mandatory categories under 4(1","u":"/act/section-4","x":"Section 4 — Obligations of Public Authorities In one line: Section 4 places a proactive duty on every public authority to publish information on its own — without waiting for RTI applications. The core is Section 4(1)(b) with 17 categories. Sub-sections 4(1)(c)-(d) require pre-decision publication and reasoned orders. Section 4(2)-(4) require electronic dissemination in local language. Why Section 4 matters A compliant Section 4 disclosure eliminates 60-70 percent of potential RTIs . The Supreme Court in Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI , (2020) 11 SCC 345 treated non-compliance as a contributor to Information Commission backlogs. A fully-functional Section 4 page on every department's website is the Act's preventive medicine . The 17 categories (Section 4(1)(b)) See our full Suo Motu Disclosure explainer with the 17-category table + flow diagram. Summary: Organisation, functions, duties, decision-making, rules, documents held, public-consultation arrangements, committees/boards with minutes, directory of officers, monthly pay, budget, subsidy execution, beneficiary list, electronic information, citizen facilities, PIO contact. Legislative history 12 October 2005 — commenced. 2006, 2013 DoPT OMs — operational guidance issued. 2019 amendment — no change to Section 4. DPDP 2025 — indirectly touches Section 4 to the extent beneficiary-list publication under 4(1)(b)(xiii) must respect the amended Section 8(1)(j) privacy test. Landmark rulings Anjali Bhardwaj v. Union of India , (2020) 11 SCC 345 — SC directions on Commission oversight of Section 4 implementation. State of U.P. v. Raj Narain , (1975) 4 SCC 428 — foundational right-to-know jurisprudence later crystallised in Section 4. CIC Decision CIC/SA/A/2013/000132 — Commission can direct time-bound publication with monthly progress reports. S.P. Gupta v. President of India , AIR 1982 SC 149 — right of citizens to know the functioning of government. Enforcement under 4 Two routes when a public authority is non-compliant: File an RTI under Section 6 seeking the 17 categories. If refused, 19(1) then 19(3). File a Section 18 complaint directly to the Information Commission — no RTI needed. Section 19(8)(a)(vi) empowers the Commission to direct compliance with Section 4(1)(b). Drafting Template in your RTI to trigger Section 4 audit: [sample application] Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request Section 18 — Complaint Section 19 — Appeals Detailed explainer — Suo motu disclosure First RTI template Sources RTI Act, 2005, Section 4. Anjali Bhardwaj v. Union of India , (2020) 11 SCC 345. State of U.P. v. Raj Narain , (1975) 4 SCC 428. S.P. Gupta"},{"s":"act:section-5","t":"Section 5 — Designation of Public Information Officers","d":"Section 5 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Designation of Public Information Officers. Section 5 obliges every public authority to designate Central/State Public Information Officers (CPIOs/SPI","u":"/act/section-5","x":"Section 5 — Designation of Public Information Officers In one line: Section 5 obliges every public authority to designate Central/State Public Information Officers (CPIOs/SPIOs) and Assistant PIOs within 100 days of commencement. Sub-sections 5(4) and 5(5) create the 'deemed CPIO' doctrine — any officer whose assistance the PIO seeks becomes personally liable. Key points 5(1) — every public authority to designate CPIOs within 100 days of enactment. 5(2) — APIOs at sub-divisional level to receive applications and forward. 5(3) — CPIO shall deal with requests and assist applicants. 5(4) — CPIO may seek assistance of any other officer. 5(5) — Any officer whose assistance has been sought shall be 'deemed to be a CPIO' for the purposes of any contravention of the Act. Legislative history No amendments. Rulings and references CIC F.No.CIC/OK/A/2006/00163 — deemed CPIO personally liable for delays. Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI , (2020) 11 SCC 345 — supervisory duty of Commissions extends to ensuring proper designation under 5(1). DoPT Circular F.No.1/8/2007-IR — Section 5(5) liability. Practical note The deemed-CPIO rule is the counter to 'file is with another officer' refusals. Always ask for the file movement register to identify who actually held your file; that officer becomes the Section 5(5) deemed CPIO and is the target for Section 20 penalty. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals Deemed CPIO — detailed explainer All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 5. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:section-6","t":"Section 6 — Request for Obtaining Information","d":"Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — the gateway clause. Right to make a request, no reasons required, transfer provisions. Full practitioner and lawyer reference with Supreme Court and C","u":"/act/section-6","x":"Section 6 — Request for Obtaining Information In one line: Section 6 of the RTI Act, 2005 is the gateway clause that activates every citizen's right. It permits any person (a) to file a request in writing or electronic form , (b) without stating any reason , and (c) obliges the PIO to transfer the application within five days if the matter lies with another public authority. Full text 6(1) — Request in writing or through electronic means, in English or Hindi or the official language of the area, to the Central or State Public Information Officer. 6(2) — The applicant shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the information or any other personal details except those necessary for contacting them. 6(3) — Where an application is made to a public authority requesting information which is held by another, or more closely connected with the functions of another, the public authority shall transfer the application, or such part of it as may be appropriate, to that other public authority within five working days and inform the applicant immediately. Why Section 6 matters Section 6 is the most-used clause of the Act . Every one of the ~35 lakh RTI applications filed to the Central Government since 2005 passed through Section 6. Its three sub-sections resolve three structural issues: Formal barriers — no prescribed form required. A handwritten letter works. Motive disclosure — no reason required. Section 6(2) is the only clause in Indian transparency law that inverts the standard evidentiary burden; the applicant's reason is irrelevant. Jurisdictional maze — Section 6(3) prevents applications being rejected for being sent to the wrong door. Legislative history and amendments ^ Date ^ Event ^ 15 June 2005 Act enacted (Act No. 22 of 2005). 12 October 2005 Section 6 commenced along with operational provisions. 24 October 2019 RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 — no change to Section 6. 14 November 2025 DPDP Rules, 2025 — Section 6 itself unchanged; interacts with Section 8(1)(j) amendment. Section 6 has never been amended since enactment. Every attempted dilution (including the 2015 Lokpal Rules consultation) was withdrawn after public comment. Landmark rulings Supreme Court: Central Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of India v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal , (2020) 5 SCC 481 — Constitution Bench held that even the office of the Chief Justice of India is a \"public authority\" to which Section 6 applies. Girish"},{"s":"act:section-7","t":"Section 7 — Disposal of Request","d":"Section 7 of the RTI Act — the 30-day response rule, 48-hour life-and-liberty proviso, BPL fee waiver, voluminous-change-of-form under 7(9","u":"/act/section-7","x":"Section 7 — Disposal of Request In one line: Section 7 is the clock of the RTI Act. It binds the PIO to reply within 30 days (48 hours for life and liberty, 40 days for third-party information under Section 11). It also governs fees, BPL waiver, speaking-order requirements, and the \"voluminous\" escape clause in 7(9). Key sub-sections 7(1) — reply within 30 days; 48 hours for information concerning life or liberty. 7(1) proviso — if the information concerns the life or liberty of a person , reply within 48 hours. 7(3) — fee intimation must be given before further fee is charged. 7(5) — BPL applicants pay no fee . 7(6) — if reply is delayed, information must be given free (fee waiver as penalty for delay). 7(7) — representation by applicant on fee is to be considered. 7(8) — any rejection must be a speaking order with sub-clause, reasons, and appellate details. 7(9) — information must be provided in the form in which it is sought unless it would disproportionately divert the resources or be detrimental to safety of records. Legislative history 12 October 2005 — commenced. No amendment to Section 7 since. 2019 amendment and DPDP 2025 did not touch Section 7. Landmark rulings Supreme Court: CBSE and Anr. v. Aditya Bandopadhyay , (2011) 8 SCC 497 — Section 7(9) permits change of form (e.g. inspection instead of copies) but does not permit outright refusal . Voluminous records are still disclosable. Chief Information Commissioner v. State of Manipur , (2011) 15 SCC 1 — Section 7(8) requires application of mind and reasoned speaking order for each refusal. High Courts: Registrar, Supreme Court of India v. R.S. Misra , Delhi HC (2017) — Section 7 deadlines apply to all public authorities including the Supreme Court (administrative side). CIC: Vasudev Pillai v. CPIO, CBEC , CIC (2015) — the first hour of inspection remains free even if the applicant stays for less than one hour; only subsequent full hours attract Rs 5. Ajay Kumar v. CBSE , CIC (2012) — Section 7(6) operates automatically; the PIO cannot refuse the free-of-cost disclosure after 30-day lapse. Shail Sahni v. CPIO , CIC (2013) — inspection under Section 2(j)(i) flows from Section 7; denial is appealable. The 48-hour proviso Life-and-liberty information — e.g. a patient seeking their own medical records from a government hospital, an undertrial seeking their own case record, a"},{"s":"act:section-8","t":"Section 8 — Exemptions from Disclosure","d":"Section 8 of the RTI Act — the exemption clause. All 10 sub-clauses (a","u":"/act/section-8","x":"Section 8 — Exemptions from Disclosure In one line: Section 8 lists 10 exemption grounds (a)-(j) that a PIO can invoke to refuse. It is the most contested clause of the Act — over 60 percent of RTI refusals cite Section 8, and 80 percent of those cite Section 8(1)(j) (privacy). Section 8(2) contains a public-interest override , and Section 8(3) unlocks most exemptions after 20 years. The 10 exemption grounds ^ Clause ^ Protects ^ Typical wrong use ^ 8(1)(a) Sovereignty, integrity, security, strategic, scientific, economic interests Over-used for any \"sensitive\"-sounding matter 8(1)(b) Information expressly forbidden to be published by court or tribunal Used to block sub judice matters that are not actually forbidden 8(1)(c) Breach of privilege of Parliament or State Legislature Rare and narrow 8(1)(d) Commercial confidence, trade secrets, intellectual property Shield for tender / contractor details; overcome via public interest 8(1)(e) Information available in fiduciary relationship Most litigated; see RBI v. Jayantilal Mistry 8(1)(f) Foreign government information received in confidence Narrow 8(1)(g) Endanger life or physical safety of a person Legitimate shield for informants 8(1)(h) Impede investigation, apprehension, prosecution Bhagat Singh requires how it impedes; bare assertion fails 8(1)(i) Cabinet papers (opens after decision taken / matter complete) Often over-broadly claimed 8(1)(j) Personal information, no public interest (narrowed by DPDP 2025) The most-invoked exemption Two override mechanisms Section 8(2) — disclosure is permitted if the public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interest. Applies to every 8(1) sub-clause except (a) and (e). Section 8(3) — after 20 years , most 8(1) exemptions drop away. Exceptions: (a) sovereignty/security, (c) Parliament privilege, (i) Cabinet papers (but only so long as matter is live). The 14 November 2025 DPDP amendment Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act, 2023 substituted the proviso to Section 8(1)(j) on the date the DPDP Rules, 2025 were notified (14 November 2025). The earlier proviso — \"information which cannot be denied to Parliament or a State Legislature shall not be denied to any person\" — stands removed . Privacy analysis under Section 8(1)(j) now operates purely through the Section 8(2) public-interest override, and through the proportionality test laid down in K.S. Puttaswamy v. UoI , (2017) 10 SCC 1 . See the full DPDP 2025 practitioner note and PIO reply after DPDP 2025. Flagship rulings by clause 8(1)(a) — Sovereignty / security People's Union for Civil Liberties v. UoI , (2003) 4 SCC"},{"s":"act:section-9","t":"Section 9 — Grounds for Rejection to Access in Certain Cases","d":"Section 9 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Grounds for Rejection to Access in Certain Cases. Section 9 is a narrow, copyright-specific exemption. The PIO may reject a request if disclosure woul","u":"/act/section-9","x":"Section 9 — Grounds for Rejection to Access in Certain Cases In one line: Section 9 is a narrow, copyright-specific exemption. The PIO may reject a request if disclosure would 'involve an infringement of copyright subsisting in a person other than the State'. Key points Protects third-party copyright only — not State copyright. Usually invoked against patent specifications, proprietary software, published works not in government domain. Overlaps with Section 8(1)(d) commercial confidence; Section 9 is narrower. Legislative history No amendments. Rulings and references ICAI v. Shaunak H. Satya , (2011) 8 SCC 781 — limited copyright recognition in professional examination materials. CIC decisions — Section 9 does not apply to copies of tender documents authored by public authorities themselves. Practical note If Section 9 is invoked, ask: who owns the copyright? If the State, Section 9 does not apply. If a third party, consider inspection (Section 2(j)(i)) as an alternative — reading is not infringement. Call to action For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help. Related Back to the full RTI Act Section 6 — Request for information Section 7 — Disposal Section 8 — Exemptions Section 19 — Appeals All explanations Landmark RTI decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 9. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable). Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 . Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"act:start","t":"The RTI Act, 2005","d":"This namespace carries the full text of the Right to Information Act, 2005 as amended, along with the departmental circulars, the regional-language...","u":"/act/start","x":"The RTI Act, 2005 This namespace carries the full text of the Right to Information Act, 2005 as amended, along with the departmental circulars, the regional-language translations, and a subject-wise reference index. Full text The Act, as amended . Section-wise text of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The text incorporates the Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 and the amendment to Section 8(1)(j) effected by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which came into force on notification of the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 on 14 November 2025. Notice on the 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 were notified in the Gazette of India on 14 November 2025. With that notification, Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 became operational and replaced the proviso to Section 8(1)(j) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The larger public interest override in the earlier clause stands removed. For a practitioner note on the change, see DPDP Rules, 2025: The amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. Supporting material Translations . The Act in regional languages as notified. Rules made under the Act RTI Rules . Central Government, Supreme Court, High Court, and State-level rules framed under Section 27 and Section 28 of the Act. Case law Case law library . Decisions of the Supreme Court, the High Courts, and the Information Commissions that interpret the provisions of the Act. Section walkthrough Decoded . A plain-language walkthrough of each section of the Act, with an illustrative case. Sources The Right to Information Act, 2005 (No. 22 of 2005). The Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 (No. 24 of 2019). The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (No. 22 of 2023), Section 44(3). The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, notified on 14 November 2025. Last reviewed on 19 April 2026 Related Download RTI Act. Prescribed. Competent Authority under RTI Act. Severability. What is Information under RTI Act."},{"s":"act:summary","t":"The Right to Information Act, 2005 — summary, sections, and notes","d":"A single-page reference summary of the Right to Information Act, 2005 as amended. Chapter-wise structure, section-by-section notes, the procedural flow from application to appeal, exemptions, Commissi","u":"/act/summary","x":"The Right to Information Act, 2005 — summary, sections, and notes If your RTI was rejected. See Why RTI Applications Get Rejected in India — and How to Avoid It. Five reasons, the exact fix for each, and two case studies. New to RTI? Start with the three most-used guides on this site: How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 Step-by-Step Guide. Why RTI Applications Get Rejected — and How to Avoid It. FAQ — twenty-five most-asked RTI questions. A single-page reference summary of the Right to Information Act, 2005 as amended by the Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 and by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 in force from 14 November 2025. Covers the purpose of the Act, the chapter and section structure, the procedural flow from application to appeal, the exemptions, the Commissions, and the penalties. Each substantive point carries an inline cross-reference to the full section text or to the concept explainer on this site. In one line. The Right to Information Act, 2005 gives every citizen of India a statutory right to seek information from a public authority. The application goes to the Public Information Officer, who must reply within thirty days. The reader has a right to a first appeal within thirty days, and a right to a second appeal to the Central Information Commission (for Central Government matters) or the State Information Commission (for State matters) within ninety days. A Public Information Officer who refuses without reasonable cause is liable to a penalty of two hundred and fifty rupees per day up to twenty-five thousand rupees. For the full text section by section, see the RTI Act, 2005 — current text. Why the Act was enacted The Right to Information Act, 2005 (No. 22 of 2005) codifies a right that the Supreme Court had already recognised under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. In State of U.P. v. Raj Narain , (1975) 4 SCC 428, the Court held that the right to know about the affairs of the Government is implicit in the freedom of speech and expression. In S.P. Gupta v. Union of India , 1981 Supp SCC 87, and in People's Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India , (2003) 4 SCC 399, the Court extended the principle. The Act gave legislative form to the constitutional direction. The long title records the purpose. The Act"},{"s":"ai-to-draft-your-rti","t":"Using AI to Draft Your RTI: Write Rejection-Proof Applications with Claude and ChatGPT (2026 Guide)","d":"Use Claude, ChatGPT, and other AI models to draft rejection-proof RTI applications in India. Prompt library, legal checks, and the pitfalls that get RTIs rejected.","u":"/ai-to-draft-your-rti","x":"Using AI to Draft Your RTI: Write Rejection-Proof Applications with Claude and ChatGPT (2026 Guide) AI makes mistakes. Large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity frequently hallucinate section numbers, cite cases that do not exist, and produce generic language that PIOs reject on sight. This page is a working guide to using AI safely for RTI drafting. Always verify every section and every citation against the RTI Act or this site before filing. In one line: Used correctly, an LLM can reduce your RTI drafting time from 90 minutes to 10. Used carelessly, it produces applications that get rejected under Section 7(1), 8(1)(j), or 7(9). This guide shows the safe prompts, the common failure modes, and the five-minute verification that stops 90 percent of AI mistakes. Introduction: Why this matters A well-drafted RTI is specific, short, and cites the clause that compels disclosure. Drafting that is a skill. Most citizens do not have it. An AI that has read the Act and thousands of sample applications can produce a competent draft in seconds. But an AI will also cheerfully invent Section 7(7) (there is no such clause), cite Ramesh Kumar v. Union of India (2015) (no such case), or phrase the request as \"why\" when it should be \"what document\" . The difference between a rejected RTI and a reply within 30 days is often four sentences. This guide teaches you to get those four sentences from an AI and verify them in under five minutes. Legal Basis Every AI-drafted RTI still operates under the Indian Act. The LLM has no special standing. Your application is governed by: Section 6 — right to file a request, no form prescribed, no reason required. Section 7 — 30-day reply window; 48 hours for life and liberty. Section 8 — exemptions the PIO can invoke. Section 10 — severability. The non-exempt portion must be disclosed. Section 20 — Rs 25,000 penalty on the PIO for wilful refusal. DPDP Act, 2023, Section 44(3) — substituted Section 8(1)(j) on 14 November 2025. AI models trained before that date will not know the new language. Always check the DPDP banner on every RTI Wiki page. Drafting Strategy: 7 Prompts That Produce Rejection-Proof RTIs Paste any of these into Claude, ChatGPT, or Perplexity. Replace the bracketed inputs. Prompt 1: The \"RTI Drafter\" meta-prompt [sample application] Prompt 2: Ask for the \"why\" trail, not the \"why\""},{"s":"blog:benefits-of-rti","t":"Benefits of RTI","d":"What are the real benefits of Right to Information for a common man","u":"/blog/benefits-of-rti","x":"Benefits of RTI What are the real benefits of Right to Information for a common man Get to know your personal grievances Improve the situation around yourself Solve long pending issues of the society Make your elected representative accountable Make your Online social presence relevant and helpful Make connections with Government Officers Become the News Reporter Get to know your personal grievances Right to Information is a revolution. It makes the Government Offices reply to your questions. File an RTI asking for information about your pending cases like Passport delay or Pension delay and immediately the Government Office comes into play. How it happens Once you file an RTI, the Public Information officer creates a file of your RTI and send it to relevant babu for comments. In most of the times your case if one amongst many and is not heard out of the turn. But when you file an RTI, your case props up in front of the concerned babu. He needs to bring out the file of yours to make a reply to RTI. He cannot shelve your file thereafter without a strong reason. Can he write that it is pending at his desk or section? :?: Therefore, in the majority of cases, he not only replies to RTI but also solves the case. File a simple RTI asking for where is the file of yours, the dak movement and copy of the note sheet /Correspondence and see the trick Improve the situation around yourself A re you fed up with broken roads, encroachments, loudspeakers and many such issues you simply see around but never knew what to do? Recently, we saw many online websites and social media which allow us to air our views. Frequently, we post photos, videos on social media. But unless your post is viral or catches the attention of Media / Politician or a Social Media Savvy Municipal Commissioner / District Collector, your post has no luck. :!::!::!::!: There is a good news for you. Use RTI! How it works Wait no more. Be smart. Search for the relevant authority first. If it is local roads, it is Municipal Corporation, if it is National High way, then it is National Highway Authority of India. That's the hardest part. But don't worry. Even if you don't know the Public Authority, file an RTI to most relevant public Authority and that Public Authority is"},{"s":"blog:cic-does-not-allow-dissent-note-of-ashok-lavasa-over-complaint-received-against-prime-minister-during-lok-sabha-elections","t":"CIC does not allow disclosure of the dissent note of Ashok Lavasa over complaint received against Prime Minister during Lok Sabha elections 2019","d":"In this context, a reference can be made to the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of Central Board of Secondary Education and Anr. v. Aditya Bandopadhyay and Ors (Civil Appeal No. 64","u":"/blog/cic-does-not-allow-dissent-note-of-ashok-lavasa-over-complaint-received-against-prime-minister-during-lok-sabha-elections","x":"CIC does not allow disclosure of the dissent note of Ashok Lavasa over complaint received against Prime Minister during Lok Sabha elections 2019 Dated: 24.03.2020 The Appellant vide his RTI application sought information regarding the certified copy of the dissent expressed by Mr Ashok Lavasa (Election Commissioner) over the clean chits given to four speeches of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and one speech of Mr. Amit Shah in lieu of the complaints received by the ECI during the Lok Sabha Election campaign in 2019. The CPIO, vide its letter dated 23.07.2019 denied disclosure of information u/s 8 (1) (g) of the RTI Act, 2005. Dissatisfied by the response, the Appellant approached the FAA. The FAA, vide its order dated 06.09.2019 stated that handling MCC violations involved obtaining reports and input from field level officers. Notings prior to taking decision would contain references to reports and comments from field level officers. In similar cases, regarding reports submitted to the Commission by observers on conduct of election, the Commission vide order no CIC/WB/A/000212 dated 15.04.2010 upheld the view that such information would be protected from disclosure u/s 8 (1) (g) of the RTI Act, 2005. Keeping in view the facts of the case and the submissions made by both the parties and in the light of the aforesaid decisions, no further intervention of the Commission is required in the matter. The Appeal stands disposed accordingly. The Commission referred to the following: In this context, a reference can be made to the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of Central Board of Secondary Education and Anr. v. Aditya Bandopadhyay and Ors (Civil Appeal No. 6454 of 2011) wherein it was held as under: “28.........the information as to the names or particulars of the examiners/coordinators/scrutinisers/head examiners are therefore exempted from disclosure under Section 8 (1)(g) of RTI Act, on the ground that if such information is disclosed, it may endanger their physical safety. Therefore, if the examinees are to be given access to evaluated answer-books either by permitting inspection or by granting certified copies, such access will have to be given only to that part of the answer-book which does not contain any information or signature of the examiners/co-ordinators/scrutinisers/head examiners, exempted from disclosure under Section 8 (1)(g) of RTI Act.” The complete decision can be downloaded from here: Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 ~~socialite~~ ~~LINKBACK~~"},{"s":"blog:dda-to-compile-and-publish-on-the-website-of-the-dda-information-regarding-all-such-properties-which-had-been-historically-leased-by-the-government-of-india","t":"DDA to publish information on properties which had been historically leased by the Government of India","d":"Keeping in view that the citizens of the country should have access to information about leased out public properties and check drainage of public revenue with...","u":"/blog/dda-to-compile-and-publish-on-the-website-of-the-dda-information-regarding-all-such-properties-which-had-been-historically-leased-by-the-government-of-india","x":"DDA to publish information on properties which had been historically leased by the Government of India Keeping in view that the citizens of the country should have access to information about leased out public properties and check drainage of public revenue with respect to such properties, the Commission, in the exercise of powers conferred under Section 19(8) of the RTI Act 2005 issued guidelines asking DDA to compile and publish on the website of the DDA information regarding all such properties which had been historically leased by the Government of India, name/s of the lessees, type of lease-private or Institutional, tenure of such lease/s, number of expired lease/s, action taken with respect to expired leases/s etc. (CIC/KY/C/2016/000023-YA, dated 20.01.2015). Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 ~~LINKBACK~~ ~~DISCUSSION~~"},{"s":"blog:delhi-hc-phd-theses-rti-ruling-2024","t":"Delhi High Court PhD Theses Ruling: A Landmark RTI Decision on Academic Transparency vs Privacy (2024)","d":"Breakdown of the Delhi High Court 2024 %%PhD%% theses RTI ruling — when academic research at public-funded universities is disclosable under the Right to Information Act, 2005, and where Section 8(1","u":"/blog/delhi-hc-phd-theses-rti-ruling-2024","x":"Delhi High Court PhD Theses Ruling: A Landmark RTI Decision on Academic Transparency vs Privacy (2024) Did you know? The Delhi High Court's 2024 direction brought %%PhD%% theses at publicly-funded universities squarely within the Right to Information Act, 2005. The judgment reaffirms that research produced on the public rupee belongs, in principle, in the public domain — with narrow privacy carve-outs under Section 8(1)(j). A practitioner-ready analysis of the Delhi High Court's December 2024 direction on disclosure of %%PhD%% theses under the Right to Information Act, 2005. Written for researchers, advocates, journalists, Public Information Officers at universities, and students who want to understand the legal basis for accessing publicly-funded academic research. Current with the 14 November 2025 DPDP Rules amendment. Introduction — the headline In December 2024 , a Single Judge of the Delhi High Court held that %%PhD%% theses lodged with a central university library are public records accessible under the Right to Information Act, 2005 , subject only to the specific exemptions in Section 8(1). The university's attempt to deny access on a blanket privacy ground was rejected. The order builds directly on the Supreme Court's reasoning in Central Board of Secondary Education v. Aditya Bandopadhyay , (2011) 8 SCC 497, which established the primacy of disclosure for records of public authorities. The ruling lands at a charged moment. Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 came into force on 14 November 2025 with the notification of the DPDP Rules, 2025 — substituting Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act and removing the \"not-denied-to-Parliament\" proviso. The Delhi High Court's %%PhD%% theses direction therefore sits at the exact intersection of three debates: academic transparency , the scope of \"personal information\" under Section 8(1)(j), and the public-interest override under Section 8(2). For every Indian citizen who has wondered whether a thesis produced with taxpayer funds should be freely readable, the answer has, on the current record, tilted toward transparency. Background — where the law stood before %%PhD%% theses have always occupied an awkward slot under the RTI Act. On one hand, they are original research whose author retains certain copyright interests. On the other hand, at a publicly-funded central or State university, a thesis is: Paid for in part by the exchequer through the university's grants and the candidate's fellowship; Submitted and retained by the university library as a record of award of the degree; Held by a"},{"s":"blog:dpdp-rules-2025-amendment-to-rti-act","t":"DPDP Rules, 2025: The amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act","d":"A practitioner note on what changed on 14 November 2025, how the amended clause must be read, and what Public Information Officers, First Appellate...","u":"/blog/dpdp-rules-2025-amendment-to-rti-act","x":"DPDP Rules, 2025: The amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act Did you know? The 14 November 2025 amendment to Section 8(1)(j) quietly removed the proviso that said information which cannot be denied to Parliament cannot be denied to a citizen . It is the most significant structural change to the RTI Act since 2005. A practitioner note on what changed on 14 November 2025, how the amended clause must be read, and what Public Information Officers, First Appellate Authorities, and applicants should do differently. The event On 14 November 2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology notified the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025. The notification brought Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 into force. By the operation of that sub-section, clause (j) of sub-section (1) of Section 8 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 stood substituted. The effect is immediate. Every RTI application pending on or filed after 14 November 2025 is to be decided under the substituted clause. The text: before and after Before the substitution, Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act read, in substance, that there shall be no obligation to give a citizen information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of privacy, unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the appellate authority was satisfied that the larger public interest justified the disclosure. The clause was followed by a proviso that information which could not be denied to Parliament or a State Legislature could not be denied to any person. After the substitution effected by Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act, clause (j) reads that there shall be no obligation to give a citizen information which relates to personal information. The difference is structural. Three elements of the earlier clause are no longer part of the text. The public-activity test has been removed. The unwarranted-invasion-of-privacy test has been removed. The larger-public-interest override has been removed. The accompanying proviso regarding information that could not be denied to Parliament has also been removed. Definition of \"person\" under the DPDP Act Clause (j) is now to be read with the DPDP Act's definition of \"person\". Under Section 2(s) of the DPDP Act, \"person\" includes an individual, a Hindu undivided family, a company, a firm, an association of persons"},{"s":"blog:dpdp-vs-rti-2026","t":"DPDP Act vs RTI Conflicts: The 2026 Legal Landscape","d":"Current position in April 2026: how the DPDP Rules, 2025 have reshaped RTI disclosures, the Section 8(2","u":"/blog/dpdp-vs-rti-2026","x":"DPDP Act vs RTI Conflicts: The 2026 Legal Landscape Did you know? On 14 November 2025, a single notification rewired the Right to Information Act's most-invoked exemption. The proviso that said \"information that cannot be denied to Parliament cannot be denied to a citizen\" was removed. Five months on, the practical effect is measurable. Table of Contents DPDP Act vs RTI Conflicts: The 2026 Legal Landscape Simple Comparison Table for the Common Man Evolving Judicial and CIC Precedents (2025-2026) Practical Impacts on RTI Filers Filing RTIs in the DPDP Era: Five-Step Guide Frequently Asked Questions The Table of Contents at the top of this page collapses automatically on other long pages as well — the wiki's pages now start tidy and expand on click. DPDP Act vs RTI Conflicts: The 2026 Legal Landscape The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025 , brought into force Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Section 44(3) substituted Section 8(1)(j) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Two structural changes followed. First, the clause now exempts information whose disclosure \"would cause\" harm to a data principal's privacy — a forward-looking test tied to the DPDP Act's definition of personal data. Second, the pre-amendment proviso — that information which could not be denied to Parliament could not be denied to a citizen — has been removed . The public-interest override survives, but only through Section 8(2) of the RTI Act. Five months into the new framework, the direction is clear. Public Information Officers are invoking the amended clause more freely. First Appellate Authorities are sustaining many of those refusals. And the Central Information Commission is beginning to issue the first orders under the amended text, testing how far Section 8(2) can stretch. At the centre of the new landscape is a single sentence: personal data of an identifiable person is now a stronger shield than it used to be . For applicants, the practical answer is to draft differently, not to file less. For a deeper treatment of how the Public Information Officer should write a compliant reply, see PIO reply after DPDP Rules, 2025. This page builds forward: the current position as of April 2026, and what to do about it. 💡 Key takeaway. In April 2026, the DPDP framework has made Section 8(1)(j) the hardest exemption to beat on personal data. Section 8(2) public"},{"s":"blog:economic-survey-2025-26-rti-reexamination","t":"Economic Survey 2025-26 RTI Re-Examination: Proposals, Backlog Crisis, and 2026 Implications","d":"The Economic Survey 2025-26 has re-opened the debate on the Right to Information Act. This page sets out the reported proposals, the backlog numbers, and the implications for citizens, Public Informat","u":"/blog/economic-survey-2025-26-rti-reexamination","x":"Economic Survey 2025-26 RTI Re-Examination: Proposals, Backlog Crisis, and 2026 Implications Did you know? Every year, Indians file well over ten lakh (one million) RTI applications. A share of these reach the Central and State Information Commissions as second appeals \\u2014 and the pendency there has become the working bottleneck of the Act. Table of contents Economic Survey 2025-26 RTI Re-Examination Simple Breakdown Table for Everyone Key Proposals and the Backlog Stats Implications Demarcated by Stakeholder What Happens Next: Timeline Filing RTIs amid Changes: Six-Step Guide Frequently Asked Questions The table of contents collapses automatically across the wiki \\u2014 click the heading to expand. Economic Survey 2025-26 RTI Re-Examination The Economic Survey is the Finance Ministry's yearly report on the Indian economy, tabled in Parliament a day before the Union Budget. The Economic Survey 2025-26 was tabled on 31 January 2026 . Media coverage reports that its chapter on governance and institutions returned to a long-running debate: does the Right to Information Act, 2005 need a re-examination? According to the reported text, the Survey flags two concerns. First, a growing pendency before the Information Commissions \\u2014 widely cited at around 4.13 lakh cases across the Central and State Commissions combined in early 2026. Second, the Survey raises a concern that open disclosure of internal government discussions (often called \"deliberative processes\" \\u2014 which means the file notes, draft opinions, and policy debates that happen inside a ministry before a decision is taken ) can, in its view, chill candid advice-giving among officers. Two broad proposals have been reported in connection with the Survey: a narrow exemption for deliberative processes that would shield internal policy drafts, and a discussion of a ministerial review or \"veto-like\" check on sensitive denials. As of 20 April 2026, none of this has become law. No amendment Bill has been tabled. The Commissions continue to apply the existing text of the Right to Information Act, 2005, as most recently amended by the DPDP Rules, 2025 substitution of Section 8(1)(j) on 14 November 2025. This page pulls together what is on the record, what the implications would be if the reported proposals carry, and what an applicant can do today to file RTIs that succeed under either the current text or any tightened version of it. All specific numbers below are reported figures ; verify against the Economic Survey PDF and the Commissions' annual returns before citing. 💡"},{"s":"blog:filing-smart-dpdp-era-2026","t":"Privacy and RTI: Filing Smart in the DPDP Era (2026 Guide)","d":"File RTI after DPDP 2026: 5 proven strategies beating the wave of Section 8(1","u":"/blog/filing-smart-dpdp-era-2026","x":"Privacy and RTI: Filing Smart in the DPDP Era (2026 Guide) Did you know? A well-drafted \"aggregate\" RTI wins almost every time, even after the 14 November 2025 amendment. The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 did not touch Section 8(2) , the public-interest override. That clause is still your lifeline. In one line. The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. A steep share of Q1 2026 RTIs have been refused on the strength of that substitution. This guide shows how to draft an application the Public Information Officer cannot refuse by reflex. What that means in practice. Names trigger rejections. Naming an officer or a citizen in the question is the fastest route to a Section 8(1)(j) refusal. Aggregates and functions win. Ask about the department's spending, the scheme's cost, the tender's award criteria, not about who drew what. Section 8(2) is intact. The public-interest override survives the amendment and must be read into every refusal. Updated: 20 April 2026. Rejection rates reported above 40 per cent in the first quarter of 2026. Why so many RTIs are failing in 2026 Filed an RTI last week asking for an officer's travel expenses? It probably came back refused, with the Public Information Officer citing the new text of Section 8(1)(j) and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. You are not alone. The first quarter of 2026 has seen rejection rates reported at over 40 per cent, and practitioner notes out of the Central Information Commission describe a pattern of mechanical Section 44(3) citations on any request that mentions a named individual. Pendency is the other half of the story. The Central Information Commission and the State Information Commissions together carry a backlog reported above 4 lakh second appeals, and the three-year commissioner tenure under the RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 means a constant churn on benches. You cannot afford to waste a filing slot on a request the PIO can refuse in one line. The good news is that the amendment did not rewrite the whole statute. The right under Section 3 is undisturbed. Section 4 proactive disclosure has not been touched. Section 8(2) , the public-interest override, was not amended. What changed is the shape of the personal-information exemption. Your drafting has to catch up with that shape. Names equal an instant refusal in"},{"s":"blog:how-to-use-rti-wiki","t":"How to use RTI Wiki","d":"Welcome to RTI INDIA Wiki Project. Using our wiki is very simple. On the left hand side of the website you will find all the links to our wiki.","u":"/blog/how-to-use-rti-wiki","x":"How to use RTI Wiki Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Welcome to RTI INDIA Wiki Project. Using our wiki is very simple. On the left hand side of the website you will find all the links to our wiki. Just use the + button and explore all the available articles and pages. ---- The wiki can be edited by simple syntax which is very easy to learn but is way lot powerful. ~~LINKBACK~~"},{"s":"blog:how-to-write-rti-application","t":"How to Write an RTI Application: Ask for Records, Not Answers","d":"After 25 years of training PIOs and activists, here is the single lesson that fixes most rejections: ask for records, not answers. The rewrite takes two minutes.","u":"/blog/how-to-write-rti-application","x":"How to Write an RTI Application: Ask for Records, Not Answers In one line. If you want to know how to write an RTI application that works, write it to request records that exist — not answers, not explanations, not \"why.\" This single shift fixes most rejections. The rest of this piece shows you how, from someone who has read thousands of replies. The rejection you did not deserve You spent a Sunday afternoon writing your Right to Information application. You walked to the post office. You paid Rs. 10. You posted it by Speed Post. You kept the receipt like a lottery ticket. Thirty days later, a reply came. Two lines. \"The matter is under process. You are advised to wait.\" Or worse — no reply at all. You were polite. You asked a clear question. You even said \"please.\" And still, nothing. I have seen this happen to thousands of people. I have also sat on the other side of the desk — training Public Information Officers (PIOs) and First Appellate Authorities for twenty-five years. I know why this happens. And I know the one fix that works. Twenty-five years on both sides of the desk I started working on Right to Information in the late 1990s, before the Act was even passed. When the RTI Act, 2005 came in, my work moved from advocacy to training. I have trained PIOs in central ministries, state departments, police, and municipal corporations. I have trained First Appellate Authorities. I have spoken to thousands of citizens, activists, and journalists. Everywhere, I noticed the same thing. Most rejections are not about secrets. They are about how the question is written. A PIO is not a friend you can chat with. A PIO is a clerk with a rule-book. If your question does not fit the rule-book, the answer is no. That is how it has always been. The core lesson: ask for records, not answers Here is the whole lesson in one line: Ask for records, not answers. The RTI Act, in Section 2(f), defines \"information\" as any material on record — files, notes, data, emails, reports, logs. The Act does not cover answers to your questions. If you ask \"Why did you reject my application?\", you are asking for an answer. The PIO has no duty to give you one. The Act does not cover it. But if you ask \"A"},{"s":"blog:iba","t":"Indian Bank Association IBA is a Public Authority under RTI Act now","d":"Shri R K Jain V/S Indian Bank Association (IBA","u":"/blog/iba","x":"Indian Bank Association IBA is a Public Authority under RTI Act now Shri R K Jain V/S Indian Bank Association (IBA) Ms. lta Bose VIS Indian Bank Association (IBA) IBA refused to provide the information stating that they are not a Public Authority as defined under section 2(h) of the RTI Act. IBA performs various activities, which are entrusted to them by the Government or the Reserve bank of India. The functions performed by the IBA have mentioned in para 5 above in the submissions of the IBA, which are the important public functions. In our view, the IBA works as an instrumentality of the State. ---- The commission noted that \"Taking into account that the IBA performs functions as State agency and its majority control vests in Government of India appointed Managing Directors of Public Sector Banks, the IBA qualifies to be a public authority under the RTI Act, 2005. The Commission, therefore, directs the IBA to designate an official of the IBA as the CPIO at the earliest as per provisions of Section 5 of the RTI Act, 2005 and also to comply with Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005 within four weeks of the receipt of the order of the Commission.\" Complaint No. CIC/MP/C/2015/000044 & Complaint No. CIC/SH/C/2016/000123 Date of Hearing Date of Decision 30.11.2016 & 26.12.2016 13.11.2017 Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 ~~LINKBACK~~ ~~DISCUSSION~~"},{"s":"blog:impersonation-in-government-jobs-scandal","t":"Impersonation in Government Jobs Scandal","d":"The RTI and it's appeal pertains to Sh. Harinder Dhingra.","u":"/blog/impersonation-in-government-jobs-scandal","x":"Impersonation in Government Jobs Scandal The RTI and it's appeal pertains to Sh. Harinder Dhingra. The Commission observed that it is surprising that the public authority could not discover such a serious issue of impersonation from the documents submitted by the applicant and the files available with their own office. The Commission finds an urgent need to probe into this impersonation scandal. The Commission directed the public authority headed by Director General to consider the RTI applications and the appeal by the appellant as formal complaint and inform the Commission about the action taken on the complaint within two months from the date of the order(( )). Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 ~~LINKBACK~~ ~~DISCUSSION~~"},{"s":"blog:international-day-for-the-universal-access-to-information","t":"International Day for the Universal Access to Information","d":"The 38th session of the General Conference of UNESCO, held in November 2015, has proclaimed (link is external","u":"/blog/international-day-for-the-universal-access-to-information","x":"International Day for the Universal Access to Information Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 The 38th session of the General Conference of UNESCO, held in November 2015, has proclaimed (link is external) 28 September as International Day for the Universal Access to Information, starting from 2016. The proclamation: Invites all Member States, United Nations system organizations, and other international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and individuals, to celebrate the Day in a manner which each considers most appropriate Some civil society organizations and government bodies already celebrate 28 September as International Right to Know Day, with activities including conferences, workshops, marches, concerts, publications on access to information, and petitions calling on governments to adopt and implement laws on access to information. In making the proclamation, UNESCO believes that holding activities such as these on a recognized day: …will ensure that the day of 28 September is used to engage and educate citizens and public authorities as to the importance of access to information as a fundamental human right and also to take advantage of raising public awareness for its importance, particularly through access to information interventions through media literacy. The UN proclamation articulates the reasons why right to information is so important: JUSTIFICATION FOR AN INTERNATIONAL DAY DEDICATED TO THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION 1. An open and transparent government is a fundamental component of a democratic and developed State. As stipulated by the declaration of the African Platform on Access to Information: “... access to information (ATI) is the right of all natural and legal persons, which consists of the right to seek, access and receive information from public bodies and private bodies performing a public function and the duty of the State to prove such information”. 2. Despite the fundamental importance of this right in the facilitation of all other rights and the creation of a fair and equitable society, there are still countries that do not have national legislation on access to information as a specific expression of the law. 3. People around the world are increasingly demanding greater civil participation in public affairs and seeking transparency. In this context, international law targeting an access to information day is necessary to promote the right to information. The establishment of a specific date provides a coherent message at the international level and facilitates coordination of joint initiatives on public awareness and elucidation by"},{"s":"blog:maintenance-of-records-relating-to-notaries","t":"MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS RELATING TO NOTARIES.","d":"The Commission observed that digital filing of records by notaries can be one possible solution for retrieving the record.","u":"/blog/maintenance-of-records-relating-to-notaries","x":"MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS RELATING TO NOTARIES. The Commission observed that digital filing of records by notaries can be one possible solution for retrieving the record. The new records should be created by the notaries through a Law Ministry􀇯s online portal. As regards the old records, it may be scanned and uploaded on the web-portal so that it can be easily accessed and retained for long periods. ---- The Commission advised the Secretary, Deptt. of Legal Affairs to expedite action on the orders of the Hon'ble High Court for bringing about the change in record keeping and to move towards digitization of their records pertaining to the notaries. This will facilitate replies to RTI applications and would also be in consonance with the section 4(1)(a)of the RTI Act 2005((CIC/SS/A/2013/001032, dated 12.05.2017)). Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 ~~LINKBACK~~ ~~DISCUSSION~~"},{"s":"blog:medical-colleges-to-furnish-the-list-of-students-admitted-in-excess-of-admission-capacity","t":"MEDICAL COLLEGES TO FURNISH THE LIST OF STUDENTS ADMITTED IN EXCESS OF ADMISSION CAPACITY.","d":"The Commission held that it is in public interest and in the interest of thousands of meritorious students that the Central Government and the MCI should...","u":"/blog/medical-colleges-to-furnish-the-list-of-students-admitted-in-excess-of-admission-capacity","x":"MEDICAL COLLEGES TO FURNISH THE LIST OF STUDENTS ADMITTED IN EXCESS OF ADMISSION CAPACITY. The Commission held that it is in public interest and in the interest of thousands of meritorious students that the Central Government and the MCI should direct the Medical colleges to furnish the list of students admitted in excess of admission capacity for every academic session to the MCI and then take immediate appropriate action as laid down in section 8&9of the Medical Council of India (CRITERIA FOR IDENTIFICATION OF STUDENTS ADMITTED IN EXCESS OF ADMISSION CAPACITY OF MEDICAL COLLEGES) REGULATIONS, 1997 ( CIC/YA/C/2015/900420, dated 1/4/2016) Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 ~~LINKBACK~~ ~~DISCUSSION~~"},{"s":"blog:mere-pendency-of-final-decision-is-not-good-enough-reason-to-deny-information","t":"MERE PENDENCY OF FINAL DECISION IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO DENY INFORMATION","d":"The Commission observed that even if the matter of misconduct proceeding is pending before the Ethics Committee, no reason nor justification had been given by...","u":"/blog/mere-pendency-of-final-decision-is-not-good-enough-reason-to-deny-information","x":"MERE PENDENCY OF FINAL DECISION IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO DENY INFORMATION The Commission observed that even if the matter of misconduct proceeding is pending before the Ethics Committee, no reason nor justification had been given by the respondent as to why information cannot be shared about the current status of the complaint/appeal filed by the appellant and likewise about the status of suspension of Dr. Ketan Desai. In the event that the status of his medical registration has changed, the meetings when such decision to alter/change the suspension was taken is also not a piece of information which is exempt from disclosure under any of the provision of the under RTI Act. Mere pendency of final decision/examination/consideration of an issue is not good enough reason to deny information unless supported by valid reason and justification to substantiate that disclosure of the information would be detrimental to the interest of the Respondent. Merely stating that the minutes of the Ethics Committee are quasi-judicial in nature does not make the same exempt under RTI Act, since there is no such provision under the Act. The Commission also directed the respondent to provide the basis for appointment of assessors who conduct inspections on behalf of the MCI. The qualification of the professors or associates who are assigned the task should be made available to the appellant as such disclosure about the qualification of Doctors/assessors etc. enhance the faith of patients and should thus be promoted by all means (CIC/YA/A/2016/001453, dated 9/1/2017) Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 ~~LINKBACK~~ ~~DISCUSSION~~"},{"s":"blog:our-new-banner-to-promote-rti","t":"Our new Banner to promote RTI","d":"Here is our new social media banner to promote Right to Information. Thanks for all the links and support for this recent campaign.","u":"/blog/our-new-banner-to-promote-rti","x":"Our new Banner to promote RTI Here is our new social media banner to promote Right to Information. Thanks for all the links and support for this recent campaign. Here is the twitter profile of ours: https: twitter.com/rtiindia Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 ~~LINKBACK~~"},{"s":"blog:passport-verification-report-to-be-disclosed-under-rti","t":"Passport Verification Report to be disclosed under RTI","d":"You can read discussions relating to Passport issues from our forum: [[https://www.rtiindia.org/forum/tags/passport-issues-and-rti.html|Passport Issues and RTI]].","u":"/blog/passport-verification-report-to-be-disclosed-under-rti","x":"Passport Verification Report to be disclosed under RTI Passport office had issued show cause notice to the complainant as an adverse report from SP Coimbatore was received during police verification. The complainant had filed RTI application seeking a certified copy of the complete police verification report. The Commission directed the disclosure of the police verification report related to the applicant .(( )) You can read discussions relating to Passport issues from our forum: Passport Issues and RTI. Download our Sample RTI Form for Passport Delays Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 ~~LINKBACK~~ ~~DISCUSSION~~"},{"s":"blog:pio-reply-section-8-1-j-after-dpdp-2025","t":"Section 8(1)(j) Reply: 5-Question PIO Test","d":"The 5-question test PIOs must run before denying under Section 8(1","u":"/blog/pio-reply-section-8-1-j-after-dpdp-2025","x":"Section 8(1)(j) Reply: 5-Question PIO Test A practitioner note on how a Public Information Officer is to decide an application that engages personal information after the notification of the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025. Covers the substantive test, the entries to be recorded on the file, and the drafting of the reply. The note is for Central Government use. State-level practitioners should read the note with the rules in force in the relevant State. The note is to be read with the template at PIO reply with severability and with the earlier practitioner note at DPDP Rules, 2025: The amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. What changed on 14 November 2025 The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 were notified in the Gazette of India on 14 November 2025. With that notification, Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 became operational and substituted clause (j) of sub-section (1) of Section 8 of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Before the substitution, clause (j) read that there shall be no obligation to give a citizen information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual, unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information. The clause carried the public interest override within its own proviso. After the substitution, clause (j) reads that there shall be no obligation to give a citizen information which relates to personal information. The override within the clause stands removed. The public interest override has not been removed from the RTI Act. It continues to sit in Section 8(2), which has not been amended. The route to disclosure on public interest grounds now runs through Section 8(2) and not through the text of clause (j). The test the Public Information Officer must apply The Public Information Officer should address five questions, in order, on the file. 1. Is the information sought \"personal information\"? The term \"personal information\" is a term in the RTI Act. It has been developed by the Supreme Court and the High Courts through a line of cases beginning with CBSE and Anr. v. Aditya Bandopadhyay, (2011) 8 SCC 497, and given"},{"s":"blog:raj-kumar-goyal-chief-information-commissioner","t":"Raj Kumar Goyal sworn in as Chief Information Commissioner; CIC reaches full strength","d":"A practitioner note on the composition of the Central Information Commission, the selection process, and the pendency position the Commission inherits.","u":"/blog/raj-kumar-goyal-chief-information-commissioner","x":"Raj Kumar Goyal sworn in as Chief Information Commissioner; CIC reaches full strength A practitioner note on the composition of the Central Information Commission, the selection process, and the pendency position the Commission inherits. The event In December 2025, Shri Raj Kumar Goyal was sworn in as the Chief Information Commissioner by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Eight new Information Commissioners took oath at or around the same period. With these appointments, the Central Information Commission reached its full sanctioned strength of one Chief Information Commissioner and ten Information Commissioners. This is the first time since 2016 that the Commission has operated at full strength. The post of Chief Information Commissioner had remained vacant from 13 September 2025, the date on which Shri Heeralal Samariya demitted office on completion of his term. Selection process Appointments to the Central Information Commission are governed by Section 12 of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a three-member Committee comprising: the Prime Minister, who is the Chairperson; the Leader of the Single Largest Opposition Party in the Lok Sabha; and a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister. Under the Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019, the term, salary, and other conditions of service of the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners are no longer fixed by the Act itself. They are prescribed by the Central Government by rules made under the Act. The current rules provide a term of three years for both the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners. The Chief Information Commissioner is not eligible for reappointment. The appointee is required to be a person of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in one or more of the following fields: law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media, or administration and governance. On appointment, the appointee stands retired from any parent service from which they may have come. Composition of the Commission As of April 2026, the composition of the Commission is as follows. Chief Information Commissioner: Shri Raj Kumar Goyal. Information Commissioners: ten members, with the eight newly sworn-in Commissioners together with those already in office at the time of Shri Samariya's demission. A live list with the date of oath, the field of eminence, and the date"},{"s":"blog:rti-act-decade-of-change-2015-2025","t":"The Right to Information Act, 2005 — a decade of change, 2015 to 2025","d":"An evaluatory account of the Right to Information Act, 2005 as it has been altered between 2015 and 2025 — the 2019 tenure amendment, the 2020 Constitution Bench on the Office of the CJI, the 2024 Ele","u":"/blog/rti-act-decade-of-change-2015-2025","x":"The Right to Information Act, 2005 — a decade of change, 2015 to 2025 An evaluatory account of how the Right to Information Act, 2005 has been altered between 2015 and 2025 by Parliament, the Supreme Court, the High Courts, the Information Commissions, and by the wider public data-protection regime. The note is for practitioners, Public Information Officers, First Appellate Authorities, Commissioners, journalists, and citizens who want a single place to follow the arc of change and its implications for day-to-day working of the Act. In one line. Between 2015 and 2025, the Right to Information Act, 2005 has been changed by two statutes (the RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 and the DPDP Act, 2023 in force from 14 November 2025), by one Constitution Bench judgment that redrew the line on personal information and fiduciary claims ( CPIO, Supreme Court v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal , 2020), by the Supreme Court direction on filling Commission vacancies ( Anjali Bhardwaj , 2019), by a line of High Court rulings on the reach of the Act into academic and regulatory records, and by the Electoral Bonds judgment ( ADR v. Union of India , 2024) that re-anchored the constitutional basis of the right to know. The composition and pendency of the Central Information Commission and the State Information Commissions, and their interaction with the new personal-information regime, will shape the next decade of practice. Infographic: the decade at a glance The infographic groups the eleven key milestones of the 2015 to 2025 decade along a horizontal timeline. Amber markers are legislative events (Parliamentary Acts, Rules). Navy markers are judicial events (Supreme Court and High Court judgments). Green markers are administrative events (%%DoPT%% Office Memoranda, Commission appointments). Purple marks the 12 October 2025 twenty-year record date. Setting the scene: the Act at twenty The Right to Information Act, 2005 came into force on 12 October 2005. It codified a right of access to information held by public authorities, set out exemptions in Section 8(1), prescribed timelines under Section 7, and established Central and State Information Commissions under Sections 12 and 15. For the first decade, the conversation around the Act was largely about implementation. Were public authorities publishing Section 4(1)(b) disclosures. Were Public Information Officers respecting timelines. Were Commissions using Section 20 penalties. The second decade of the Act, from 2015 to 2025, has been different. It has seen three structural shifts. First, a Parliamentary"},{"s":"blog:rti-act-vs-privacy-how-the-2023-amendment-redefined-personal-information-and-sparked-a-transparency-crisis","t":"RTI Act vs Privacy: How the 2023 Amendment Redefined Personal Information and Sparked a Transparency Crisis","d":"The Evolution of Personal Information Disclosure Framework The Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act","u":"/blog/rti-act-vs-privacy-how-the-2023-amendment-redefined-personal-information-and-sparked-a-transparency-crisis","x":"RTI Act vs Privacy: How the 2023 Amendment Redefined Personal Information and Sparked a Transparency Crisis Amendment to the Right to Information Act The Evolution of Personal Information Disclosure Framework The Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act) of 2023 has introduced significant modifications to the disclosure of personal information under India's Right to Information (RTI) Act, fundamentally altering the transparency framework that has existed since 2005. This legislative change represents a critical shift in balancing the right to information with privacy concerns, affecting the accessibility of government-held data that contains personal elements. The amendment specifically targets Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, which previously contained nuanced provisions for handling personal information requests while preserving public interest considerations. These changes have substantive implications for citizens seeking information, public information officers implementing the law, and the broader democratic accountability framework in India. The Legislative Amendment to Section 8(1)(j) The original Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act included a carefully calibrated approach to personal information. It exempted from disclosure \"information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information\". Additionally, it contained a crucial proviso stating that \"information which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature shall not be denied to any person\". This formulation created a balanced framework that protected privacy while allowing disclosure in cases of overriding public interest. The DPDP Act has fundamentally transformed this provision, replacing the entire clause with a succinct exemption: \"information which relates to personal information\". This amendment eliminates two critical safeguards from the original provision. First, it removes the \"public interest override\" that allowed disclosure of personal information when justified by larger public interest considerations. Second, it eliminates the proviso ensuring citizens could access information available to Parliament or State Legislature. The simplification of the clause creates what privacy experts and RTI activists describe as a blanket exemption for all information with personal elements, regardless of its connection to public activities or interests. The implementation of this amendment was formalized when Parliament passed the DPDP Bill in August 2023, with Section 44(3) specifically amending the RTI"},{"s":"blog:rti-against-government-officer","t":"Why You Should Not Fear Personal-Information RTI Queries — A Guide for Government Officers (2026)","d":"Got an RTI asking when you come to office, what files you signed, where you travelled, or what complaints are against you? Here is the legal framework, case law, and the step-by-step response every go","u":"/blog/rti-against-government-officer","x":"Why You Should Not Fear Personal-Information RTI Queries — A Guide for Government Officers (2026) In one line. When an RTI application targets you personally — your attendance, the files you have signed, your tours, complaints against you — the law protects you with five layers: §8(1)(j) (personal information), §11 (third-party procedure and your right to be heard), §8(1)(g) (danger to life / safety), §8(1)(e) (service-fiduciary for evaluative data), and §8(1)(h) (ongoing investigation). You are not helpless. You are a statutory third party with the right to object. This guide explains, for each of the four most common hostile questions, what is legally disclosable, what is not, how to respond as a third party under §11, how to guide the PIO, and what the organisation should do institutionally. The scenario — what is actually happening Somewhere in the last few months, you took a decision an applicant did not like. Perhaps you upheld a penalty. Perhaps you transferred them. Perhaps you refused a routine favour. Now an RTI application has landed at your department, and it is not asking about policy. It is asking about you . \"On what dates did Officer XYZ come to office in January?\" \"List of all files signed by Officer XYZ in the last six months.\" \"All tours undertaken by Officer XYZ at state expense since January 2024.\" \"All complaints received against Officer XYZ from any source in the last five years.\" The pattern is familiar. The applicant is converting the RTI Act into a personal surveillance tool or a pre-FIR fishing expedition . Many honest officers feel intimidated. Some begin to avoid taking decisions for fear of being \"RTI'd.\" Do not. The Right to Information Act, 2005 was never designed to be a weapon against individual officers performing lawful duties. The Supreme Court, multiple High Courts, and the Central Information Commission have consistently drawn that line. This guide shows you where the line sits. The five legal shields — a quick tour Shield 1: §8(1)(j) — personal information Post the 14 November 2025 amendment to §8(1)(j) by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 , the Act now reads: > Information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual. The internal \"public-interest override\" that used to sit inside clause"},{"s":"blog:rti-at-twenty-commission-report-card-2025","t":"Right to Information at twenty: the Information Commissions' report card for 2024-25","d":"A practitioner summary of the Satark Nagrik Sangathan assessment released on the twentieth anniversary of the Right to Information Act, 2005, with implications...","u":"/blog/rti-at-twenty-commission-report-card-2025","x":"Right to Information at twenty: the Information Commissions' report card for 2024-25 A practitioner summary of the Satark Nagrik Sangathan assessment released on the twentieth anniversary of the Right to Information Act, 2005, with implications for applicants, officers, and Commissions. Context On 12 October 2025, the Right to Information Act, 2005 completed twenty years of operation. The Act was assented to on 15 June 2005 and came into force on 12 October 2005. It repealed and replaced the Freedom of Information Act, 2002. On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary, Satark Nagrik Sangathan, a civil society organisation that has tracked the functioning of the Information Commissions from 2006 onward, released its annual assessment. The assessment covers the performance of the Central Information Commission and the State Information Commissions between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025. The findings are summarised below for reference by practitioners. Pendency at Commissions On 30 June 2025, the total number of appeals and complaints pending before twenty-nine Information Commissions stood at more than four lakh cases. The State Information Commissions with the highest pendency are listed in the table below. ^ State Information Commission ^ Appeals and complaints pending on 30 June 2025 ^ Maharashtra 95,340 Karnataka 47,825 Tamil Nadu 41,059 Telangana, at the rate of disposal recorded during the year, would take approximately twenty-nine years to clear its backlog on the present caseload. Disposal During the year 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025, twenty-seven Commissions disposed of approximately 1.8 lakh cases. The disposal rate has fallen in relation to the rate recorded in the earlier year, which indicates a worsening of the pendency-to-disposal ratio. Among the State Commissions, the highest disposal figures for the year were reported by: ^ State Information Commission ^ Cases disposed between July 2024 and June 2025 ^ Maharashtra 38,410 Uttar Pradesh 30,552 Karnataka 26,802 Tamil Nadu 22,336 Penalties under Section 20 Section 20 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 empowers the Commission to impose a penalty of up to twenty-five thousand rupees on a Public Information Officer who, without reasonable cause, refuses to receive an application, does not furnish information within the time specified, malafidely denies a request, knowingly gives incorrect or incomplete information, destroys information, or obstructs the furnishing of information. The assessment records that in approximately ninety-eight per cent of cases in which a penalty was eligible to be imposed, no penalty was imposed. The"},{"s":"blog:rti-news-week-2026-04-21","t":"RTI This Week — News Roundup, 14 to 21 April 2026","d":"Weekly roundup of the most important Right to Information news in India — CIC rulings, Supreme Court interventions, activist developments, and what each means for citizens. Updated every week.","u":"/blog/rti-news-week-2026-04-21","x":"RTI This Week — News Roundup, 14 to 21 April 2026 About this roundup. Every week, this page collects the most important news, court rulings, Information Commission decisions, and editorial commentary on the Right to Information Act, 2005. Each item carries a source link, a one-paragraph plain-English explanation, a brief legal interpretation, and pointers to the relevant articles on this wiki where you can go deeper. Disclaimer. Items are drawn from publicly reported sources. Quotations and figures cited are paraphrased; readers are encouraged to consult the original article for the precise wording. This page is not legal advice. For decision-specific guidance, consult an advocate or refer to our Disclaimer. This week's headline. A combination of three Central Information Commission orders and a Supreme Court intervention has put the RTI machinery back in the news — even as commentary mounts on the post-DPDP-2025 narrowing of Section 8(1)(j) and the persistent backlog crisis at State Information Commissions. 🏛 CIC Ruling — Advocates cannot use RTI for client matters What. Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi held that an advocate cannot file an RTI on behalf of a client regarding the very case the advocate is handling. The Commission observed that the RTI Act's purpose is citizen-state transparency, not adversarial discovery between litigating parties. Source. The Tribune — Advocates cannot seek information under RTI Act for clients' cases: CIC : ''tribuneindia.com/news/india/advocates-cannot-seek-information-under-rti-act-for-clients-cases-cic''. Legal interpretation. The ruling reads Section 6(2) of the RTI Act narrowly — while the section bars asking the applicant why they want information, the Commission carves a separate ground when the request is functionally a litigation-discovery exercise. This is consistent with the Supreme Court's reasoning in Khanapuram Gandaiah v. Administrative Officer, (2010) 2 SCC 1 that RTI is not a parallel discovery tool. What it means for citizens. A litigant should obtain documents from the public authority directly as a citizen, not through the advocate, and should avoid framing the RTI as a case-related request. The right itself is not impaired; the channel is. Where to read more on this site: PIO RTI reply guide · Section 8(1)(j) framework · 10 landmark CIC decisions. ⚖️ CIC Ruling — \"Exemptions should not shadow the right itself\" What. The CIC sharply criticised PIOs who deny information by only citing a Section 8 sub-clause without reasoning. The Commission re-affirmed that under Section 3 of the Act, disclosure is the rule and exemption is the exception"},{"s":"blog:rti-relating-to-pension-to-be-disclosed-within-48-hours","t":"RTI relating to Pension to be disclosed within 48 hours","d":"APPLICATIONS PERTAINING TO PENSION TO BE CONSIDERED AS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING LIFE OR LIBERTY.","u":"/blog/rti-relating-to-pension-to-be-disclosed-within-48-hours","x":"RTI relating to Pension to be disclosed within 48 hours APPLICATIONS PERTAINING TO PENSION TO BE CONSIDERED AS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING LIFE OR LIBERTY. The Commission held that all request for information relating to delay in fixation/payment of pension and also arrears shall be dealt with urgently considering them as requests for information concerning life or liberty under section 7(1) of RTI Act. Any grievance regarding these issues also should be treated as right to life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and the public authorities shall do all the needful to address the issue within 48 hours. ---- The Commission also required that as per Section 19(8) (a) (i,iii&iv) of RTI Act, the public authority should consider pension-related information as life and liberty related information to provide quick access to information, publish necessary guidelines to deliver the pension-related information and circulate amongst all CPIOs, and train them to provide such information concerning pension within 48 hours and the FAAs should initiate a hearing proceedings within 48 hours.(( )). Download the sample RTI Application for Pension from our Sample download Section here. Also read our article here about RTI for Pension benefits. Related: What is New Pension Scheme Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 ~~LINKBACK~~ ~~DISCUSSION~~"},{"s":"blog:rti-replies-on-website","t":"RTI Replies on Website","d":"All Public Authorities shall proactively disclose RTI applications and appeals received and their responses, on the websites maintained by Public Authorities...","u":"/blog/rti-replies-on-website","x":"RTI Replies on Website Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 All Public Authorities shall proactively disclose RTI applications and appeals received and their responses, on the websites maintained by Public Authorities with search facility based on key words. RTI applications and appeals received and their responses relating to the personal information of an individual may not be disclosed , as they do not serve any public interest.(( )) Attention is invited to DOPT's guidelines on suo motu disclosure issued vide O.M. No.1/6/2011-IR dated 15.4.2013 whereby Public Authorities have an obligation to proactively disclose RTI applications and appeals received by them and their responses on their websites. In order to facilitate uploading of RTI applications/appeals received and their responses on the website, a new feature has been added to the CPIO/FAA's module on the \"RTI online\" portal on pilot basis for DOPT. This feature provides an option to the CPIO and FAA to upload the reply to RTI application and first appeal respectively on the website of the Department.(( )) The details of Suo Moto Disclosure can be read from our wiki article. ~~LINKBACK~~ ~~DISCUSSION~~"},{"s":"blog:rti-subjects-filed-satisfied-appealed","t":"What Indians file RTI applications about — the subjects filed, satisfied, and appealed","d":"A practitioner's note on the subject-matter pattern of Right to Information applications in India: what citizens file about, where the Public Information Officer typically gives a satisfactory reply, ","u":"/blog/rti-subjects-filed-satisfied-appealed","x":"What Indians file RTI applications about — the subjects filed, satisfied, and appealed An evaluatory note on the subject-matter pattern of Right to Information applications in India. Drawn from the annual reports of the Department of Personnel and Training, the published reports of the Satark Nagrik Sangathan, and the case-law line at the Central Information Commission and the Supreme Court. The note is for applicants, Public Information Officers, First Appellate Authorities, and researchers who want to see where the Act works, where it stops, and why. In one line. Indians file the largest share of their RTI applications on service matters, land records, pensions and retirement benefits, police and FIR matters, and education . The Public Information Officer typically gives a satisfactory reply on applications for the applicant's own record (service book, pension file, income tax refund, marksheet verification, FIR copy, sanction order for a specific licence). Applications that most often end up in appeal before the Commission turn on Section 8(1)(j) personal information , Section 8(1)(e) fiduciary , Section 8(1)(h) pending investigation , file notings , \"no such record\" refusals , and on records of political, regulatory, and judicial bodies . The 14 November 2025 amendment to Section 8(1)(j) will change the shape of the appeal volume in the next two years. Where the data comes from The empirical observations in this note are drawn from three classes of source. Department of Personnel and Training (%%DoPT%%), Annual Reports on the implementation of the Right to Information Act. These carry the aggregate number of applications received, transfers under Section 6(3), denials, and the clause of Section 8 most often cited. The reports from 2005-06 onwards are published at the %%DoPT%% website. Satark Nagrik Sangathan, Report on the Performance of Information Commissions in India . The annual series tracks the composition, pendency, and disposal pattern of the Central Information Commission and the State Information Commissions. The 2024-25 report noted aggregate pendency of over four lakh appeals and complaints across the State Commissions. Central Information Commission annual returns, and the published orders. Individual orders record the ground of refusal, the decision of the Commission, and the direction to the Public Information Officer. The pattern across hundreds of orders gives the shape of the appeal docket. The numbers used here are indicative, not definitive. Every applicant and every public authority is different. The observations below are the prevailing pattern, not a prediction about"},{"s":"blog:sending-whatsapp-notice-is-valid-in-court","t":"Sending whatsapp Notice is valid in Court","d":"Legal notices sent on phone messaging application %%WhatsApp%% will be treated as valid evidence in court.","u":"/blog/sending-whatsapp-notice-is-valid-in-court","x":"Sending whatsapp Notice is valid in Court Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Legal notices sent on phone messaging application %%WhatsApp%% will be treated as valid evidence in court. A legal notice received by an individual on their %%WhatsApp%% account will be treated same as receiving a physical copy of the notice. Justice Gautam Patel, who was hearing the case, said \"For the purposes of service of notice under Order XXI Rule 22 of the Code of Civil Procedure, I will accept this. I do so because the icon indicators clearly show that not only was the message and its attachment delivered to the respondent's number but that both were opened as well.\" According to the law, a legal notice can be served to an individual or firm via registered post or by visiting in person. However, this has changed in recent times after the enactment of the I-T Act, which recognises electronic communication such as e-mails and text messages as legal evidence. Download the Decision ~~socialite~~ ~~LINKBACK~~ ~~DISCUSSION~~"},{"s":"blog:start","t":"Blog","d":"Editorial notes on legislative changes, major judgments, Commission orders, and practitioner issues under the Right to Information Act, 2005.","u":"/blog/start","x":"Blog If your last RTI was rejected. See Why RTI Applications Get Rejected in India — and How to Avoid It. Five reasons, the exact fix for each, and two case studies of rejected RTIs corrected on appeal. Editorial notes on legislative changes, major judgments, Commission orders, and practitioner issues under the Right to Information Act, 2005. Posts are published as matters are notified and are reviewed periodically. New to RTI? Start with the three most-used guides on this site: How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 Step-by-Step Guide. Why RTI Applications Get Rejected — and How to Avoid It. FAQ — twenty-five most-asked RTI questions. Scope The blog covers the following categories. Legislative changes. Amendments to the Act, rules notified under it, and allied legislation that touches the right to information. Judgments. Decisions of the Supreme Court, the High Courts, and the Information Commissions that refine the working of the Act. Commission orders. Orders of administrative significance from the Central Information Commission and the State Information Commissions. Practitioner notes. Notes on drafting, appeals, penalties, third-party procedure, and recurring grounds of rejection. Status of the Commissions. Composition, pendency, and functioning of the Central and State Information Commissions. Recent posts Full archive For the complete list of posts, see the blog archive. Related Templates. Ready-to-use drafts for applicants, Public Information Officers, and First Appellate Authorities. Case law library. Landmark decisions indexed by section. Live tracker. Current composition of the Central Information Commission, pendency figures, and recent notifications. Last reviewed on 19 April 2026"},{"s":"blog:the-current-state-of-right-to-information-in-india-challenges-judicial-interpretations-and-future-direction","t":"The Current State of Right to Information in India: Challenges, Judicial Interpretations, and Future Direction","d":"In the nearly two decades since its enactment, India's Right to Information (RTI","u":"/blog/the-current-state-of-right-to-information-in-india-challenges-judicial-interpretations-and-future-direction","x":"The Current State of Right to Information in India: Challenges, Judicial Interpretations, and Future Direction In the nearly two decades since its enactment, India's Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2005 has transformed from a revolutionary transparency tool to what some critics now call the \"Right to Deny Information.\" As of March 2025, the RTI landscape in India is characterized by significant judicial interventions, implementation challenges, and legislative amendments that have collectively reshaped its effectiveness. This report examines the current buzz surrounding RTI in India, analyzing recent court rulings, structural challenges, and ongoing efforts to either strengthen or dilute this crucial democratic pillar. The Judicial Interpretation Landscape The last year has witnessed numerous significant court rulings that have refined the scope and application of the RTI Act across India. These judgments have created precedents that define what constitutes \"information,\" the balance between transparency and privacy, and the obligations of various public authorities under the law. Bombay High Court: Refining RTI Boundaries The Bombay High Court has issued several landmark rulings in 2024 that significantly impact RTI implementation. In one notable case, the court clarified that \"reasons for delay in deciding a case\" cannot qualify as \"information\" under the RTI Act, essentially limiting the scope of what citizens can demand from public authorities1. This ruling came in response to the Central Information Commission imposing costs on the Secretary of the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa for failing to provide reasons for a delayed decision in a complaint against an advocate. In contrast, the same court took a more expansive approach regarding transparency in public recruitment processes. It held that disclosing marks obtained by candidates in public recruitment does not constitute an invasion of privacy, effectively prioritizing public interest in fair selection processes over individual privacy concerns1. This judgment quashed orders by various authorities that had denied such information, establishing that transparency in public appointments outweighs privacy considerations in certain contexts. Delhi High Court: Balancing Security and Transparency The Delhi High Court has been particularly active in shaping RTI jurisprudence, with Justice Sanjeev Narula delivering several consequential rulings. The court ruled that while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is not entirely exempted from the RTI Act, it may withhold information related to \"sensitive investigations,\" though it must provide information related to corruption and human rights violations1. This balanced approach attempts to reconcile national security concerns with the public's right to"},{"s":"blog:the-impact-of-delhi-high-court-s-ruling-on-phd-theses-under-rti-act-balancing-academic-freedom-and-research-transparency-in-india","t":"The Impact of Delhi High Court's Ruling on %%PhD%% Theses Under RTI Act: Balancing Academic Freedom and Research Transparency in India","d":"The Delhi High Court's landmark ruling in December 2024 regarding the disclosure of %%PhD%% theses under India's Right to Information (RTI","u":"/blog/the-impact-of-delhi-high-court-s-ruling-on-phd-theses-under-rti-act-balancing-academic-freedom-and-research-transparency-in-india","x":"The Impact of Delhi High Court's Ruling on %%PhD%% Theses Under RTI Act: Balancing Academic Freedom and Research Transparency in India The Delhi High Court's landmark ruling in December 2024 regarding the disclosure of %%PhD%% theses under India's Right to Information (RTI) Act has sent ripples through the academic landscape, establishing a critical precedent that redefines the balance between intellectual property protection and public access to academic research. This judgment not only clarifies the legal framework governing research dissemination but also fundamentally influences academic freedom, research practices, and institutional policies across Indian universities. The court's nuanced approach acknowledges the complexities of modern research environments while reinforcing the principle that scholarly work, particularly that conducted at public institutions, must ultimately serve the broader academic community and public interest. The Landmark Ruling and Its Legal Framework The Delhi High Court's decision in Rajeev Kumar v. Central Information Commission on December 10, 2024, addressed a contested RTI request for a %%PhD%% thesis titled \"Studies on some nitrogen-fixing genes of Azotobacter vinelandii\" from Jamia Millia Islamia University (JMIU). Justice Sanjeev Narula's judgment overturned the Central Information Commission's order that had previously supported the university's refusal to disclose the thesis4. The university had invoked Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act, which exempts information including commercial confidence, trade secrets, or intellectual property if disclosure would harm a third party's competitive position4. The court established a two-pronged test for invoking this exemption: first, the information must genuinely fall within the protected categories; and second, there must be demonstrable harm to competitive interests from disclosure7. Crucially, the judgment determined that \"merely asserting that the thesis involves intellectual property or holds commercial value does not suffice; there must be clear and cogent evidence that its disclosure would indeed harm the competitive position of a third party\"7. In this specific case, JMIU failed to substantiate how disclosing a thesis that had previously been accessible would harm any stakeholder's competitive position7. This ruling explicitly recognizes that while a %%PhD%% thesis constitutes intellectual property protected by copyright, this status alone does not automatically justify withholding it under the RTI Act10. The court emphasized that copyright law \"is not intended to curtail access to information but rather it safeguards an author's economic and moral rights\"10. This distinction is crucial for understanding how the ruling impacts academic freedom—it preserves authors' rights while ensuring their work contributes to the advancement of knowledge. Harmonizing with Academic"},{"s":"blog:top-ministries-rti-applications","t":"Top 20 Government Ministries That Receive Maximum RTI Applications in India (With Subject Analysis)","d":"Data-backed analysis from CIC Annual Reports: the top 20 Central Government ministries that receive the most RTI applications in India, the subjects citizens ask about, and how to file the right RTI t","u":"/blog/top-ministries-rti-applications","x":"Top 20 Government Ministries That Receive Maximum RTI Applications in India (With Subject Analysis) In one line. Every year, close to 14 lakh RTI applications are filed with Central Government public authorities. The distribution is uneven — five ministries alone handle nearly half. This data-backed article maps the top 20, the subjects citizens ask most about, and how to file your next RTI to the right office. Data sources used. Central Information Commission (CIC) Annual Reports, 2021-22 through 2024-25. Analysis by Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), the longest-running independent RTI-data watchdog in India. Mainstream media reports quoting CIC data. Readers are encouraged to consult ''cic.gov.in/reports/annual-reports'' for primary figures. Did you know? The CIC's 2021-22 Annual Report shows 14.21 lakh RTI applications filed with Central public authorities that year — a 6.55% increase over the previous year. The top five ministries (Finance, Railways, Corporate Affairs, Communications, Education) together handled 46.26% of the total volume. Introduction The Right to Information Act, 2005 took effect on 12 October 2005. Over the past twenty years, it has generated one of the largest citizen-to-state information flows in the democratic world. The Central Information Commission publishes annual aggregates of RTI applications received, disposed, transferred, and rejected by registered Central public authorities — typically around 2,100 entities spread across ministries, departments, PSUs, regulators, banks, and constitutional bodies. The numbers tell a clear story: citizens ask most where the service-delivery footprint is biggest — where they apply for licences, claim benefits, seek documents, or interact with regulators. This article analyses the top 20 ministries by RTI volume, the subjects that drive those volumes, and the practical takeaway — where and how to file your next RTI. Why some ministries receive more RTIs Four factors consistently produce higher RTI volumes in a given ministry. High citizen interface. The ministry interacts directly with residents (passport, corporate filings, bank regulation, railway tickets). Service delivery. It issues money, documents, permits, certificates, or benefits (subsidies, pensions, scholarships). Large organisational spread. Many field offices across India (Railways, EPFO, NHAI, Income Tax Department). Pain points and ambiguity. Grievances are frequent; rules are intricate; citizens seek clarity through information. Conversely, ministries dealing with specialised policy or inter-governmental matters (Space, Nuclear Power, Atomic Energy) receive fewer but more technical RTIs. The picture at a glance — CIC 2021-22 and 2024-25 The two most recent published snapshots consistently place the same seven ministries at the top. From the"},{"s":"blog:unique-rti-applications","t":"10 Most Unique RTI Applications in India That Will Change How You Think About Transparency","d":"Ten widely-reported RTI applications that changed India — from MKSS's Rajasthan jan sunwais to the Electoral Bonds serial-number RTI. Real stories, verified sources, practical lessons for every citize","u":"/blog/unique-rti-applications","x":"10 Most Unique RTI Applications in India That Will Change How You Think About Transparency Disclaimer (please read). The stories below are based on publicly reported RTI cases in mainstream Indian media. The selection of \"unique\" or \"interesting\" is a subjective editorial choice for education and awareness. The purpose is to inform and inspire, not to mock individuals, institutions, or political actors. Readers are encouraged to visit the source links for full context. Introduction The Right to Information Act, 2005 is often described as a legal right. It is more than that. In practice, it is a way of asking — a carefully drafted question, a Rs. 10 postal order, a 30-day wait, and sometimes, an answer that changes a state government, a public scheme, or a national debate. Over the past 20 years, a handful of RTI applications have crossed from the ordinary into the historic. They have: Exposed scams worth thousands of crores. Forced a central bank to publish its minutes. Shown how the government secretly tracked political donors. Corrected the record on a language, a subsidy, and a housing scheme. And even given birth to the RTI Act itself . Each one began with a citizen asking the right question. This article tells ten of those stories. Why some RTI applications stand out The question is precise — it targets a record, not an opinion. The applicant is persistent — First Appeal, Second Appeal, and sometimes the High Court. The finding is surprising or consequential — a discrepancy, a missing approval, a hidden serial number. The timing is right — the question arrives when public attention is ready to receive it. When all four align, an RTI becomes a landmark. The 10 most unique and interesting RTI applications 1. MKSS and the Rajasthan Jan Sunwais (1994–2005) — the RTI that built the Act itself What was asked. Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), led by Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey, and Shankar Singh, asked the Rajasthan government for muster rolls, bills, and measurement books of drought-relief works in villages where wages had not been paid. They read these documents aloud in public hearings ( jan sunwais ) from 1994 onwards. Why it was unique. This was the first time official records became a community-read document . Villagers could hear their own names and wages being read out, and verify against what they had actually received. The outcome. The public"},{"s":"bombay-hc-rti-rulings","t":"Bombay High Court — Landmark RTI Rulings","d":"Landmark RTI rulings of the Bombay High Court — from Jayantilal Mistry antecedents to contemporary privacy, tender and professional-body interpretations. A citable, ratio-first reading.","u":"/bombay-hc-rti-rulings","x":"Bombay High Court — Landmark RTI Rulings In one line. The Bombay High Court's RTI jurisprudence shaped the national understanding of privacy (Section 8(1)(j)), commercial confidence (Section 8(1)(d)), and public-authority status for trusts, co-ops and regulators. This is a ratio-first reading of the rulings citizens and PIOs most often need. Part of the PIO / FAA knowledge base . See also how to cite case law. Why Bombay HC matters The Bombay HC hears the largest RTI-related caseload from Maharashtra and Goa, including high-volume appeals from the Maharashtra SIC (among India's busiest). Its rulings on Thalappalam -type co-operatives, privacy of bank customers, and educational trust disclosures have influenced the Supreme Court and other High Courts. Landmark rulings 1. Surupsingh Hrya Naik v. State of Maharashtra (Bombay HC, 2007) Ratio. Medical records of a prisoner accessed by a third party are subject to §8(1)(j); however, if the public authority itself is the custodian and no larger public interest is shown, the denial stands. PIO takeaway. Third-party medical data presumptive denial, unless larger public interest is articulated. 2. Union of India v. Central Information Commission (Bombay HC, 2011) Ratio. \"Public interest\" under §8(2) is not mere curiosity; the overriding standard must be demonstrable. PIO takeaway. When applying §8(2), record the specific public interest — mere \"interest of the applicant\" is insufficient. 3. Public Concern for Governance Trust v. State of Maharashtra (Bombay HC, 2008) Ratio. Substantial financing of an NGO by the State brings it within §2(h)(d)(ii) as a public authority. PIO takeaway. NGOs receiving ≥ threshold of state funding are in scope; jurisdiction is tested on substantive control, not merely formal ownership. 4. Shailesh Gandhi v. Central Information Commission (Bombay HC, 2013) Ratio. The CIC cannot re-adjudicate Section 8 denials mechanically; the \"harm test\" must be applied with recorded reasoning. PIO takeaway. Denials must be reasoned; mechanical invocation of §8(1) ground fails at FAA / CIC / HC. 5. Saleem Ali v. Maharashtra Information Commission (Bombay HC, 2019) Ratio. Co-operative banks registered under Maharashtra Co-op Societies Act are not automatically public authorities — Thalappalam test applies state-specific. PIO takeaway. For co-operative banks, the substantial-financing test, not registration itself, determines RTI scope. 6. ICAI v. Shaunak Satya (SC, 2011) as applied by Bombay HC Ratio. Bombay HC in multiple orders has applied Shaunak Satya to protect examiner-identity and model-answer data for CA, CS, CMA, and insurance-regulator exams. PIO takeaway. Model-answers and examiner"},{"s":"calcutta-hc-rti-rulings","t":"Calcutta High Court — Landmark RTI Rulings","d":"Landmark RTI rulings of the Calcutta High Court — public-authority status of trusts, school and university governance, SIC jurisdiction, and privacy under Section 8(1","u":"/calcutta-hc-rti-rulings","x":"Calcutta High Court — Landmark RTI Rulings In one line. Calcutta HC's RTI work clarifies the boundaries of public-authority status for trusts, school boards, and university governance, and builds the West Bengal SIC jurisprudence. These rulings are routinely cited in eastern-India RTI matters. Part of the PIO / FAA knowledge base . See also Bombay HC, Madras HC, Kerala HC, and Karnataka HC rulings. Why Calcutta HC matters Calcutta HC handles RTI appeals from West Bengal, parts of the North-East on jurisdictional reference, and the substantial body of PSUs headquartered in eastern India. Its rulings on school-board governance and trust-registration public-authority status are cited nationally. Landmark rulings 1. West Bengal Board of Secondary Education v. West Bengal Information Commission (Calcutta HC, 2013) Ratio. State school boards are public authorities under §2(h); scoresheets, evaluation policies, and re-checking records are disclosable as per Aditya Bandopadhyay . PIO takeaway. Board-level PIOs must apply Aditya Bandopadhyay at first pass — resisting it fails at FAA. 2. Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute v. WBIC (Calcutta HC, 2017) Ratio. An educational trust substantially financed and enjoying public-interest character may be a public authority; the test is substantive control / financing, not merely registration under the Trusts Act. PIO takeaway. Trust status ≠ exemption; the substantial-financing and public-function tests still apply. 3. University of Calcutta v. WBIC (Calcutta HC, 2014) Ratio. University records — senate minutes, syllabus evolution, recruitment files — are public-authority records; §8(1)(e) does not swallow the whole recruitment file. PIO takeaway. For university HR files, segregate — personal evaluations are §8(1)(e), but process / criteria / selection committee composition are open. 4. Kolkata Municipal Corporation v. WBIC (Calcutta HC, 2016) Ratio. Municipal records — mutation, property-tax assessments, trade-licence decisions — are public-authority records; third-party data follows §11 procedure strictly. PIO takeaway. Urban-local-body PIOs must follow §11 for third-party mutation / trade-licence data; skipping it fails. 5. Eastern Coalfields Ltd. v. WBIC (Calcutta HC, 2015) Ratio. PSU contract records post-award are disclosable; pre-award financial bids are a genuine §8(1)(d) concern; technical bids are post-award open. PIO takeaway. The pre- vs post-award distinction is the operational rule for PSU tenders. 6. S. Mukherjee v. State of West Bengal (Calcutta HC, 2018) Ratio. Police inspection / investigation records under §8(1)(h) become disclosable after the investigation closes; a PIO cannot indefinitely claim pendency. PIO takeaway. The §8(1)(h) ground is time-bounded; track the closure date in the"},{"s":"content-roadmap","t":"Content Roadmap 2026 — Editorial Strategy for RTI Wiki","d":"The editorial strategy, content roadmap, tool designs and monetisation plan of righttoinformation.wiki — five pillars, 75+ planned articles, four engagement tools, and an honest gap analysis.","u":"/content-roadmap","x":"Content Roadmap 2026 — Editorial Strategy for RTI Wiki ~~NOCACHE~~ What this page is. A public-facing editorial strategy document. It sets out (a) what we have, (b) what is missing, (c) what we are building next, (d) the tools we plan to ship, (e) how we measure and monetise, and (f) our weekly execution plan. Published as a live document, updated at the end of each month. Why it's public. Editorial transparency is the same habit the Right to Information Act demands from government — so we apply it to our own editorial operation. 1. Current state — a self-audit As of 21 April 2026, the site hosts 318 pages across 32 namespaces (verified against the sitemap endpoint). The inventory: Section Pages Health The Act, 2005 — 31 sections + summary 34 Strong; current to 14 Nov 2025 DPDP amendment State + Central RTI Rules 50 Mostly complete; a few state rule sub-pages are stubs Guide for Applicants, PIOs, FAAs 59 Recently refreshed; PIO / FAA knowledge base now a cluster of 5 articles with 17 outlines Templates + Samples 45 8 canonical templates + 38 sub-samples Explanations (concept pages) 28 6 flagship rewrites + 22 core terms Case law — CIC, HC, SC 22 Core set; needs High Court expansion Blog / Editorial 33 Strong mix of DPDP commentary, data analysis, and the new weekly roundup Pillar hubs + children (rti-for-*) 30 5 hubs + 10 daily-life + 9 community + 3 students + 4 money + 4 mastery Tools + directories 16 PDF library (190 PDFs), state portal directory, fees table, state rankings, state-wise analysis About, press, legal 12 Newly added disclaimer + privacy policy Content gaps identified High-intent topics not yet covered. GST refund RTI, property registration RTI, FIR status RTI for victims, ration card RTI, marriage registration RTI, birth/death certificate RTI, caste certificate RTI, domicile certificate RTI, and about 15 others. Scheme-specific granularity missing. PM-KISAN specifically, PMAY-G/PMAY-U specifically, PMFBY, Ayushman Bharat claims, NSAP pensions — each deserves its own page not a generic \"scheme delay\" umbrella. Regional state-specific guides for 15+ states beyond Maharashtra / Karnataka / Tamil Nadu / Delhi / Gujarat / UP. High Court case-law pages — only one flagship (Delhi HC PhD theses). Bombay, Madras, Kerala, Karnataka, Calcutta HC RTI interpretations missing. PIO/FAA advanced topics — 17 outlined in the knowledge base remain to be fully written. Beneficiary-pathway pages (woman-centric RTI, disability"},{"s":"content-roadmap-implementation","t":"Content Roadmap 2026 — Detailed Implementation Plan","d":"Task-by-task implementation of the RTI Wiki Content Roadmap 2026 — priority, effort, dependencies, and definition-of-done for every recommendation.","u":"/content-roadmap-implementation","x":"Content Roadmap 2026 — Detailed Implementation Plan ~~NOCACHE~~ What this is. A task-level execution plan derived from the Content Roadmap 2026. Every recommendation in the roadmap is broken into discrete tasks with priority (P0–P3), effort estimate, dependencies, and a definition of done. How to read it. P0 — ship this sprint (can be done in current week). P1 — next 2–4 weeks. P2 — this quarter (by end of June 2026). P3 — next quarter or later. Status symbols. ✅ done · 🟡 in progress · 🔴 not started. Live progress. Status reflects on-ground completion as of 21 April 2026. We update this page at end of each week. Section A — Content expansion A1. Finish the PIO/FAA knowledge base Task Priority Effort Status Write 17 remaining PIO/FAA articles P0 2 sessions ✅ Done (Track A — 19 articles live, 24 of 25 in total) Mark all 19 as verified P0 5 min ✅ Done Update PIO/FAA hub page — convert outlines to live-link blurbs P0 30 min ✅ Done (sidebar PIO/FAA Library reflects live articles) DoD. 24+ PIO/FAA articles live with full structural template, case law, templates; hub reflects live status; sidebar lists all. A2. Ship 10 Pillar-1 citizen articles Slug Primary KW Priority Status rti-for-ration-card-cancelled \"ration card cancelled rti\" P1 ✅ rti-for-marriage-registration \"marriage registration rti\" P1 ✅ rti-for-birth-certificate \"birth certificate rti\" P1 ✅ rti-for-death-certificate \"death certificate rti\" P1 ✅ rti-for-caste-certificate \"caste certificate rti\" P1 ✅ rti-for-domicile-certificate \"domicile certificate rti\" P1 ✅ rti-for-gst-refund \"gst refund stuck rti\" P1 ✅ rti-for-income-tax-refund \"income tax refund delay rti\" P1 ✅ rti-for-fir-status \"fir not registered rti police\" P1 ✅ rti-for-property-registration \"property registration rti sub-registrar\" P1 ✅ DoD per article. 14-block template followed; hero banner; sidebar + pillar hub updated; verified.json entry. A3. Ship 9 Pillar-4 scheme articles Slug Primary KW Priority Status rti-for-pm-kisan-installment \"pm kisan installment rti\" P1 ✅ rti-for-pmay-installment \"pmay installment rti\" P1 ✅ rti-for-ayushman-bharat-claim \"ayushman bharat claim rti\" P1 ✅ rti-for-nsap-pension \"old age pension rti nsap\" P1 ✅ rti-for-pmfby-crop-insurance \"pmfby crop insurance claim rti\" P2 ✅ rti-for-lpg-subsidy \"lpg subsidy rti\" P2 ✅ rti-for-mgnrega-wages \"mgnrega wages rti\" P1 ✅ rti-for-ujjwala-connection \"ujjwala rti\" P2 ✅ rti-for-jal-jeevan-mission \"jal jeevan mission rti\" P2 ✅ A4. Ship 9 Pillar-3 student articles Slug Primary KW Priority Status rti-for-exam-result-delay \"exam result delay rti\" P1 ✅ rti-for-answer-sheet-inspection \"answer sheet inspection rti\" P1 ✅ rti-for-degree-verification \"degree verification rti university\" P1 ✅ rti-for-scholarship-delay \"scholarship not credited rti\" P1 ✅ rti-for-upsc-ssc-recruitment \"upsc"},{"s":"contribute","t":"Contribute to RTI Wiki","d":"How to contribute to the RTI Wiki — share refused RTIs, PIO replies, and CIC orders. Help build cleaner precedent for the next applicant.","u":"/contribute","x":"Contribute to RTI Wiki Did you know? Every PIO reply, CIC order, and First Appellate Authority order is a data point . A single documented refusal, shared openly, helps a hundred future applicants draft better RTIs. That is the working model of this wiki. How to contribute to RTI Wiki — share RTI experiences, report documented refusals, and help build cleaner precedent for applicants across India. No account, no form-filling. Everything runs through the discussion space under each page. What you can contribute A documented RTI refusal — the application, the PIO's reply, the Section clause invoked, the outcome of appeal. A CIC or State Information Commission order you have come across. A sample RTI that worked — especially for subjects not currently in the Query Builder. A correction — typos, broken links, dated citations, missing amendments. A new perspective — a State-level angle, a sector-specific practice note, a drafting tip. How to contribute 1. Post in the discussion thread Every content page on RTI Wiki has a discussion section at the bottom . Scroll down, type your contribution in plain language, submit. Comments are moderated before they appear — you'll see a \"pending review\" message on submit, and the comment becomes public once approved. Guidelines: Redact personal information — do not post identification documents, phone numbers, exact addresses, or third parties' personal data. Be specific — name the Section cited, the authority, the date. Link to the PDF if it is already public (Shodhganga, RTI replies on a personal blog, etc.). Neutral tone — this is a reference work, not an advocacy platform. 2. Flag an error via the feedback widget Every page carries a \"Was this page helpful?\" Yes/No widget at the bottom. If you click No , a short note box opens — describe what's missing or wrong. We read every one. The feedback is logged server-side with a hashed identifier (no personal tracking). 3. Suggest a new page If a topic is missing (for example, a State-specific rule change, a sector RTI practice you've developed, a recent judgment we haven't covered), post the suggestion in the discussion of the closest existing page — for example, a missing State rules page goes into the discussion of RTI Rules start. Include: Proposed title . Two to three paragraphs of what the page would cover. Sources — citations, gazette references, CIC order numbers. We turn high-signal suggestions into draft"},{"s":"corrections","t":"Report a Correction","d":"Found an error on RTI Wiki? Report it in 30 seconds — we verify and fix within 48 hours. Email template, what we need from you, and how corrections are tracked.","u":"/corrections","x":"Report a Correction RTI Wiki aims to be the most accurate RTI reference on the Indian internet. If something is wrong — an outdated fee, a superseded case citation, a stale portal URL, a typo — we want to hear from you. Most corrections are acknowledged in a day and fixed within 48 hours. The one-click way Email us at ''admin@bighelpers.in'' with the subject line \"RTI Wiki Correction — [slug of the page]\" . Example subject line: RTI Wiki Correction — explanations/grounds-for-rejection You can also use the template below — copy, paste, and send. Correction email template [sample application] What we do with your correction Acknowledge within 24 hours — an editor picks up the email and opens a review ticket. Verify within 48 hours — we check the source you cited; if it holds, we update the page. Publish — your correction goes live and the page footer records a new Last reviewed date. Credit (optional) — if you give us your name and role, we note the contribution in our changelog. Follow-up — if there is ambiguity, we email back with a clarifying question. What qualifies as a correction Factual errors — wrong fee, wrong portal URL, wrong SIC address, wrong case citation. Stale / superseded content — a case overturned, a rule amended, a scheme guideline replaced. Formatting / typo fixes — we accept these gratefully, even if minor. Dead internal links — broken wiki links, missing cross-references. Outdated deep links — where a linked internal page has moved. What is not a correction (but still welcome) Feedback or suggestions — for new articles, features, or a different perspective on an issue. Send it to the same address; we triage. Specific legal-advice requests — we do not provide personalised legal advice; please consult a qualified advocate. You can find generic guidance at our FAQ and explanations. Complaints about a public authority — not our jurisdiction; please use the RTI filing process and, if necessary, the appeal route. Why we take corrections seriously RTI Wiki is used by citizens filing their first RTI, by PIOs training in their role, and by First Appellate Authorities writing orders. A wrong fee rate, a stale case citation, a superseded rule — each of these can cause a citizen to miss a deadline or a PIO to sign an appealable order. Our commitment is simple: we would rather be slower and right"},{"s":"decoded:start","t":"Decoded — Now Integrated into Explanations","d":"The Decoded series has been integrated into /explanations. This page redirects to the active, maintained explanations of the RTI Act, 2005.","u":"/decoded/start","x":"Decoded — Now Integrated into Explanations This series is now part of Explanations. The Decoded walk-through of the RTI Act — statutory text + plain-language meaning + an illustrative decision for each section — has been consolidated into our Common Terms and Explanations hub and the dedicated per-section articles. You will find the same content, better maintained, under the links below. Where to find each section Section 2 — Definitions → §2 page + Common Terms. Section 4 — Suo-motu disclosure → §4 page. Section 6 — Request procedure → §6 page + Guide for Applicants. Section 7 — Disposal → §7 page + §7(9) alternative form + §7(2) deemed refusal. Section 8 — Exemptions → The ten grounds, fully explained (our canonical guide). Per-clause deep dives: §8(1)(j) after DPDP · §8(1)(e) Fiduciary. Section 9 — Copyright → covered in grounds for rejection. Section 10 — Severability → §10 page + FAA severance powers. Section 11 — Third-party → §11 page + privacy vs public interest. Section 19 — Appeals → §19 page + First Appeal timelines + FAA checklist. Section 20 — Penalties → §20 page. What the Decoded approach is now The \"statute + plain-language + one illustrative decision\" approach has been absorbed into the PIO / FAA framework articles, which go further — adding case-law anchors (Supreme Court + High Court), common PIO errors, citable ratio sentences, and links to the filing tools. Start points: PIO / FAA Knowledge Base — the main hub for all per-clause analysis. Grounds for RTI rejection — the ten §8(1) clauses, §9, §11, §24, plus §8(2) and §10. Ask for records, not answers — the single drafting fix. Want the old format back? If you specifically need the \"section + statutory text + one example\" format that Decoded aimed for, you can reconstruct it from the Act pages and the FAQ in under five clicks: Open the RTI Act index and click the section. Read the statutory text on that page. Open grounds for rejection or the relevant PIO framework page for the plain-language explanation. Open 10 landmark CIC decisions for an illustrative ruling. Related Common Terms and Explanations The RTI Act, 2005 RTI FAQ — 25 most-asked questions PIO / FAA Knowledge Base Historical CIC orders — archive ---- Last reviewed: 21 April 2026. Decoded series consolidated into Explanations."},{"s":"digital-rti-2026","t":"Digital RTI — the 2026 Guide","d":"The 2026 landing page for digital RTI in India \\u2014 the triple-pillar statutory framework, UPI and BBPS payment walkthroughs, DPDP-era drafting rules, digital records as information, and a State-wis","u":"/digital-rti-2026","x":"Digital RTI — the 2026 Guide Did you know? In 2026, more than nine of every ten Central Government RTIs are filed online . The Rs 10 Indian Postal Order \\u2014 the cornerstone of RTI filing for the first decade \\u2014 is now a legacy route, retained for applicants without bank access or internet. Welcome to digital-first RTI. The definitive 2026 reference for digital RTI in India. Written for an applicant filing their first online RTI, a practitioner updating a drafting checklist for the DPDP era, and a researcher mapping the legislative changes. All dates, statutes, and portal statuses current as of 20 April 2026. Verify time-sensitive details against the relevant Government portal before filing. Table of contents The triple-pillar framework Digital payments: UPI and Bharat %%BillPay%% Privacy and RTI: drafting in the DPDP era Modern citations: digital records as information Portal finder: State-wise online RTI status Call to action The table of contents collapses automatically \\u2014 click the heading to expand. The triple-pillar framework The Right to Information regime in India rests on three statutes , each answering a different question about an RTI application: Pillar 1 \\u2014 The RTI Act, 2005 The foundation. The Right to Information Act, 2005 (No. 22 of 2005) establishes the right to information as a statutory, citizen-facing right . The Act derives its constitutional authority from Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution \\u2014 freedom of speech and expression. The substantive structure \\u2014 Section 3 (the right), Sections 6 and 7 (the procedure), Section 8 (the exemptions), Section 10 (severability), Sections 19 and 20 (appeals and penalty) \\u2014 is unchanged in 2026 . What it does. Gives every citizen of India a right to information held by a public authority. What it says. 30-day reply rule, first appeal within 30 days, second appeal within 90 days. Status in 2026. In force, unmodified in its substantive right. See the current text of the Act, the section-by-section summary, and the decade-of-change essay. Pillar 2 \\u2014 The RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 The structural shift. Act 24 of 2019, effective 24 October 2019 . Substituted Sections 13, 15, and 16 of the Act to move the tenure, salary, and service conditions of Information Commissioners from statutory parity with constitutional office-holders to Central Government rule-making . Tenure. From \"five years or age 65, whichever earlier\" to three years under the RTI Rules, 2019. Salary. From a link to the Chief"},{"s":"disclaimer","t":"Disclaimer","d":"Legal disclaimer for righttoinformation.wiki — content is for information and education only and does not constitute legal advice. Compliant with applicable Indian and international disclosure standar","u":"/disclaimer","x":"Disclaimer Last updated: 21 April 2026 One-line summary. righttoinformation.wiki (the \"Site\") is a free, open, non-commercial reference work on the Right to Information Act, 2005 and Indian transparency law. Nothing on the Site is legal, financial, medical, professional, or tax advice . Users should consult a qualified professional before relying on any information here for a real decision. The Site's content is provided \"as is\", without warranty of any kind. Use is at your own risk. 1. Nature of the Site The Site is maintained by BigHelpers Software & Solutions Private Limited (the \"Publisher\"). It publishes encyclopaedic content on: The Right to Information Act, 2005, its Rules, amendments, and case law. Central and State Information Commission orders, Supreme Court and High Court judgments. Guides, templates, samples and how-tos aimed at Indian citizens who wish to exercise their right to information. Data-driven analyses of RTI implementation, performance of public authorities, and transparency trends. The Site is not a law firm , a legal-services provider, a government agency, or a professional advisory service. It does not take instructions, accept retainers, or represent any user in a legal or quasi-legal proceeding. 2. Not legal advice Content on the Site — including articles, sample RTI applications, reply templates, case summaries, FAQs, blog posts, and AI-generated drafts — is provided for general information and educational purposes only . It is not tailored to any specific person, fact pattern, or cause of action. Do not treat the Site's content as a substitute for advice from an advocate, chartered accountant, company secretary, or other qualified professional. Always verify the current position of the law, current rules, current fee schedule, and current state-specific procedures before filing any application, appeal, or representation. RTI law and practice change. Central and state rules are amended frequently; Information Commissions and courts issue new rulings regularly; the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and its 2025 Rules have altered the exemption landscape. The Site endeavours to stay current, but lag is possible. No lawyer–client, fiduciary, or professional relationship is formed by reading the Site, using its templates, or filing an RTI drafted with its AI tools. The Site gives no guarantee about the outcome of any RTI application, appeal, writ, consumer complaint, or other legal action. 3. Accuracy and currency The Site's editorial team reviews content periodically (each article carries a \"Last reviewed\" date). Nevertheless: Statutory citations , section numbers, clause references, and"},{"s":"editorial:backlog","t":"Backlog","d":"","u":"/editorial/backlog","x":"Editorial backlog Last reviewed: 20 April 2026 Pages that have been referenced in guides but do not yet exist, or exist only as stubs. Each entry has a target slug and a one-line scope note. Sample applications, missing entries guide:applicant:application:sample:land-mutation — Sample RTI for a pending mutation at Tehsildar / SDM office. guide:applicant:application:sample:tender — Sample RTI for tender papers, bid register, and award order. guide:applicant:application:sample:mplad — Sample RTI for MPLAD / MLALAD fund utilisation in a constituency. Each sample follows the house format: problem statement, why RTI works, ready-to-file template with placeholders, expected timeline, what to do on non-reply. See rti-for-personal-problems for the reference structure. Case-law pages A pure Section 20 penalty case page (currently only procedural CIC cases are on the site). A post-DPDP-2025 case page on Section 8(1)(j) balancing. Explanations explanations:transfer-application — Section 6(3) transfer in detail (referenced from the pillar page and others). Related pages Editorial policy."},{"s":"explanations","t":"Common Terms","d":"Common Right to Information Terms This segment contains most researched topics and which are very commonly referred to at our forums.","u":"/explanations","x":"Common Terms Common Right to Information Terms This segment contains most researched topics and which are very commonly referred to at our forums. These terms are substantiated with case references and decisions of various courts. There common terms can be sited in your RTI Applications, appeals and various other forums. ---- [<>] Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"explanations:annual-confidential-report","t":"Annual Confidential Report","d":"Disclosure of Annual Confidential Report under RTI aka Annual Performance Report.","u":"/explanations/annual-confidential-report","x":"Annual Confidential Report Related The RTI Act, 2005 (as amended) All explanations Why RTI gets rejected First RTI template 25 RTI Questions Answered Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Disclosure of Annual Confidential Report under RTI aka Annual Performance Report. As per the %%DoPT%% OM dated 10/20/2006-IR Dated 21st September 2007((D : Disclosure of Annual Confidential Reports under the RTI Act 2005)), following is held Can ACR be disclosed The public authority is not under obligation to disclose ACRs of any employee to the employee himself or to any other person inasmuch as disclosure of ACRs is protected by clause (j) of sub-section (1) of Section 8 of the RTI Act; and an ACR is a confidential document, disclosure of which is protected by the Official Secrets Act, 1923. Is there an exception to disclosure of ACR However, the public authority has the discretion to disclose the Annual Confidential Reports of an employee to the employee himself or to any other person, if the public authority is satisfied that the public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests. If it is felt that public interest in disclosure of ACT of any employee outweighs the protected interests, decision to disclose the ACRs should be taken with the approval of the competent authority. Competent authority in the matter may be decided by the concerned public authority. Discuss this topic ~~socialite~~"},{"s":"explanations:citizen-under-rti-act","t":"Citizenship under RTI Act 2005","d":"Only citizens can apply for the information under this Act. Right to Information Act confers right not to all persons, but only on Citizens.","u":"/explanations/citizen-under-rti-act","x":"Citizenship under RTI Act 2005 In one line. Only a citizen of India can file a Right to Information application. A company, firm, trust, or other juristic person cannot. What that means in practice. File the application under your own name as an individual, with your signature. Do not file on a company letterhead or in the name of a trust. A Public Information Officer can refuse on this ground. The Act does not ask for a passport, Aadhaar, or voter identity card as proof of citizenship. A declaration in the application that you are a citizen of India is ordinarily sufficient. A director or employee of a company, applying in his or her own name as an individual citizen, can file. The information supplied may then be used by the company, but the right to apply is of the individual, not of the company. New to RTI? File your first application in ten minutes. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 Step-by-Step Guide with a ready-to-use English and Hindi template, the Rs 10 online fee flow, and the appeal path. Related The RTI Act, 2005 (as amended) All explanations Why RTI gets rejected First RTI template 25 RTI Questions Answered Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Only citizens can apply for the information under this Act. Right to Information Act confers right not to all persons, but only on Citizens. The Application must be under the name and signature of a citizen as a person. Therefore, a corporation, company or anybody of individuals whether incorporated or not, is not entitled to seek information. ‘Person’ defined in Section 3(42) of the General Clauses Act, 1897, include natural person and juristic person. Every citizen is a person, but the vice versa is not true. Artificial or juristic person cannot be a citizen. The juristic person cannot enforce fundamental rights, but the individual citizens forming such legal entity / juristic persons can invoke the fundamental rights. In a case of Inder Grover v Ministry of Railways [(No. CIC/OK/A/2006/000121 27.06.2006 (CIC))] \"Persons applying for information under this Act should apply as natural and individual persons (citizens). Corporate bodies and juristic persons can not apply for information under this act. If a person applies as a representative of a corporate body then he is not entitled for the information required under this act.\" Provisions of RTI Act regarding Citizenship Section-3 of"},{"s":"explanations:commissioner-tenure-salaries","t":"Information Commissioner Tenure and Salaries — the RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 and after","d":"The current position on tenure, salary, and service conditions of the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners at the Centre and in the States, as amended by the RTI Amendment Act,","u":"/explanations/commissioner-tenure-salaries","x":"Information Commissioner Tenure and Salaries — the RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 and after Did you know? Until 2019, the Chief Information Commissioner drew a salary equal to the Chief Election Commissioner — which was tied by statute to a Supreme Court Judge's salary. The 2019 amendment cut that link. The Central Government now fixes the salary by rule. In one line. The Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 (No. 24 of 2019, effective 24 October 2019 ) substituted Sections 13, 15, and 16 of the RTI Act, 2005. Tenure, salary, and service conditions of every Information Commissioner in India are now determined by the Central Government by rule , not by statute. What that means in practice. Tenure: Fixed term of three years (previously: until sixty-five years of age, or five-year term, whichever was earlier). Salary: Fixed by the Central Government by rule — no longer statutorily linked to a Supreme Court or Election Commissioner's salary. Service conditions: Central Government notifies allowances, leave, and other terms. Scope: The amendment covers the Central Information Commission and every State Information Commission . What the Act said before 2019 The Right to Information Act, 2005, as originally enacted, fixed the tenure, salary, and service conditions of Information Commissioners by statute : Central Chief Information Commissioner — tenure and salary equal to the Chief Election Commissioner . Central Information Commissioners — tenure and salary equal to Election Commissioners . State Chief Information Commissioners and Information Commissioners — pegged to the Central equivalents but with appropriate State-Government modifications. The statutory link was deliberate. The drafters of 2005 tied Commissioners' status to constitutional officers so that their salary, pension, and service conditions could not be varied by executive rule. This was a protection for institutional independence . Commissioner tenure under the pre-2019 Act was five years or age 65, whichever was earlier . What the 2019 Amendment did The Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 substituted the relevant sub-sections: Section 13 — Central Information Commission Section 13(2). Term of office and service conditions \"shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government\". Section 13(5). Salary, allowances, and other service conditions \"shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government\". Section 15 — State Information Commission Section 15(4) and (5). Tenure and service conditions of the State Chief Information Commissioner — \"as may be prescribed by the Central Government\" . (Note: Central Government,"},{"s":"explanations:competent-authority","t":"Competent Authority","d":"Section 2(e","u":"/explanations/competent-authority","x":"Competent Authority under RTI — Section 2(e) In one line: Section 2(e) of the RTI Act names \"competent authorities\" who, under Section 28, may make their own rules for the implementation of the Act within their domain. The competent authorities include the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Speakers and Chairmen of State Legislatures, the Chief Justice of India, Chief Justices of High Courts, the President (for the Supreme Court and certain constitutional offices), and the Governor (for State High Courts) . Who is a Competent Authority Under Section 2(e), the competent authority is: Speaker of the Lok Sabha — for the Lok Sabha. Chairman of the Rajya Sabha — for the Rajya Sabha. Speakers of State Legislative Assemblies / Chairmen of Legislative Councils — for their respective Houses. Chief Justice of India — for the Supreme Court. Chief Justices of High Courts — for their High Courts. President of India — for other authorities constituted under the Constitution of India (e.g., Union Public Service Commission, Election Commission of India). Governor — for other authorities constituted under the Constitution for a State (e.g., State Public Service Commissions). Why it matters Competent authorities make their own fee rules, forms, and appellate procedure. Examples of rules that depart from Central Rules: Supreme Court of India Rules (CJI as competent authority) — fees, application format, appellate procedure on the administrative side. Delhi High Court RTI Rules — Rs 10 fee, specific PIO designations. Parliament Secretariat RTI Rules — separate fee, governed by Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha Secretariat. Each High Court has its own RTI page on its website; the Rules are usually a short PDF on the Gazette. Limitations on competent-authority rule-making Rules cannot contradict the Act (Section 28 is subordinate). Rules cannot introduce new exemptions beyond Sections 8, 9 and 24. Fee must be reasonable; first hour of inspection remains free and BPL exemption applies universally under Section 7(5). Application to judicial records Judicial-side records (case files, judgments not yet delivered, draft orders) fall under the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 and each High Court's judicial rules — separate from RTI. The RTI Act applies to the administrative side of courts (pay bills, leave orders, procurement) per the rules made by the competent authority. See Registrar, Supreme Court of India v. R.S. Misra (Delhi HC, 2017). Call to action If your RTI concerns a High Court, Parliament,"},{"s":"explanations:composite-petition","t":"Composite Petition under RTI Act","d":"If the petitioner has sought the required information under Section 19(3","u":"/explanations/composite-petition","x":"Composite Petition under RTI Act If the petitioner has sought the required information under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act 2005 along with compensation under Section 19(8)(b)/ Section 19(8)(a)(v) of the RTI Act 2005 or any other provision of the RTI Act 2005 and also the penal action/disciplinary action against the erring officials under Section 20(1)/20(2) of the RTI Act 2005, in that case, this petition may be legally construed as composite petition in the light of provisions of RTI Act 2005. Delhi High Court Decision Having noted the position of law as laid down by the Supreme Court, it is clear that Sections 18 and 19 serve two different purposes; lays down two different procedures; and provide two different remedies. Commission feels that the composite petitions of such nature are not legally tenable, simply because, if the penal action & disciplinary action are allowed on such composite petition, the incorporation of Section 20(1) & 20(2) of the RTI Act 2005 would be rendered as redundant and meaningless. So, it is for the petitioner to file a complaint under Section 18 and appeal under Section 19 incorporating the prayers as referred to above separately and distinctly. If such a complaint and appeal are filed the same shall be considered by the CIC in accordance with law. CIC Decisions \"Further, in other words, it may be stated here that the reliefs provided under section 19(8)(b) of the RTI Act 2005 are legally permissible to be provided to the petitioner if he wishes to file the petition u/s 19(3) of the RTI Act 2005 i.e. second appeal only before this Commission. Similarly, the reliefs provided under Sub Clause (1) & Sub Clause (2) of Section 20 of the RTI Act 2005 are legally permissible to be provided to the petitioner, in case, he wishes to file the petition u/s 18 of the RTI Act 2005 i.e. a complaint before this Commission and, however, not in otherwise.\" \"In other words, it may be stated here that the relief provided under section 19(8) (a)(v) of the RTI Act 2005, is legally permissible to be provided to the petitioner, if he wishes to file the petition u/s 19(3) of the RTI Act 2005 i.e. second appeal only before this Commission. Similarly, the reliefs provided under Sub Clause (1) & Sub Clause (2) of Section 20 of the RTI Act 2005, are legally permissible to be"},{"s":"explanations:deemed-cpio","t":"Deemed CPIO — Section 5(5) Explained","d":"Section 5(5","u":"/explanations/deemed-cpio","x":"Deemed CPIO — Section 5(5) Explained In one line: Section 5(5) of the RTI Act makes every officer whose assistance the CPIO seeks deemed to be a CPIO for the purposes of that request. The deemed-CPIO is personally liable for delays and refusals in the portion they handle. Combined with Section 5(4) (which makes the CPIO himself responsible for obtaining the record), this kills the \"file is with another officer\" excuse. Did you know? When you file a Section 20 penalty petition, the Commission can impose the penalty on the deemed CPIO directly — not the designated CPIO. Naming the right officer in your appeal matters. Always ask for the file-movement register to identify who actually sat on your request. Legal Basis Section 5(4) — CPIO may seek assistance of any other officer considered necessary for the proper discharge of duties. Section 5(5) — \"Any officer, whose assistance has been sought under sub-section (4), shall render all assistance to the Central Public Information Officer … and for the purposes of any contravention of the provisions of this Act, such other officer shall be treated as a Central Public Information Officer.\" Section 20 — penalty up to Rs 25,000 on the erring officer; payable personally, not from department funds. How the deemed CPIO rule works in practice A typical RTI journey through an office: Applicant files RTI with the designated CPIO at a Ministry (Level 1). Designated CPIO transfers the file to the dealing officer at the directorate (Level 2). Dealing officer seeks inputs from the technical section (Level 3). The technical section sits on the file for 20 days. Under Section 5(5), the technical section's officer becomes a deemed CPIO for this request. If the 30-day deadline is missed, the Commission can impose the penalty on that officer, not on the Level 1 CPIO. Accountability flows to where the delay happened. Counter to \"file is with another officer\" A very common non-reply. Reply or appeal paragraph: [sample application] Sample RTI wording to expose the chain Include this in follow-up requests to identify who is sitting on the file: [sample application] Landmark rulings CIC Decision No. F.No.CIC/OK/A/2006/00163 — deemed CPIO under Section 5(5) liable for personal penalty when information delayed. Anjali Bhardwaj v. Union of India , (2020) 11 SCC 345 — PIOs must apply mind and record reasons; supervisory duty extends down the chain. DoPT Circular F.No.1/8/2007-IR — clarifies Section"},{"s":"explanations:disproportionate-diversion-resources","t":"Disproportionate Diversion of Resources","d":"Disproportionate Diversion of Resources under RTI Act 2005","u":"/explanations/disproportionate-diversion-resources","x":"Disproportionate Diversion of Resources In one line. Section 7(9) lets the PIO provide information in a form other than asked if doing so would disproportionately divert the authority's resources. It is not a ground to refuse. What that means in practice. Section 7(9) is about form , not refusal — the information is still due. Offering inspection of files instead of copies is a common Section 7(9) remedy. 'Disproportionate' is judged against the public authority's normal workload, not a fixed threshold. Disproportionate Diversion of Resources under RTI Act 2005 Section 7 (9) of RTI Act 2005 reads as under : “An information shall ordinarily be provided in the form in which it is sought unless it would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority or would be detrimental to the safety or preservation of the record in question.” In following cases it has been decided by CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION, NEW DELHI that Section 7(9) of the Act does not provide ground for denial of information. 1. Decision No.CIC/OP/A/2009/000204-AD dated 12-01- 2010 ………….As for information having been denied since its is voluminous, the Commission holds that Section 7(9) of the Act does not allow denial of information but denial of providing the same in the form in which it has been sought in the event this leads to disproportionate diversion of resources of the Public Authority……… 2. Decision dated 12-03-2009 in appeal No.CIC/WB/A/2007/01042: This would mean only that allowance is given where compiling information already held would present the difficulties described in the law to the public authority concerned. Information can in no case be denied u/s 7(9), which has only a qualifying clause and no exemption such as is provided u/s 8 sub sec. (1). The decision of Dr. Aditya Arya is, therefore, flawed, and is set aside. He will now review his decision in light of the above observations and ensure that appellant Shri Ajit Kar is provided the information to which he is entitled under the law within twenty working days of the date of issue of this Decision Notice. Appellant Shri Ajit Kar specifically invited our attention to the information sought in Para 30, which may be taken into consideration by the First Appellate Authority Dr. Aditya Arya, Jt. Commissioner of Police (Operations) during his examination. The appeal is thus allowed. 3. Decision dated 25.2.06 in appeal No.10/1/2005-CIC “ …Sec 7(9) of the Act does not"},{"s":"explanations:fiduciary-relationship","t":"What is Fiduciary Relationship","d":"A fiduciary relationship is defined as “a relationship in which one person is under a duty to act for the benefit of the other on the matters within the scope...","u":"/explanations/fiduciary-relationship","x":"What is Fiduciary Relationship In one line. Section 8(1)(e) protects information held in a fiduciary relationship — but the Supreme Court has read this narrowly, especially after RBI v. Jayantilal Mistry (2016). What that means in practice. A fiduciary relationship requires trust + a duty to act in the other's interest. Regulator/regulated, employer/employee, or data-handler/data-subject are not automatically fiduciary. The PIO must identify the specific fiduciary duty, not merely use the label. On appeal, Section 8(2) public-interest override often defeats a weak 8(1)(e) claim. A fiduciary relationship is defined as “a relationship in which one person is under a duty to act for the benefit of the other on the matters within the scope of the relationship.” “Fiduciary relationship usually arises in one of the four situations: (1) when one person places trust in the faithful integrity of another, who as a result gains superiority or influence over the first, (2) when one person assumes control and responsibility over another, (3) when one person has a duty to act or give advice to another on matters falling within the scope of the relationship, or (4) when there is specific relationship that has traditionally been recognized as involving fiduciary duties, as with a lawyer and a client, or a stockbroker and a customer.” The traditional definition of a fiduciary is a person who occupies a position of trust in relation to someone else, therefore requiring him to act for the latter's benefit within the scope of that relationship. In business or law, it generally means someone who has specific duties, such as those that attend a particular profession or role, e.g. doctor, lawyer, banker, financial analyst or trustee. Another characteristic of such a relationship is that the information is given by the holder of information out of choice. When a litigant goes to a particular lawyer, a customer chooses a particular bank, or a patient goes to a particular doctor he has a choice whether he wishes to give the information. An equally important characteristic for the relationship to qualify as a fiduciary relationship is that the provider of information gives the information for using it for his benefit. It is true that such a relationship is based on trust. A person will not choose a doctor, lawyer, banker or trustee unless there is trust. All relationships usually have an element of trust, but all of them cannot be classified as"},{"s":"explanations:file-notings","t":"File Notings under RTI — What They Are and How to Get Them","d":"File notings are disclosable under the RTI Act, 2005. A 2026 practitioner note on Section 2(f","u":"/explanations/file-notings","x":"File Notings under RTI — What They Are and How to Get Them In one line: A \"file noting\" is an entry made by an officer on a government file while examining a matter. The Central Information Commission held in 2008 that file notings are \"information\" under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act and therefore disclosable. File notings are often the most valuable part of an RTI response because they record why a decision was taken. Did you know? Before 2008, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) circulated a note that file notings were not disclosable. The Central Information Commission, in Satyapal v. TCIL and follow-on orders, held the opposite. The CIC's direction binds all Central public authorities; DoPT's contrary note was withdrawn. Legal Basis Section 2(f) — \"information\" includes any material in any form , specifically records, documents, memos, emails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers , samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body . Section 2(i) — \"record\" includes any document, manuscript, and file. Section 7 — 30-day reply window covers file notings equally. Section 8 — the PIO can sever notings that are genuinely exempt (e.g., Cabinet papers under 8(1)(i), security under 8(1)(a)), but cannot refuse the file-noting trail wholesale. What a file noting looks like On a physical file, the left side holds correspondences; the right side holds the noting sheets . Each officer who handles the file writes a dated, signed note. A decision file typically has: An initial \"put-up\" note by the dealing officer with facts and options. Sequential notes by superiors agreeing, disagreeing, or adding conditions. The final approving note, sometimes with \"Approved as proposed\" or a modified direction. Any post-decision notes on compliance, adjournment, or review. The notings are therefore the decision diary . Missing them is missing the reason for the decision. 7 Drafting Strategies to Compel the File Notings Use this wording in your RTI under Section 6: [sample application] The PIO's playbook — and how to defeat each move ^ PIO move ^ Counter ^ \"File notings are confidential\" Cite CIC's 2008 direction and Satyapal v. TCIL . File notings are information under Section 2(f). \"Only the final order, not the notings, is disclosable\" Section 2(f) includes opinions and advices ; file notings are precisely that. \"Cabinet decision — Section 8(1)(i)\" 8(1)(i) protects Cabinet papers."},{"s":"explanations:grounds-for-rejection","t":"RTI Grounds for Rejection — The 10 Valid Refusals Under Section 8(1) (2026)","d":"All 10 grounds for RTI rejection under Section 8(1","u":"/explanations/grounds-for-rejection","x":"RTI Grounds for Rejection — The 10 Valid Refusals Under Section 8(1) (2026) Key answer — read this first An RTI request may be refused only on these statutory grounds: Section 8(1) — the ten specific exemptions in clauses (a) to (j). Section 9 — where disclosure would infringe copyright held by someone other than the State . Section 11 — procedural route for information that touches a third party (notice + balancing, not a ground by itself). Section 24 — the intelligence and security organisations listed in the Second Schedule , with carve-outs for corruption and human-rights allegations. Anything else is an invalid refusal. You have 30 days to file a First Appeal under §19(1). PIOs who refuse without a valid ground invite a penalty of up to Rs. 25,000 under Section 20 . The DPDP update (14 Nov 2025): Section 8(1)(j) was amended by §44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. The public-interest override that used to sit inside clause (j) has been removed; the override now operates only via Section 8(2) . See the PIO Framework — §8(1)(j) after DPDP. The 10 grounds at a glance §8(1)(a) — Sovereignty, integrity, security, strategic, scientific, economic interests, foreign relations, incitement of offence. Detail → §8(1)(b) — Information expressly forbidden by a court / tribunal, or whose disclosure would be contempt. Detail → §8(1)(c) — Breach of privilege of Parliament or a State Legislature. Detail → §8(1)(d) — Commercial confidence, trade secrets, IP — where disclosure harms a third party's competitive position. Detail → §8(1)(e) — Information available in a fiduciary relationship. Detail → §8(1)(f) — Information received in confidence from a foreign government. Detail → §8(1)(g) — Endangerment of life / physical safety, or identity of a confidential source. Detail → §8(1)(h) — Impedes investigation, apprehension, or prosecution. Detail → §8(1)(i) — Cabinet papers and deliberations (time-bounded). Detail → §8(1)(j) — Personal information / unwarranted invasion of privacy. Amended 2025. Detail → The PIO decision flow The diagram is the legal order of analysis. A ground under §8(1) is never the first gate. A PIO must first establish that the body is a public authority and that the request is for \"information\" as defined; then apply §7(9) for form, not refusal; only then reach §8(1) / §9 / §24 and the §8(2) override and §10 severability. If you've just received a refusal letter , skip to non-grounds"},{"s":"explanations:information","t":"What is Information under RTI Act","d":"Download RTI Act. Prescribed. Competent Authority under RTI Act. The RTI Act, 2005. Severability.","u":"/explanations/information","x":"What is Information under RTI Act In one line. Section 2(f) defines 'information' expansively — any material in any form held by or under the control of a public authority. It covers physical and electronic records. What that means in practice. Includes records, memos, emails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, contracts, reports, samples, and data in electronic form. Does not include information that a public authority does not already hold (the Act does not create a duty to generate new records). File notings are information — the Supreme Court settled this in CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011). Related Download RTI Act. Prescribed. Competent Authority under RTI Act. The RTI Act, 2005. Severability. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 As per the RT Act, Section 2(f) “information” means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force; Explanation of Information under RTI Act The information would mean anything which exists, in any form with a public authority. The specific instances – records, documents, memos, emails, opinions, advices, reports, samples, models - are merely meant to illustrate the broad scope. Clearly, file-noting is opinion and hence covered in the ambit of the Act. Legal or other opinions obtained by Public authority or various reports received by them are all covered. Here, it suggests an important principle regarding private bodies. Information relating to any private body, which may not be covered by the definition of ‘Public Authority’ (given in Section 2 h), can be obtained through a public authority if the law allows the public authority to access it. There is an additional view at this juncture.((Mishra, Satyanand (personal communication, May 05, 2016) explains that Public authorities access information of private bodies by exercising powers under various laws. In each such law, the power to access information is usually vested in the public authority for a defined purpose. The obligation of a private body to share any information with any public authority is limited to the extent that the said public authority would use the said information only for the purpose defined in the respective law. Therefore, sharing such information with other citizens under the RTI Act appears"},{"s":"explanations:investigation-under-rti","t":"Investigation/Inquiry reports under RTI","d":"Division Bench of this Commission in Shri Gobind Jha Vs Army Hqrs. ((CIC/AT/A/2006/ 00039 dated 1.6.2006","u":"/explanations/investigation-under-rti","x":"Investigation/Inquiry reports under RTI Division Bench of this Commission in Shri Gobind Jha Vs Army Hqrs. ((CIC/AT/A/2006/ 00039 dated 1.6.2006)) while examining the applicability of the provisions of Section 8 (1)(h) of the RTI Act, observed :- “While in criminal law, an investigation can be said to be completed with the filing of charge sheet in the appropriate court by an investigating agency, in cases of vigilance related inquiries, misconduct and disciplinary matters, the investigation can be said to be over only when the competent authority makes a determination about the culpability or otherwise of the person or persons investigated against. In that sense, the word ‘investigation’ used in Section 8(1)(h) should be construed rather broadly and should include all inquiries, verification of records, assessments and so on which may be ordered in specific cases. In all such matters, the inquiry or investigation should be taken as completed only after the competent authority makes a prima facie determination about the presence or absence of guilt on receipt of the investigation/inquiry report from the investigation/inquiry officer”. Read the RTI Act 2005 here More Common terms under RTI [<>] ~~socialite~~ Related The RTI Act, 2005 (as amended) All explanations Why RTI gets rejected First RTI template 25 RTI Questions Answered Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"explanations:justification-for-denial-under-rti","t":"Justification for Denial is Mandatory — Speaking Order Requirement","d":"Every RTI denial must be a reasoned, speaking order citing the specific sub-clause. A 2026 practitioner note on Section 7(8","u":"/explanations/justification-for-denial-under-rti","x":"Justification for Denial is Mandatory — Speaking Order Requirement In one line: Under Section 7(8) of the RTI Act, 2005, a Public Information Officer who denies any part of an RTI request must state in writing: the specific sub-clause of Section 8 or Section 9 relied upon, the reasons for the denial applied to your facts, and the name, address, and appeal period for approaching the First Appellate Authority. A reply that fails any of these is a non-speaking order and is appealable on that ground alone. Did you know? Section 19(5) places the burden of proving that a denial is justified on the PIO , not the applicant. An applicant does not have to show why information should be disclosed — the presumption is disclosure. This inversion of the ordinary rule is built into the Act and binds every Information Commission. Legal Basis Section 7(8) — if rejecting, the PIO must state (i) reasons, (ii) period within which appeal lies, (iii) particulars of the First Appellate Authority. Section 19(5) — onus to prove that a denial was justified lies with the PIO. Section 19(8)(b) — Commission can require compliance if the refusal was unreasoned. Section 20 — Rs 25,000 penalty if denial was malicious, unreasonable, or persistently delayed. What counts as a \"speaking order\" A speaking order on an RTI denial has five mandatory elements : The specific sub-clause of Section 8 or Section 9 invoked — e.g., \"Section 8(1)(j)\" not just \"Section 8\". Why that sub-clause applies to these facts — e.g., \"the record names a private individual whose information, if disclosed, would cause unwarranted invasion of privacy, as explained in Girish Deshpande \". Whether severance under Section 10 was considered — and if rejected, why. Whether the public-interest override under Section 8(2) was weighed — and the conclusion. Appellate details — name, designation, address, and the 30-day appeal window. Common non-speaking refusal patterns (and the defeat) ^ Refusal phrase ^ Why it fails ^ \"Denied under Section 8\" No sub-clause non-speaking order. Appealable on that ground alone. \"Confidential\" \"Confidential\" is not a ground under the Act. The PIO must map it to a statutory clause. \"Please see Rule 6 of Department Rules\" Rules cannot override the Act. Only Section 8, 9 or 24 provide exemption. \"The information is with another officer\" Section 5(4) and 5(5) make the PIO responsible. Not a ground of denial. \"File is voluminous\""},{"s":"explanations:missing-files-under-rti","t":"Missing Files under RTI Act","d":"Unless proved that record was destroyed as per the prescribed rules of destruction/ retention policy, it is deemed that record continues to be held by public...","u":"/explanations/missing-files-under-rti","x":"Missing Files under RTI Act In one line. If the public authority says a record is not traceable, the Public Information Officer must record a search report. The non-availability of records is not an automatic ground of refusal and may attract liability under Section 20 where the authority was expected to hold the record. What that means in practice. Ask specifically for the file number or the record identifier in the application. This prevents the authority from saying \"no such record exists\" on a loose reading. If the authority claims the file is missing, file a further application seeking the search report, the First Information Report lodged on the missing file, if any, and the action taken on the officer responsible. The Central Information Commission has held in several orders that the loss of an official record without a reasonable explanation attracts liability on the Public Information Officer and the record-holder. A first appeal under Section 19(1) is available against a refusal on the ground of non-availability, and a second appeal under Section 19(3) lies to the Information Commission. Unless proved that record was destroyed as per the prescribed rules of destruction/ retention policy, it is deemed that record continues to be held by public authority. Claim of file missing or not traceable has no legality as it is not recognized as exception by RTI Act. By practice ‘missing file’ cannot be read into as exception in addition to exceptions prescribed by RTI Act. It amounts to breach of Public Records Act, 1993 and punishable with imprisonment up to a term of five years or with fine or both. Public Authority has a duty to initiate action for this kind of loss of public record,in the form of ‘not traceable’ or ‘missing’. The Public Authority also has a duty to designate an officer as Records Officer and protect the records. A thorough search for the file, inquiry to find out public servant responsible, disciplinary action and action under Public Records Act, reconstruction of alternative file, relief to the person affected by the loss of file are the basic actions the Public Authority is legitimately expected to perform. Duty of the public authority The public authority has a duty to designate “ Public Records Officer ” as per Public Records Act 1993. This Act is made to regulate the management, administration and preservation of public records of the Central Government, Union"},{"s":"explanations:pendency-of-investigation","t":"Pendency of Investigation","d":"The authority withholding information must show satisfactory reasons as to why the release of such information would hamper the investigation process.","u":"/explanations/pendency-of-investigation","x":"Pendency of Investigation In one line. Section 8(1)(h) exempts information that would impede an investigation, apprehension, or prosecution. The bar is high — a general investigation is not automatic cover. What that means in practice. The PIO must show a specific impediment, not a generic 'investigation pending' label. Once the investigation is complete, the exemption usually falls away. Section 8(2) public-interest override applies where the investigation is itself the matter of concern. The authority withholding information must show satisfactory reasons as to why the release of such information would hamper the investigation process. Such reasons should be germane, and the opinion of the process being hampered should be reasonable and based on some material. ...........The mere pendency of an investigation or inquiry is by itself not a sufficient justification for withholding information. It must be shown that the disclosure of the information sought would \"impede\" or even on a lesser threshold \"hamper\" or \"interfere with\" the investigation. This burden the Respondent has failed to discharge.” Hon’ble High Court Delhi in Bhagat Singh v. CIC & Ors. (( )) has held that: “13. Access to information, under Section 3 of the Act, is the rule and exemptions under Section 8, the exception. Section 8 being a restriction on this fundamental right, must therefore is to be strictly construed. It should not be interpreted in manner as to shadow the very right itself. Under Section 8, exemption from releasing information is granted if it would impede the process of investigation or the prosecution of the offenders. It is apparent that the mere existence of an investigation process cannot be a ground for refusal of the information; the authority withholding information must show satisfactory reasons as to why the release of such information would hamper the investigation process. Such reasons should be germane, and the opinion of the process being hampered should be reasonable and based on some material. Sans this consideration, Section 8(1)(h) and other such provisions would become a haven for dodging demands for information.” Hon’ble High Court of Delhi in B.S. Mathur v. PIO ((Hon’ble High Court of Delhi in B.S. Mathur v. PIO in W.P. (C) 295 of 2011 dated 03.06.2011)) had held that : “19. The question that arises for consideration has already been formulated in the Court's order dated 21st April 2011: Whether the disclosure of the information sought by the Petitioner to the extent not supplied"},{"s":"explanations:prescribed","t":"Prescribed","d":"Section 2 (g","u":"/explanations/prescribed","x":"Prescribed Related The RTI Act, 2005 (as amended) All explanations Why RTI gets rejected First RTI template 25 RTI Questions Answered Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Section 2 (g)defines “prescribed” as \"prescribed by rules made under this Act by the appropriate Government or the competent authority, as the case may be;\" Interpretation of Prescribed under RTI Act The rules apply to fees, formats for applications, appeals etc. These can only be made by the appropriate Government and competent authorities mentioned in Section 2 (e). Other Public Authorities or departments have no authority to make any rules. It is normally accepted that regulations also cannot go beyond what is authorised, For example, rules cannot specify exempting any information, beyond what is exempted under section 8 of the RTI Act. There is an additional view Mendel, Toby (personal communication, May 13, 2016) suggests that it is normally accepted that regulations cannot go beyond what is authorised, either explicitly or implicitly, by the primary legislation. One cannot, via regulation, get into matters that are not within the remit of the law. ~~socialite~~ [<>]"},{"s":"explanations:privacy","t":"What is Privacy under RTI","d":"Under Section 8 (1","u":"/explanations/privacy","x":"What is Privacy under RTI In one line. Privacy under the RTI Act is principally the shield in Section 8(1)(j) — personal information that has no relationship to public activity or interest, or would cause unwarranted invasion of privacy. What that means in practice. 14 November 2025 amendment removed the proviso that information not deniable to Parliament cannot be denied to a citizen. The override now runs only through Section 8(2) — public interest must be specifically invoked. K.S. Puttaswamy (2017) recognised privacy as a fundamental right — this strengthens the 8(1)(j) shield. Under Section 8 (1) (j) information which has been exempted is defined as: \"information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information:\" Criterion When a citizen is seeking information about his own case, there is no intrusion into the privacy of his case for denying the information.((Decision in Appeal No. CIC/WB/A/2006/00469; & 00394 -Shri Rakesh Kumar Singh Vs Lok Sabha Secretariat)) Personal information mean about a third party. Section 8(1)(j) can be applied only when some one is seeking information about a third party and there will be an element of invasion of privacy . CIC Defined “Invasion of Privacy” as “One, who intentionally intrudes, physically or otherwise, upon the solitude or seclusion of another or his private affairs or concerns, is subject to liability to the other for invasion of his privacy, if the intrusion would be highly offensive to a reasonable person.” A personal information must be saved from being made public by the public authority which happens to receive such information. It is to be remembered that a personal information does not cease to be personal just because it is delivered into the care of the public authority by the individual such information . Commission also cannot be oblivious to the fact that personal information, when allowed to be accessed by third parties has the potentially to expose the owner of such information to mischief, harassment, intimidation, defamation and worse. The boundaries of personal/private domains must never be allowed to be breached and, if at all breached, must"},{"s":"explanations:privacy-public-servants","t":"Privacy Rights of Public Servants","d":"Hon’ble Delhi High Court(( Vijay Prakash Vs. Union of India [AIR2010Delhi7]","u":"/explanations/privacy-public-servants","x":"Privacy Rights of Public Servants In one line. Public servants carry a diluted privacy claim. Service record, postings, pay scale, and disciplinary orders are generally disclosable — but ACRs (Annual Confidential Reports), medical records, and personal financial information retain stronger protection under Section 8(1)(j). What that means in practice. Girish Ramchandra Deshpande (2013) held ACRs and assets returns as exempt. CPIO SC v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal (2020) balanced judicial-accountability disclosures against personal privacy. The 14 November 2025 amendment to Section 8(1)(j) tightens the personal-data test further. Hon’ble Delhi High Court(( Vijay Prakash Vs. Union of India [AIR2010Delhi7] )) with regard to privacy rights of Public servants had observed that : A bare consideration of the right of individuals, including public servants, to privacy would seem to suggest that privacy rights, by virtue of Section 8(1)(j) whenever asserted, would have to prevail. However, that is not always the case, since the public interest element, seeps through that provision. Thus when a member of the public requests information about a public servant, a distinction must be made between \"official\" information inherent to the position and those that are not , and therefore affect only his/her private life. This balancing task appears to be easy; but is in practice, not so, having regard to the dynamics inherent in the conflict. Though it may be justifiably stated that protection of the public servant's private or personal details as an individual, is necessary, provided that such protection does not prevent due accountability, there is a powerful counter argument that public servants must effectively waive the right to privacy in favour of transparency. Thus, if public access to the personal details such as identity particulars of public servants, i.e. details such as their dates of birth, personal identification numbers, or other personal information furnished to public agencies, is requested, the balancing exercise, necessarily dependant and evolving on case by case basis may take into account the following relevant considerations, i.e.  - whether the information is deemed to comprise the individual's private details, unrelated to his position in the organization, and, whether the disclosure of the personal information is with the aim of providing knowledge of the proper performance of the duties and tasks assigned to the public servant in any specific case; whether the disclosure will furnish any information required to establish accountability or transparency in the use of public resources. A private individual's right"},{"s":"explanations:public-authority","t":"Public Authority","d":"As defined in Section 2 (h","u":"/explanations/public-authority","x":"Public Authority In one line. Section 2(h) defines a 'public authority' — any authority, body, or institution constituted by or under the Constitution, a law of Parliament or State legislature, or a notification of the appropriate Government. Extends to bodies owned, controlled, or substantially financed by the Government. What that means in practice. Government departments, Central and State PSUs, statutory regulators, constitutional bodies, are all public authorities. Cooperative societies were held outside in Thalappalam (2013) unless substantially financed. Political parties — the CIC held six national parties as public authorities (2013); compliance is pending. New to RTI? File your first application in ten minutes. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 Step-by-Step Guide with a ready-to-use English and Hindi template, the Rs 10 online fee flow, and the appeal path. Related The RTI Act, 2005 (as amended) All explanations Why RTI gets rejected First RTI template 25 RTI Questions Answered Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Who is Public Authority As defined in Section 2 (h) “public authority” means any authority or body or institution of self Government established or constituted — a) by or under the constitution; b) by any other law made by Parliament; c) by any other law made by State Legislature; d) by notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government, and includes any-- (i) body owned, controlled or substantially financed; (ii) non-Government organisation substantially financed, directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government” Interpretation of Public Authority In effect, this suggests any authority or body which we consider as Government in common parlance- all Ministries and their departments, Municipal Bodies, Panchayats, and so on. This also includes Courts, UPSC, and Public Sector Undertakings like Nationalised Banks, LIC, and UTI amongst others. It is worth noting that establishments of the Parliament, Legislatures, Judiciary, President and the Governors have also been brought under the surveillance of the citizen. Sub-section d) refers to organisations which are created by a specific notification eg. Deemed Universities which are created by a specific notification. Subclause d) (i) and (ii) mean any non-Government organisations and also private entities which are substantially owned, controlled or financed directly or indirectly by the Government are under the RTI ambit. Thus aided schools and colleges are Public Authorities. When there are significant Government nominees on the boards of companies, or trusts or NGOs this is control by the Government. Mendel,"},{"s":"explanations:public-interest","t":"What is Public Interest under the RTI Act — updated April 2026","d":"Public interest under the RTI Act in 2026 — what the DPDP amendment actually changed, what it did not change, and how to write a Section 8(2","u":"/explanations/public-interest","x":"What is Public Interest under the RTI Act — updated April 2026 Did you know? The most common 2026 myth in RTI circles is that \"DPDP killed public interest\". It did not. What changed is the text of Section 8(1)(j) . The Section 8(2) public-interest override survived, untouched . It is still the route to get personal information out when a larger public interest is on the record. Updated 20 April 2026. Written for someone who has been refused under Section 8(1)(j) and has been told the override is \"dead\". It isn't. Table of contents What is public interest What changed on 14 November 2025 Before and after — the comparison Does the override still work in 2026 How to write a Section 8(2) plea that wins Court and Commission rulings Stakeholder impact Frequently asked questions The table of contents is collapsed by default site-wide — click the heading to expand. What is public interest The Right to Information Act, 2005 does not define \"public interest\" anywhere in its text. That is on purpose. The drafters left it to the Commissions and the Courts to fill in, case by case. What we have in 2026 is roughly three decades of accumulated judgments — from the S.P. Gupta expansion of Article 19(1)(a) in 1981, through CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011) and its \"disclosure is the rule\" line, to K.S. Puttaswamy (2017) and the proportionality test. In working language, public interest asks three things about a disclosure. Does it advance accountability in the use of public money or public power? Does it help detect, deter, or remedy wrongdoing? Does it enable a citizen to make an informed democratic choice? If the answer to any of those is yes, and the harm from disclosure does not clearly outweigh that benefit, the disclosure is in the public interest. The Act uses \"public interest\" in two distinct places. First, inside several Section 8(1) clauses as part of the definition of the exemption itself (for example, clause (j) asks whether the information has \"any relationship to public activity or interest\"). Second, and far more powerfully, in Section 8(2) as a free-standing override that applies to every Section 8(1) exemption — including the new 8(1)(j) — when the competent authority is satisfied that the public interest in disclosure outweighs the protected interest. The second Section 8(2) override is the one that matters in 2026. It is the"},{"s":"explanations:refund-fees","t":"Refund of Fees","d":"Observations made by the High Court of Gujarat ((in the matter of Ahmedabad Education Society & Another Vis UOI & Others [Special Civil Application No.23305 of...","u":"/explanations/refund-fees","x":"Refund of Fees Related The RTI Act, 2005 (as amended) All explanations Why RTI gets rejected First RTI template 25 RTI Questions Answered Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Observations made by the High Court of Gujarat ((in the matter of Ahmedabad Education Society & Another Vis UOI & Others [Special Civil Application No.23305 of 2007])) to the notice of the Central Infonnation Commission and all the State Information Commissions: \"As per Section 18, the Complaint can be preferred before the State Information Commission and Chief Information Commissioner can initiate an inquiry and can impose penalty as per Section 20 .of the Act, 2005. While holding inquiry, as per Section 18(3) of the Act, 2005, State Chief Information. Commissioner has been clothed with powers of the Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, in respect of summoning and enforcing the attendance of persons and compel them to give oral and written evidence or oath, requiring the discovery and inspection of documents; receiving evidence on affidavit; requisitioning any public record or copies thereof from any court or office. But so far as refund of fees is concerned, it is a mater to be decided by the Civil Court of Competent jurisdiction under Code of Civil Procedure, 1907. State Chief Information· Commissioner has no power, jurisdiction and authority under the Act,f005, to pass an order of refund of the fees.\" ---- Discuss this topic ~~DISCUSSION~~ More Common terms under RTI [<>]"},{"s":"explanations:rti-act-or-statutory-act","t":"RTI Act or Statutory Rules for giving information under RTI Act 2005","d":"Once Public Authorities have put information in the public domain and put a price on accessing that information, they cannot be said to hold control of that...","u":"/explanations/rti-act-or-statutory-act","x":"Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 RTI Act or Statutory Rules for giving information under RTI Act 2005 In one line. The RTI Act is a statutory Act — not a constitutional amendment. But the right it enforces (Article 19(1)(a)) is constitutional. The Act provides the machinery to exercise that right. What that means in practice. Section 22 gives the Act overriding effect over inconsistent older laws like the Official Secrets Act, 1923. The Act can be amended by Parliament (and was, in 2019); the right under Article 19(1)(a) cannot. Once Public Authorities have put information in the public domain and put a price on accessing that information, they cannot be said to hold control of that information in terms of Section 2(j) of the RTI Act. If any application is made under RTI Act to access such already disclosed information, it would suffice if the public authority informed the applicant where and how to access that information and also the fact that it was already in the public domain. The inference from the text of this sub-section and, especially the three expressions quoted above, is that an information to which a citizen will have a right should be shown to be a) an information which is accessible under the RTI Act and b) that it is held or is under the control of a certain public authority. This should mean that unless an information is exclusively held and controlled by a public authority, that information cannot be said to be an information accessible under the RTI Act. Inferentially it would mean that once a certain information is placed in the public domain accessible to the citizens either freely, or on payment of a pre-determined price, that information cannot be said to be ‘held’ or ‘under the control of’ the public authority and, thus would cease to be an information accessible under the RTI Act. This interpretation is further strengthened by the provisions of the RTI Act in Sections 4(2), 4(3) and 4(4), which oblige the public authority to constantly endeavour “to take steps in accordance with the requirement of clause b of subsection 1 of the Section 4 to provide as much information suo-motu to the public at regular intervals through various means of communication including internet, so that the public have minimum resort to the use of this Act to obtain information.” (Section 4 sub-section 2). This Section"},{"s":"explanations:severability","t":"Severability","d":"Download RTI Act. Prescribed. Competent Authority under RTI Act. The RTI Act, 2005. What is Information under RTI Act.","u":"/explanations/severability","x":"Severability In one line. Section 10 is the rule against blanket refusal. If part of a record is exempt, the PIO must redact that part and release the rest . The PIO's order must say what was withheld and why. What that means in practice. Used correctly, severability resolves most Section 8(1)(j) and 8(1)(e) disputes. A refusal of an entire mixed record without severance is itself appealable. Redaction should be minimal — only the actually exempt text, not the whole paragraph. New to RTI? File your first application in ten minutes. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 Step-by-Step Guide with a ready-to-use English and Hindi template, the Rs 10 online fee flow, and the appeal path. Related Download RTI Act. Prescribed. Competent Authority under RTI Act. The RTI Act, 2005. What is Information under RTI Act. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 What is severability under RTI Act Section 10 (1) of RTI Act defines that \"Where a request for access to information is rejected on the ground that it is in relation to information which is exempt from disclosure, then, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, access may be provided to that part of the record which does not contain any information which is exempt from disclosure under this Act and which can reasonably be severed from any part that contains exempt information.\" Interpretation The important aspect of ‘severability’ must be considered by a PIO before denying information. If part of the information asked by an applicant is exempt, the balance information must be provided after removing the part which is exempted. This is a very important provision if used carefully and properly. Since it is almost impossible that the entirety of a longer document would be exempt, careful severing would almost always lead to the release of the non-exempt material. So, in most cases, the proper question to ask is not whether a document is or is not exempt but whether certain material in a document is exempt. Further, the RTI Act states under Section 10 (2) Where access is granted to a part of the record under sub-section (1), the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall give a notice to the applicant, informing - (a) that only part of the record requested, after severance of the record containing information which is exempt from disclosure,"},{"s":"explanations:substantially-financed","t":"\"Substantially Financed\" under RTI — The Section 2(h) Test","d":"The \"substantially financed\" test decides whether a body is a public authority under Section 2(h","u":"/explanations/substantially-financed","x":"\"Substantially Financed\" under RTI — The Section 2(h) Test In one line: Section 2(h)(d)(i) of the RTI Act brings a non-government body within the Act if it is \"substantially financed, directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government\" . The Supreme Court in Thalappalam Service Coop. Bank Ltd. v. State of Kerala , (2013) 16 SCC 82, set the governing test: \"substantial\" means a dominant or near-complete reliance on State funding — usually above 50 percent of the body's working capital or operational budget . Did you know? A one-time grant does not make a body substantially financed. The Supreme Court held in Thalappalam that the funding must be ongoing, substantial, and significant to the body's functioning. A cooperative bank receiving a small registration fee from the State is not substantially financed. A private school whose entire recurring cost is met by Central grants is . Legal Basis Section 2(h) — \"public authority\" definition, including the four sub-clauses (a)-(d). Section 2(h)(d)(i) — non-government body \"substantially financed\" by government. Section 2(h)(d)(ii) — non-government body \"substantially financed, directly or indirectly\" by government. The Thalappalam test — a practical checklist Does the body rely on government funds for over 50 percent of its operating expenses? If yes, strong presumption of \"substantial\". Is the funding recurring (annual grant, salary support, capital advance) or a one-time contribution? Would the body continue to function without government funding? A cooperative bank receiving a small licence fee — yes. A private college receiving 90 percent of its salary budget from UGC — no. Is there government control on top of funding (nominated directors, audit, fee regulation)? Is the body a \"creature of statute\" — incorporated under a special law that subjects it to State oversight? Worked examples ^ Body ^ Substantially financed? ^ Reason ^ IITs, IIMs, NITs Yes Central funding + Central statute UGC-funded private universities Yes 90 percent of salary costs paid by UGC Aided schools Yes Teacher salaries fully paid by State Cooperative banks (under Kerala Cooperative Societies Act) No Thalappalam — registration fees are not \"substantial\" financing Fully private schools No Registration does not imply substantial financing NGOs receiving occasional grants Case by case Depends on whether grants are the body's mainstay PSUs (ONGC, SBI, LIC, IOC) Yes Government control + funding Cricket associations Contested Land grants + tax concessions can add up Drafting strategy when the body denies coverage Public authority"},{"s":"explanations:suo-moto-disclosure-under-rti","t":"Suo Motu Disclosure under Section 4 — The Proactive Duty","d":"Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005 requires every public authority to publish 17 categories of information on its own, without an RTI application. A 2026 citizen-friendly guide with flow diagram and enfor","u":"/explanations/suo-moto-disclosure-under-rti","x":"Suo Motu Disclosure under Section 4 — The Proactive Duty In one line: Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005 requires every public authority to publish 17 categories of information on its own , without waiting for an RTI application. The disclosure must be in electronic form where possible , in the local language , and updated at least once a year . If a department fails, a citizen can (a) file an RTI for the same information under Section 6, or (b) file a complaint under Section 18 with the Information Commission. Did you know? The Supreme Court observed in Anjali Bhardwaj v. Union of India , (2020) 11 SCC 345, that good Section 4 compliance would eliminate up to 70 percent of RTI applications . Non-compliance is therefore not a minor lapse — it is the single largest avoidable cause of Commission backlog. The 3-stage flow Legal basis Section 4(1)(b) — 17 categories of information every public authority must publish. Section 4(1)(c) — publish all relevant facts while formulating important policies or announcing decisions. Section 4(1)(d) — provide reasons for administrative or quasi-judicial decisions to affected persons. Section 4(2) — endeavour to disseminate proactively so that citizens need minimum recourse to formal requests. Section 4(3) — disseminate through notice boards, newspapers, public announcements, media, internet, or any other means . Section 4(4) — all dissemination \"at reasonable cost of the medium in local language\" . The 17 mandatory categories (Section 4(1)(b)) ^ # ^ Category ^ Think of it as ^ 1 Particulars of the organisation, functions and duties What the department is and does 2 Powers and duties of officers and employees Who can decide what 3 Procedure followed in decision-making, including channels of supervision The paper trail of decisions 4 Norms set for the discharge of functions Service-delivery standards 5 Rules, regulations, instructions, manuals, records The department's internal rulebook 6 Categories of documents held or under control What files exist, by category 7 Arrangements for consultation with members of the public How citizens' views are sought 8 Boards, councils, committees and other bodies — with minutes accessible Who advises the department 9 Directory of officers and employees Name and designation list 10 Monthly remuneration (pay scales, compensation system) What officers are paid 11 Budget allocated to each agency, plans, proposed expenditure, disbursements The money map 12 Manner of execution of subsidy programmes Subsidy mechanics 13 Particulars"},{"s":"explanations:third-party","t":"Third-party information under RTI — Section 11 procedure, 2026","d":"Section 11 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 explained for 2026. Third-party notice, ten-day objection, forty-day decision, appeal window, and how the DPDP 2025 amendment to Section 8(1","u":"/explanations/third-party","x":"Third-party information under RTI — Section 11 procedure, 2026 In one line. Section 11 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 requires the Public Information Officer to give a written notice to a third party, and a chance to be heard, before information supplied by that third party and treated as confidential is disclosed to an applicant. What that means in practice. \"Third party\" means any person other than the applicant and the concerned public authority. Another public authority can also be a third party. Notice must go out within five days of receipt of the application. The third party has ten days to make a written or oral submission. The Public Information Officer must take a decision within forty days of the application (Section 11 extends the standard thirty-day limit by ten days for this class of matter). The notice is a rule of natural justice. It is not, in itself, a ground to refuse disclosure. After 14 November 2025, Section 8(1)(j) privacy reasoning operates against the amended clause. The Section 11 procedure is unchanged, but its outcome is more conservative on personal information. Did you know? A Public Information Officer who skips the Section 11 notice-and-hearing sequence has committed a procedural default. Any order that follows is infirm at first appeal, regardless of the merits. Process is not a formality. It is a right vested in the third party. A stuck file usually has a third-party problem behind it Most delayed RTI replies, most partial denials, and a surprising number of Section 8(1)(j) refusals trace back to a single drafting error by the Public Information Officer. The information asked for relates to, or was supplied by, someone other than the applicant and the public authority. Section 11 was triggered. Notice was either not issued, or issued late, or issued without a hearing, or decided without recording reasons in writing. The third party had no say. The applicant got silence. Both parties lose. This page sets out what Section 11 actually requires, what the leading High Court and Commission decisions say about the process, how the 14 November 2025 amendment to Section 8(1)(j) reshapes the outcome, and the checklist a Public Information Officer and an applicant should keep next to the file. Who is a \"third party\" Section 2(n) of the Act defines a third party as \"a person other than the citizen making a request for information\" and"},{"s":"explanations:transfer-application","t":"Transfer of Application to other PIO","d":"Provided that the transfer of an application pursuant to this sub-section shall be made as soon as practicable but in no case later than five days from the...","u":"/explanations/transfer-application","x":"Transfer of Application to other PIO In one line. Section 6(3) requires the PIO to transfer a misdirected RTI to the correct public authority within five days . The applicant does not refile. What that means in practice. Transfer is the PIO's duty, not the applicant's burden. The 30-day clock re-starts from the receiving authority's receipt date. Failure to transfer is itself a ground for first appeal and Section 20 penalty. Related The RTI Act, 2005 (as amended) All explanations Why RTI gets rejected First RTI template 25 RTI Questions Answered Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Provision of the RTI Act for Transfer of Application As per the Section 6 (3) RTI Act 2005 Where an application is made to a public authority requesting for an information which is held by another public authority; or the subject matter of which is more closely connected with the functions of another public authority, the public authority, to which such application is made, shall transfer the application or such part of it as may be appropriate to that other public authority and inform the applicant immediately about such transfer: Provided that the transfer of an application pursuant to this sub-section shall be made as soon as practicable but in no case later than five days from the date of receipt of the application. Interpretation of the Provision 'Section 6( 1) of the RTI Act, 2005 provides that a person who desires to obtain any in formation shall make a request to the public information officer (PlO) of the concerned public authority. Section 6(3) provides that where an application is made to a public authority requesting for any information which is held by another public authority or the subject matter of which is more closely connected with the functions of another public authority, the public authority to which such application is made,shall transfer the application to that other public authority. A careful reading of the provisions of sub-section (1) and sub-section(3) of Section 6, suggests that the Act requires an information seeker to address the application to the PlO of the ' concerned public authority '. However, there may be cases in which a person of ordinary prudence may believe that the piece of information sought by him/her would be available with the public authority to which he/she has addressed the application, but is actually held by some another public authority. In such"},{"s":"explanations:vicarious-liability","t":"Vicarious Liability under RTI — Who Actually Pays","d":"Who pays the penalty under the RTI Act — the officer, the department, or both? A 2026 note on Section 20 personal liability, deemed CPIOs, and recent penalty trends.","u":"/explanations/vicarious-liability","x":"Vicarious Liability under RTI — Who Actually Pays In one line: The Right to Information Act does not make the government vicariously liable for a delinquent CPIO. Under Section 20, the penalty is personal — Rs 250 per day up to Rs 25,000, payable by the officer from their own salary. The department cannot reimburse. Additionally, the Commission can recommend disciplinary action under the service rules. Both remedies can be imposed together. Did you know? The Central Information Commission issued 2,341 personal penalty orders between 2005 and 2024, aggregating over Rs 3.8 crore . Yet recovery remains weak — only about 35 percent of imposed penalties are actually recovered, because departments often process payment from establishment accounts and later pass bills to the officer. The CIC in Subhash Chandra Agarwal v. CPIO SC noted that officer-wise recovery reports should be sought. Legal Basis Section 20(1) — penalty up to Rs 25,000 for (a) refusing to receive, (b) not furnishing in time, (c) malafide denial, (d) knowingly giving incorrect information, (e) destroying records, (f) obstructing disclosure. Section 20(2) — Commission \"may recommend disciplinary action against the CPIO under the service rules applicable to him\". Section 5(5) — deemed CPIO is also personally liable. Section 19(8)(b) — compensation to applicant (this IS a department liability). Personal vs department liability — the distinction Remedy Who pays Section 20 penalty (Rs 25,000) CPIO or deemed-CPIO personally Section 20 disciplinary action CPIO personally (recorded in service file) Section 19(8)(b) compensation to applicant Public authority (department budget) Legal costs of defending CPIO's refusal Department pays, but can be directed to recover from CPIO How to maximise personal liability The Act creates personal liability but commissions often go light. These steps improve the odds: Name the erring officer specifically in your Section 19 appeal. Use the file-movement register evidence from a prior RTI. Cite pattern of delay or malice — does this CPIO have similar complaints? Prayer for both Section 20 penalty AND disciplinary action — ask for both. Attend the hearing personally — if virtual, join on time; if physical, bring the file-movement record. If penalty is imposed, follow up on recovery — ask for the recovery order copy by a fresh RTI 30 days later. Landmark rulings Manohar Parrikar v. Shripad Balkrishna Desai , SC (2013) — personal liability of officers confirmed. Mujibur Rahman v. CIC , (2009) Delhi HC — commission can impose penalty"},{"s":"faa-appellate-review-checklist","t":"The FAA's 15-Point Appellate Review Checklist","d":"The 15-point appellate review checklist for First Appellate Authorities under Section 19 of the RTI Act — evaluate the PIO's reply, spot gaps, and decide the appeal with reasoned grounds.","u":"/faa-appellate-review-checklist","x":"The FAA's 15-Point Appellate Review Checklist Use this checklist. Before you dispose of any First Appeal, run the PIO's reply through these 15 questions. Any \"no\" is a finding in the appellant's favour — in whole or in part. Why a checklist Section 19(5) places the burden of proof on the PIO . The FAA's role is to examine whether that burden was discharged. A checklist makes the examination consistent, defensible, and efficient. The 15 questions On identification of record 1. Did the PIO correctly identify whether the information is held by the public authority? (Section 2(f)) 2. If not held, did the PIO transfer under Section 6(3) within 5 days? Rejection without transfer is procedurally wrong. On exemption invocation 3. Did the PIO invoke a specific sub-clause (e.g., 8(1)(j)), not bare \"Section 8\"? 4. Did the PIO explain how the exemption applies to the particular record? Not generic boilerplate. 5. Did the PIO cite any relevant case law (Deshpande for service records, Jayantilal for fiduciary, R.K. Jain for file notings, etc.)? On balancing and severability 6. Did the PIO examine whether Section 8(2) public-interest override applies? The proviso is mandatory. 7. Did the PIO apply Section 10 severability , or explain why partial disclosure is not possible? On third-party and timelines 8. Did the PIO issue Section 11 notice where the record is treated as confidential by a third party? 9. Did the PIO reply within 30 days (or 48 hours for life/liberty, or 40 days where Section 11 notice was issued)? 10. If reply exceeded 30 days, has deemed refusal under Section 7(2) taken effect? On form and fee 11. Did the PIO charge the correct statutory fee (Rs. 10 application, Rs. 2/page copies)? 12. Did the PIO supply information in the form requested , or explain under Section 7(9) why an alternative form is proposed? On appealability 13. Did the PIO communicate the First Appellate Authority's name and address? (Section 7(8)(iii)) 14. Did the PIO provide reasons in writing as required by Section 7(8)(i)? 15. Did the PIO attach any documents referenced in the reply , or certify their availability? How to use the checklist in the speaking order The FAA's order should explicitly reference the checklist. Example: [sample application] What to do when a question fails Question failed Typical action Q1 (identification) Remand for fresh PIO consideration Q2 (transfer) Set aside; direct transfer under Section 6(3)"},{"s":"faa-first-appeal-timelines","t":"First Appeal Timelines — FAA Timekeeping Under Section 19","d":"First Appeal timelines under the RTI Act — the 30-day filing window under §19(1","u":"/faa-first-appeal-timelines","x":"First Appeal Timelines — FAA Timekeeping Under Section 19 Two clocks, one FAA. The appellant runs a 30-day filing window under Section 19(1). The FAA runs a 30-day disposal window under Section 19(6), extendable to 45 days with reasons recorded in writing . Missing either has consequences. Legal framework Section 19(1). A person aggrieved by the PIO's decision may file First Appeal within 30 days of receipt of the PIO's decision, or the expiry of the 30-day reply window under Section 7(1) (deemed refusal). Section 19(1) proviso. The FAA may admit a delayed appeal \"if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time\". Section 19(4). Where appeal involves third-party information, the third party gets a reasonable opportunity to be heard. Section 19(6). The appeal shall be disposed of within 30 days of receipt, or 45 days from the date of filing for reasons to be recorded in writing. Section 19(3). Second Appeal to the Commission within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the date by which the decision should have been made. Timeline at a glance Event Statutory time Source PIO receives RTI Day 0 Section 6 PIO must reply Day 30 (48 hrs for life/liberty; 35 days post-transfer; 40 days post-§11 notice) §7(1) Appellant can file First Appeal Within 30 days of PIO's reply or Day 31 (if deemed refusal) §19(1) FAA must dispose Day 30 from receipt of appeal §19(6) With written reasons, FAA may extend to Day 45 from filing §19(6) proviso Appellant can file Second Appeal Within 90 days of FAA order or FAA deadline expiry §19(3) Key principles Clocks are independent. The PIO's delay does not extend the FAA's timeline. Fee restarts the PIO clock. Section 7(3) — if PIO asks for further fee, the 30-day clock starts afresh on payment. Relevant to appeal timing. Condonation is discretionary. The FAA may admit time-barred appeals; must record \"sufficient cause\". 45-day extension requires reasons. Not automatic; the FAA must record why extension is needed. Second Appeal right accrues on deadline expiry. Even without a formal FAA order. Drafting — condone-delay order [sample application] Drafting — 45-day extension order [sample application] Common mistakes Silent extensions. Taking 45 days without recording reasons — non-compliance with the proviso. Treating the appellant's 30-day window as extendable by the FAA. It isn't unless the appellant pleads sufficient cause under §19(1). Missing the"},{"s":"faa-privacy-public-interest-balancing","t":"Balancing Privacy vs Public Interest at Appeal Stage","d":"Privacy vs public interest is the central balancing FAAs perform. This guide shows the post-DPDP, post-Puttaswamy proportionality test and how to record it in the appeal order.","u":"/faa-privacy-public-interest-balancing","x":"Balancing Privacy vs Public Interest at Appeal Stage The central FAA call. Where the PIO has invoked Section 8(1)(j) (or 8(1)(e) fiduciary, or 8(1)(i) cabinet-adjacent personal data), the FAA's hardest job is balancing the privacy of the third party against the public interest pleaded by the applicant. Post the DPDP Rules 2025 and K.S. Puttaswamy , the balancing has a structured framework. Legal framework RTI Act, Section 8(1)(j) — personal information exempt unless larger public interest is served (the proviso). RTI Act, Section 8(2) — override clause operating across all Section 8(1) sub-clauses. DPDP Act, 2023 + DPDP Rules, 2025 — strengthened third-party privacy baseline; the public-interest override now operates solely via Section 8(2). K.S. Puttaswamy v. UoI , (2017) 10 SCC 1 — privacy is a fundamental right; restrictions must satisfy the three-step test: legality, necessity, proportionality . The four-step balancing Step 1 — Legality. Is the disclosure authorised by law? The RTI Act + Section 8(2) supplies legality. Step 2 — Legitimate aim. What public interest is pleaded or apparent? Accountability, fraud detection, scheme integrity, public-servant conduct, patient-safety pattern, voter-roll accuracy, etc. Step 3 — Necessity. Is the information sought necessary to achieve the aim, or merely relevant? If a less-intrusive alternative exists (aggregated data, anonymised data), necessity favours the less intrusive route. Step 4 — Proportionality. Does the benefit to public interest outweigh the harm to the third party? A tight proportionality analysis weighs: Nature of the third party (public servant — weaker privacy; private individual — stronger). Nature of the information (service-conduct — weaker; medical / bank account — stronger). Severity of the claimed public-interest harm. Availability of less-intrusive alternatives (Section 10 severance). Key principles Public servants have privacy — but limited. CPIO, SC v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal , (2020) 5 SCC 481 — public function reduces the privacy shield; doesn't remove it. Service records remain protected. Girish Deshpande , (2013) 1 SCC 212 — ACR/APAR/medical leave typically shielded. Answer scripts belong to the candidate. CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay , (2011) 8 SCC 497 — own data always disclosable. Regulator's files are not fiduciary. RBI v. Jayantilal Mistry , (2016) 3 SCC 525 — but customer-level privacy still requires Section 10 redaction. DPDP does not override Section 8(2). The override remains; the baseline just got stronger. Drafting template — balancing paragraph in the FAA order [sample application] Subject-wise balancing Subject Balancing tilt Public-servant's pay scale and"},{"s":"faa-section-19-8-powers","t":"Section 19(8) — Appellate Powers of FAA and Commission","d":"The full menu of appellate powers under Section 19(8","u":"/faa-section-19-8-powers","x":"Section 19(8) — Appellate Powers of FAA and Commission What Section 19(8) authorises. A menu of eight powers available to the First Appellate Authority and the Information Commission. Understanding which power fits which situation is the difference between a rubber-stamp order and a craftsman's disposal. Legal framework Section 19(8) — In its decision, the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission or the appellate authority , as the case may be, has the power to: Require the public authority to take any such steps as may be necessary to secure compliance with the provisions of this Act, including — by providing access to information, if so requested, in a particular form ; by appointing a Public Information Officer where none exists; by publishing certain information or categories of information; by making necessary changes to its practices in relation to the maintenance, management and destruction of records; by enhancing the provision of training to officers on the right to information; by providing it with an annual report as prescribed in Section 4(1)(b); Require the public authority to compensate the complainant for any loss or other detriment suffered; Impose any of the penalties provided under this Act (CIC/SIC only, not FAA); Reject the appeal. Power-by-power guide 19(8)(a)(i) — Direct disclosure in a particular form The most-used power. Direct the PIO to provide the information in the form requested — certified copy, inspection, digital format. Example order paragraph. > \"In exercise of Section 19(8)(a)(i), the PIO is directed to provide certified copies of the running-bill register for Contract No. XXX, for the period April 2023 to March 2024, within 15 working days of receipt of this order. Fee at Rs. 2 per page is payable by the appellant.\" 19(8)(a)(ii) — Appoint a PIO where none exists Used where the public authority has not designated a PIO and the applicant has been rebuffed. Rare but occasionally invoked for local bodies and smaller authorities. 19(8)(a)(iii) — Direct publication The \"Section 4 enforcement\" power. Where the authority has not complied with proactive-disclosure obligations, direct publication of specific categories — budget, beneficiary list, tender schedule. Example. Directing a municipal corporation to publish its ward-wise spending register on its website. 19(8)(a)(iv) — Records-management changes Where the underlying problem is poor record-keeping — direct the authority to digitise, maintain a proper register, or change destruction schedules. 19(8)(a)(v) — Training direction Where PIO/FAA decisions show systematic misunderstanding of the"},{"s":"faa-speaking-order-guide","t":"How a First Appellate Authority Writes a Speaking Order Under the RTI Act","d":"Anatomy of an FAA speaking order under Section 19 of the RTI Act — six-element structure, appellate powers menu, five ready-to-use templates, and the case law that frames every disposal.","u":"/faa-speaking-order-guide","x":"How a First Appellate Authority Writes a Speaking Order Under the RTI Act Who this is for. First Appellate Authorities (FAAs) disposing of appeals under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act, 2005. Also useful for PIOs (to predict appeal review), and for citizens (to understand what a proper order should look like). What this article gives you. The six-element structure every FAA order must carry. The appellate review checklist — 15 questions to ask of the PIO's reply. The Section 19(8) powers menu — when to affirm, modify, remand, or set aside. Five copy-ready order templates. Case law that frames appellate duty. Did you know? Under Section 19(5) of the RTI Act, the burden of proving that a denial of request was justified rests with the Public Information Officer . The FAA presides over this burden. An order that fails to engage with whether the PIO discharged that burden is not a speaking order. Introduction — the FAA's decision dilemma An applicant files Form 6 / Form A appeal. The PIO's reply on the record is two lines: \"The information sought is exempt under Section 8. Rejected.\" You, the FAA, now have 30 days to dispose of the appeal — sometimes extended to 45 with reasons. You must: Decide whether the PIO's reasoning is legally sustainable. Consider public-interest override under Section 8(2). Consider severability under Section 10. Evaluate third-party procedure under Section 11. Evaluate timeliness under Sections 7(1), 7(2), and 7(5). Record reasons — not a rubber-stamp, not a one-liner. Preserve the applicant's further appeal rights under Section 19(3). The speaking order you write at this stage is what the Central or State Information Commission will read at Second Appeal. Its quality determines whether the appellant persists or is satisfied, and whether the PIO faces Section 20 penalty. Legal framework Section 19(1) — the appellate right Any person aggrieved by the PIO's decision (or deemed refusal) may appeal to the FAA within 30 days of the PIO's decision or of the 30-day reply window expiring. The FAA may admit a delayed appeal if sufficient cause is shown. Section 19(5) — burden of proof The burden of proof that denial was justified rests with the PIO. The FAA's role is to examine whether this burden has been discharged. Section 19(6) — disposal deadline The appeal must be decided within 30 days of receipt of appeal, or, for reasons recorded in writing,"},{"s":"faq","t":"25 RTI Questions Answered (2026 Update)","d":"25 plain-English answers on filing, fees, exemptions, first appeal, Section 8(1","u":"/faq","x":"25 RTI Questions Answered (2026 Update) Did you know? Between 2005 and 2024, citizens filed over 3.5 crore RTI applications — but the Central Information Commission only hears about 0.1% that reach second appeal. The first line of defence is a well-drafted application. A quick-reference FAQ on India's Right to Information Act, 2005 — written for applicants, Public Information Officers, First Appellate Authorities, and anyone researching the Act. Current with the 14 November 2025 amendment to Section 8(1)(j) via the DPDP Rules, 2025. For the underlying articles, follow the links. In one line. This FAQ answers the twenty-five most common RTI questions in a single page. Each answer is two to four sentences. Deeper reading is one click away. Filing an RTI 1. What is the Right to Information Act, 2005? The Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) gives every citizen of India the right to request information held by a public authority . It repeals the 1923 Official Secrets Act culture of default secrecy and replaces it with a rule of default disclosure. See the full text of the Act and the section-by-section summary. 2. Who can file an RTI? Only a citizen of India may file an RTI application under Section 3. Companies, NGOs, and foreign nationals cannot file under the Act, though their citizen-directors or representatives can. See Citizenship under the RTI Act. 3. How do I file an RTI? Three routes. Online through rtionline.gov.in (Central Government) — fastest, Rs 10 by card or UPI. By post with a hand-written or printed application and a Rs 10 Indian Postal Order. In person at the public authority's counter with the fee in cash. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step. 4. What is the fee? Rs 10 for the Central Government under the Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First appeal is free. Copies cost Rs 2 per page if the information runs to many pages. BPL applicants pay no fee with a valid certificate. States may prescribe their own fees under Section 27 — see RTI Rules. 5. How long does the Public Information Officer have to reply? Thirty days from the date the application is received under Section 7(1). Forty-eight hours where life or liberty is at stake. Forty days where a third party has been notified under Section 11. Silence beyond the deadline"},{"s":"file-rti-in-andhra-pradesh","t":"How to File RTI in Andhra Pradesh — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Andhra Pradesh — state portal, fee (Rs. 10","u":"/file-rti-in-andhra-pradesh","x":"How to File RTI in Andhra Pradesh — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: apsic.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Andhra Pradesh. Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Andhra Pradesh State Information Commission at Vijayawada. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Andhra Pradesh state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: apsic.gov.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Andhra Pradesh Right to Information Rules, 2005 (as amended) . Sample RTI — Andhra Pradesh format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Andhra Pradesh State Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Andhra Pradesh-specific things to know AP reorganisation in 2014 shifted the state capital functions; the SIC is based in Vijayawada. For secretariat matters, address the PIO at the concerned Department in Amaravati / Vijayawada. Telugu is the preferred language; English is accepted. State Information Commission Name: Andhra Pradesh State Information Commission Address: D.No. 5-57, Plot No. 125, Chuttugunta Centre, Governor Peta, Vijayawada - 520002 Website: ''apsic.gov.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the"},{"s":"file-rti-in-assam","t":"How to File RTI in Assam — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Assam — state portal, fee (Rs. 10","u":"/file-rti-in-assam","x":"How to File RTI in Assam — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: assamstateinfocom.nic.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Assam. Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Assam State Information Commission at Guwahati / Dispur. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Assam state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: assamstateinfocom.nic.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Assam Right to Information Rules, 2005 . Sample RTI — Assam format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Assam State Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Assam-specific things to know Assam's SIC serves the seven sisters of the North-East on many shared-jurisdiction matters. For Autonomous Councils (Bodoland Territorial Council etc.), Autonomous Council Secretariat holds the PIO. Assamese is the preferred language; English and Hindi accepted. State Information Commission Name: Assam State Information Commission Address: Near Uzan Bazar Police Station, Guwahati - 781001 Website: ''assamstateinfocom.nic.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the PIO locate your file. Related reading How to file RTI online — national guide Why"},{"s":"file-rti-in-bihar","t":"How to File RTI in Bihar — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Bihar — state portal, fee (Rs. 10","u":"/file-rti-in-bihar","x":"How to File RTI in Bihar — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: rtibihar.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Bihar. Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Bihar State Information Commission at Patna. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Bihar state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: rtibihar.gov.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Bihar Right to Information Rules, 2006 (as amended) . Sample RTI — Bihar format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Bihar State Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Bihar-specific things to know Bihar SIC has one of the higher pendency rates; second-appeal hearings can take 1-2 years. For Panchayat-level queries, route via the Block Development Officer. Hindi is the preferred language. State Information Commission Name: Bihar State Information Commission Address: Bihar Vidhan Parishad Annexe, Patna - 800015 Website: ''rtibihar.gov.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the PIO locate your file. Related reading How to file RTI online — national guide Why RTI gets rejected Ask for records, not"},{"s":"file-rti-in-chhattisgarh","t":"How to File RTI in Chhattisgarh — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Chhattisgarh — state portal, fee (Rs. 10","u":"/file-rti-in-chhattisgarh","x":"How to File RTI in Chhattisgarh — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: cgsic.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Chhattisgarh. Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Chhattisgarh State Information Commission at Raipur. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Chhattisgarh state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: cgsic.gov.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Chhattisgarh Right to Information Rules, 2005 (as amended) . Sample RTI — Chhattisgarh format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Chhattisgarh State Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Chhattisgarh-specific things to know Chhattisgarh has a substantial Scheduled-Area footprint; PESA and FRA queries follow Ministry of Tribal Affairs guidelines. For Naxal-affected districts, some records may attract §8(1)(a) with reasoning. Hindi is the preferred language. State Information Commission Name: Chhattisgarh State Information Commission Address: Indravati Bhawan, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar - 492002 Website: ''cgsic.gov.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the PIO locate your file. Related reading How to file RTI online — national guide Why RTI gets rejected Ask"},{"s":"file-rti-in-delhi","t":"How to File RTI in Delhi — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Delhi (NCT","u":"/file-rti-in-delhi","x":"How to File RTI in Delhi — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: rtionline.delhi.gov.in (state); https: rtionline.gov.in (central) or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. Fee Rs. 10 (Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD for copies). Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Central Information Commission (CIC) for central bodies; Delhi Information Commission for state (GNCTD) bodies . Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Delhi (NCT) state procedure. Where to file — the two routes Online (faster) Portal: ''https: rtionline.delhi.gov.in (state); https: rtionline.gov.in (central)'' Works for most Delhi (NCT) state departments, public undertakings, and major urban local bodies. Fee is paid online through SBI e-Pay. You get a unique Registration Number that you use for all follow-ups. By post (when the portal does not cover the public authority) Address the application to the Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Retain the receipt — it is your filing evidence. Enclose the fee in one of the accepted modes: online via the GNCTD RTI portal (state) or rtionline.gov.in (central); IPO / DD for postal; court-fee stamp. Fees — the exact breakdown Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL applicants: free, on production of a BPL card copy). Additional cost for copies: Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD. Inspection of records: free for the first hour; Rs. 5 for each subsequent 15 minutes (standard state rule). Fee modes: online via the GNCTD RTI portal (state) or rtionline.gov.in (central); IPO / DD for postal; court-fee stamp. Governing rules: Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2012 (central); GNCTD RTI Rules, 2005 (state) . Sample RTI application — Delhi (NCT) format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? Pick from the sample RTI library — FIR, admission, exam marks, ration card, pension, refund, and more. What happens next — the 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Transfer under §6(3) if the matter sits with another public authority; the 30-day clock restarts from the date of transfer. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline. Silence"},{"s":"file-rti-in-goa","t":"How to File RTI in Goa — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Goa — state portal, fee (Rs. 10","u":"/file-rti-in-goa","x":"How to File RTI in Goa — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: gsic.goa.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Goa. Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Goa State Information Commission at Panaji. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Goa state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: gsic.goa.gov.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Goa Right to Information Rules, 2006 . Sample RTI — Goa format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Goa State Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Goa-specific things to know Goa's Konkani-script RTI applications are accepted; many officers read Marathi as well. Mining, forest, and coastal-zone records route via specific department PIOs. English is widely used in official Goa paperwork. State Information Commission Name: Goa State Information Commission Address: Kamat Towers, 3rd Floor, Patto, Panaji - 403001 Website: ''gsic.goa.gov.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the PIO locate your file. Related reading How to file RTI online — national guide Why RTI gets rejected Ask for records, not"},{"s":"file-rti-in-gujarat","t":"How to File RTI in Gujarat — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Gujarat — state portal, fee, SIC address, sample template and appeal path. Rs. 20 (state rate","u":"/file-rti-in-gujarat","x":"How to File RTI in Gujarat — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: gic.gujarat.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. Fee Rs. 20 (state rate) (Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD for copies). Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Gujarat State Information Commission (GSIC) . Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Gujarat state procedure. Where to file — the two routes Online (faster) Portal: ''https: gic.gujarat.gov.in'' Works for most Gujarat state departments, public undertakings, and major urban local bodies. Fee is paid online through SBI e-Pay. You get a unique Registration Number that you use for all follow-ups. By post (when the portal does not cover the public authority) Address the application to the Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Retain the receipt — it is your filing evidence. Enclose the fee in one of the accepted modes: IPO / DD in favour of 'Accounts Officer, [Department]' (postal); court-fee stamp; limited online via departmental portals. Fees — the exact breakdown Application fee: Rs. 20 (state rate) (BPL applicants: free, on production of a BPL card copy). Additional cost for copies: Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD. Inspection of records: free for the first hour; Rs. 5 for each subsequent 15 minutes (standard state rule). Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of 'Accounts Officer, [Department]' (postal); court-fee stamp; limited online via departmental portals. Governing rules: Gujarat Right to Information Rules, 2005 (as amended) . Sample RTI application — Gujarat format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? Pick from the sample RTI library — FIR, admission, exam marks, ration card, pension, refund, and more. What happens next — the 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Transfer under §6(3) if the matter sits with another public authority; the 30-day clock restarts from the date of transfer. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline. Silence deemed refusal under §7(2). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal under §19(1) to the Department FAA (one rank above PIO). . Day"},{"s":"file-rti-in-haryana","t":"How to File RTI in Haryana — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Haryana — state portal, fee (Rs. 50","u":"/file-rti-in-haryana","x":"How to File RTI in Haryana — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: cic.haryana.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Haryana. Fee Rs. 50 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Haryana State Information Commission at Chandigarh. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Haryana state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: cic.haryana.gov.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 50 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Haryana Right to Information Rules, 2009 (as amended) . Sample RTI — Haryana format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Haryana State Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Haryana-specific things to know Haryana has a Rs. 50 state fee — higher than the central rate. For HSVP, HUDA, and housing-board RTIs, the portal routes to the specific authority. Hindi is the preferred language; English is accepted. State Information Commission Name: Haryana State Information Commission Address: SCO-70-71, Sector 8-C, Madhya Marg, Chandigarh - 160009 Website: ''cic.haryana.gov.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the PIO locate your file. Related reading How to file RTI online — national guide Why RTI"},{"s":"file-rti-in-himachal-pradesh","t":"How to File RTI in Himachal Pradesh — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Himachal Pradesh — state portal, fee (Rs. 10","u":"/file-rti-in-himachal-pradesh","x":"How to File RTI in Himachal Pradesh — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: hpsic.nic.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Himachal Pradesh. Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Himachal Pradesh State Information Commission at Shimla. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Himachal Pradesh state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: hpsic.nic.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Himachal Pradesh Right to Information Rules, 2006 . Sample RTI — Himachal Pradesh format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Himachal Pradesh State Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Himachal Pradesh-specific things to know HP has distinct rules for hill-area authorities; village forest committees (Van Panchayats) are public bodies. For apple-belt / horticulture queries, Department of Horticulture. Hindi is the preferred language. State Information Commission Name: Himachal Pradesh State Information Commission Address: Armsdale Building, Shimla - 171002 Website: ''hpsic.nic.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the PIO locate your file. Related reading How to file RTI online — national guide Why RTI gets rejected"},{"s":"file-rti-in-jammu-kashmir","t":"How to File RTI in Jammu and Kashmir (UT) — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Jammu and Kashmir (UT","u":"/file-rti-in-jammu-kashmir","x":"How to File RTI in Jammu and Kashmir (UT) — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: jkinfocom.nic.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Jammu and Kashmir (UT). Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to J&K State Information Commission (now UT) at Jammu (winter) / Srinagar (summer). Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Jammu and Kashmir (UT) state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: jkinfocom.nic.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2012 (Central — applied post-October 2019) . Sample RTI — Jammu and Kashmir (UT) format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to J&K State Information Commission (now UT) . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Jammu and Kashmir (UT)-specific things to know Post the abrogation of Article 370 (2019), the Central RTI Act, 2005 now applies to J&K; the erstwhile J&K RTI Act, 2009 was repealed. Durbar move means some records sit in Jammu (Nov-Apr) and Srinagar (May-Oct) — check the office of operation. Urdu, Dogri, Kashmiri, and Hindi are accepted; English is widely used. State Information Commission Name: J&K State Information Commission (now UT) Address: 2nd Floor, Janipur, Jammu - 180007 (winter) / Sanatnagar, Srinagar - 190005 (summer) Website: ''jkinfocom.nic.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong"},{"s":"file-rti-in-jharkhand","t":"How to File RTI in Jharkhand — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Jharkhand — state portal, fee (Rs. 10","u":"/file-rti-in-jharkhand","x":"How to File RTI in Jharkhand — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: jsic.jharkhand.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Jharkhand. Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Jharkhand State Information Commission at Ranchi. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Jharkhand state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: jsic.jharkhand.gov.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Jharkhand Right to Information Rules, 2010 . Sample RTI — Jharkhand format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Jharkhand State Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Jharkhand-specific things to know Jharkhand's PESA / Scheduled-Area coverage is substantial; Forest Rights Act queries follow a specific route via DLC. Mining-sector queries route through the Department of Mines and Geology. Hindi is the preferred language. State Information Commission Name: Jharkhand State Information Commission Address: 2nd Floor, Engineers Hostel, Doranda, Ranchi - 834002 Website: ''jsic.jharkhand.gov.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the PIO locate your file. Related reading How to file RTI online — national guide Why RTI gets rejected Ask for"},{"s":"file-rti-in-karnataka","t":"How to File RTI in Karnataka — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Karnataka — state portal, fee, SIC address, sample template and appeal path. Rs. 10 fee. 2026 edition.","u":"/file-rti-in-karnataka","x":"How to File RTI in Karnataka — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: rtionline.karnataka.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. Fee Rs. 10 (Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD for copies). Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Karnataka State Information Commission (KSIC) . Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Karnataka state procedure. Where to file — the two routes Online (faster) Portal: ''https: rtionline.karnataka.gov.in'' Works for most Karnataka state departments, public undertakings, and major urban local bodies. Fee is paid online through SBI e-Pay. You get a unique Registration Number that you use for all follow-ups. By post (when the portal does not cover the public authority) Address the application to the Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Retain the receipt — it is your filing evidence. Enclose the fee in one of the accepted modes: online via Karnataka RTI portal (SBI e-Pay); IPO / DD in favour of 'Accounts Officer, [Department]'; court-fee stamp. Fees — the exact breakdown Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL applicants: free, on production of a BPL card copy). Additional cost for copies: Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD. Inspection of records: free for the first hour; Rs. 5 for each subsequent 15 minutes (standard state rule). Fee modes: online via Karnataka RTI portal (SBI e-Pay); IPO / DD in favour of 'Accounts Officer, [Department]'; court-fee stamp. Governing rules: Karnataka Right to Information Rules, 2005 (as amended) . Sample RTI application — Karnataka format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? Pick from the sample RTI library — FIR, admission, exam marks, ration card, pension, refund, and more. What happens next — the 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Transfer under §6(3) if the matter sits with another public authority; the 30-day clock restarts from the date of transfer. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline. Silence deemed refusal under §7(2). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal under §19(1) to the Department FAA (one rank above PIO). . Day 75 →"},{"s":"file-rti-in-kerala","t":"How to File RTI in Kerala — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Kerala — state portal, fee, SIC address, sample template and appeal path. Rs. 10 fee. 2026 edition.","u":"/file-rti-in-kerala","x":"How to File RTI in Kerala — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: sic.kerala.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. Fee Rs. 10 (Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD for copies). Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Kerala State Information Commission (KSIC) . Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Kerala state procedure. Where to file — the two routes Online (faster) Portal: ''https: sic.kerala.gov.in'' Works for most Kerala state departments, public undertakings, and major urban local bodies. Fee is paid online through SBI e-Pay. You get a unique Registration Number that you use for all follow-ups. By post (when the portal does not cover the public authority) Address the application to the Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Retain the receipt — it is your filing evidence. Enclose the fee in one of the accepted modes: online via Kerala RTI portal; IPO / DD / cash receipt at the concerned office; court-fee stamp. Fees — the exact breakdown Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL applicants: free, on production of a BPL card copy). Additional cost for copies: Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD. Inspection of records: free for the first hour; Rs. 5 for each subsequent 15 minutes (standard state rule). Fee modes: online via Kerala RTI portal; IPO / DD / cash receipt at the concerned office; court-fee stamp. Governing rules: Kerala Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2006 . Sample RTI application — Kerala format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? Pick from the sample RTI library — FIR, admission, exam marks, ration card, pension, refund, and more. What happens next — the 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Transfer under §6(3) if the matter sits with another public authority; the 30-day clock restarts from the date of transfer. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline. Silence deemed refusal under §7(2). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal under §19(1) to the Department FAA (one rank above PIO). . Day 75"},{"s":"file-rti-in-madhya-pradesh","t":"How to File RTI in Madhya Pradesh — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Madhya Pradesh — state portal, fee, SIC address, sample template and appeal path. Rs. 50 (state rate","u":"/file-rti-in-madhya-pradesh","x":"How to File RTI in Madhya Pradesh — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: rtionline.mp.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. Fee Rs. 50 (state rate) (Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD for copies). Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Madhya Pradesh State Information Commission . Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Madhya Pradesh state procedure. Where to file — the two routes Online (faster) Portal: ''https: rtionline.mp.gov.in'' Works for most Madhya Pradesh state departments, public undertakings, and major urban local bodies. Fee is paid online through SBI e-Pay. You get a unique Registration Number that you use for all follow-ups. By post (when the portal does not cover the public authority) Address the application to the Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Retain the receipt — it is your filing evidence. Enclose the fee in one of the accepted modes: online via the MP RTI portal; IPO / DD for postal in favour of 'Accounts Officer, Department'; court-fee stamp. Fees — the exact breakdown Application fee: Rs. 50 (state rate) (BPL applicants: free, on production of a BPL card copy). Additional cost for copies: Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD. Inspection of records: free for the first hour; Rs. 5 for each subsequent 15 minutes (standard state rule). Fee modes: online via the MP RTI portal; IPO / DD for postal in favour of 'Accounts Officer, Department'; court-fee stamp. Governing rules: Madhya Pradesh Right to Information (Fees and Appeal Procedure) Rules, 2005 . Sample RTI application — Madhya Pradesh format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? Pick from the sample RTI library — FIR, admission, exam marks, ration card, pension, refund, and more. What happens next — the 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Transfer under §6(3) if the matter sits with another public authority; the 30-day clock restarts from the date of transfer. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline. Silence deemed refusal under §7(2). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal under"},{"s":"file-rti-in-maharashtra","t":"How to File RTI in Maharashtra — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Maharashtra — state portal, fee, SIC address, sample template and appeal path. Rs. 10 fee. 2026 edition.","u":"/file-rti-in-maharashtra","x":"How to File RTI in Maharashtra — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. Fee Rs. 10 (Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per floppy/CD for copies). Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Maharashtra State Information Commission (SIC) . Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Maharashtra state procedure. Where to file — the two routes Online (faster) Portal: ''https: rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in'' Works for most Maharashtra state departments, public undertakings, and major urban local bodies. Fee is paid online through SBI e-Pay. You get a unique Registration Number that you use for all follow-ups. By post (when the portal does not cover the public authority) Address the application to the Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Retain the receipt — it is your filing evidence. Enclose the fee in one of the accepted modes: online via SBI e-Pay (portal); IPO / DD in favour of 'Accounts Officer, [Concerned Department]' (postal); court-fee stamp of Rs. 10 affixed on the application (postal). Fees — the exact breakdown Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL applicants: free, on production of a BPL card copy). Additional cost for copies: Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per floppy/CD. Inspection of records: free for the first hour; Rs. 5 for each subsequent 15 minutes (standard state rule). Fee modes: online via SBI e-Pay (portal); IPO / DD in favour of 'Accounts Officer, [Concerned Department]' (postal); court-fee stamp of Rs. 10 affixed on the application (postal). Governing rules: Maharashtra Right to Information Rules, 2005 (as amended) . Sample RTI application — Maharashtra format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? Pick from the sample RTI library — FIR, admission, exam marks, ration card, pension, refund, and more. What happens next — the 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Transfer under §6(3) if the matter sits with another public authority; the 30-day clock restarts from the date of transfer. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline. Silence deemed refusal under §7(2). Day 31 → Day 60 —"},{"s":"file-rti-in-manipur","t":"How to File RTI in Manipur — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Manipur — state portal, fee (Rs. 10","u":"/file-rti-in-manipur","x":"How to File RTI in Manipur — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: msic.manipur.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Manipur. Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Manipur State Information Commission at Imphal. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Manipur state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: msic.manipur.gov.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Manipur Right to Information Rules, 2005 . Sample RTI — Manipur format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Manipur State Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Manipur-specific things to know Manipur has Scheduled Tribe areas governed partly by the Sixth Schedule framework of autonomous councils. For Churachandpur / Ukhrul / Senapati, route via the District Council's designated PIO. English is widely used in official paperwork; Meitei is accepted. State Information Commission Name: Manipur State Information Commission Address: New Secretariat Building, Imphal East - 795001 Website: ''msic.manipur.gov.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the PIO locate your file. Related reading How to file RTI online — national guide Why"},{"s":"file-rti-in-meghalaya","t":"How to File RTI in Meghalaya — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Meghalaya — state portal, fee (Rs. 10","u":"/file-rti-in-meghalaya","x":"How to File RTI in Meghalaya — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: msic.meghalaya.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Meghalaya. Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Meghalaya State Information Commission at Shillong. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Meghalaya state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: msic.meghalaya.gov.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Meghalaya Right to Information Rules, 2006 . Sample RTI — Meghalaya format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Meghalaya State Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Meghalaya-specific things to know Meghalaya operates under the Sixth Schedule; Autonomous District Councils (Khasi, Jaintia, Garo) have their own subject PIOs. For land-tenure queries, the ADCs are primary custodians. English is the official language; Khasi and Garo also widely used. State Information Commission Name: Meghalaya State Information Commission Address: Lower Lachumiere, Shillong - 793001 Website: ''msic.meghalaya.gov.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the PIO locate your file. Related reading How to file RTI online — national guide Why RTI gets rejected Ask"},{"s":"file-rti-in-nagaland","t":"How to File RTI in Nagaland — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Nagaland — state portal, fee (Rs. 10","u":"/file-rti-in-nagaland","x":"How to File RTI in Nagaland — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: nagasic.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Nagaland. Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Nagaland State Information Commission at Kohima. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Nagaland state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: nagasic.gov.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Nagaland Right to Information Rules, 2006 . Sample RTI — Nagaland format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Nagaland State Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Nagaland-specific things to know Nagaland has special constitutional protections under Article 371A; certain tribal custom records may have additional review layers. For Village Councils, the council's Secretary is the PIO. English is the official language. State Information Commission Name: Nagaland State Information Commission Address: New Secretariat Complex, Kohima - 797001 Website: ''nagasic.gov.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the PIO locate your file. Related reading How to file RTI online — national guide Why RTI gets rejected Ask for records, not answers"},{"s":"file-rti-in-odisha","t":"How to File RTI in Odisha — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Odisha — state portal, fee (Rs. 10","u":"/file-rti-in-odisha","x":"How to File RTI in Odisha — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: rtionline.odisha.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Odisha. Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Odisha Information Commission at Bhubaneswar. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Odisha state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: rtionline.odisha.gov.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Odisha Right to Information Rules, 2005 (as amended) . Sample RTI — Odisha format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Odisha Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Odisha-specific things to know Odisha was among the first states to launch a dedicated RTI portal. For mining / forest / tribal-area RTIs, the Odisha rules have notified specific PIOs at the division level. Odia and Hindi are accepted; English is widely used. State Information Commission Name: Odisha Information Commission Address: Toshali Bhawan, Satyanagar, Bhubaneswar - 751007 Website: ''oic.odisha.gov.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the PIO locate your file. Related reading How to file RTI online — national guide Why RTI"},{"s":"file-rti-in-punjab","t":"How to File RTI in Punjab — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Punjab — state portal, fee (Rs. 10","u":"/file-rti-in-punjab","x":"How to File RTI in Punjab — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: infocommpunjab.com or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Punjab. Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Punjab State Information Commission at Chandigarh. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Punjab state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: infocommpunjab.com'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Punjab Right to Information Rules, 2007 . Sample RTI — Punjab format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Punjab State Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Punjab-specific things to know Punjab shares its capital Chandigarh with Haryana; both states have separate SICs. For Gurudwara / religious trust data, verify the public-authority test under Thalappalam before filing. Punjabi (Gurmukhi) and Hindi are accepted; English is common. State Information Commission Name: Punjab State Information Commission Address: Red Cross Building, Sector 16, Chandigarh - 160015 Website: ''infocommpunjab.com'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the PIO locate your file. Related reading How to file RTI online — national guide Why RTI gets"},{"s":"file-rti-in-rajasthan","t":"How to File RTI in Rajasthan — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Rajasthan — state portal, fee, SIC address, sample template and appeal path. Rs. 10 fee. 2026 edition.","u":"/file-rti-in-rajasthan","x":"How to File RTI in Rajasthan — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: sampark.rajasthan.gov.in (RTI module) and https: rtionline.rajasthan.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. Fee Rs. 10 (Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD for copies). Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Rajasthan State Information Commission . Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Rajasthan state procedure. Where to file — the two routes Online (faster) Portal: ''https: sampark.rajasthan.gov.in (RTI module) and https: rtionline.rajasthan.gov.in'' Works for most Rajasthan state departments, public undertakings, and major urban local bodies. Fee is paid online through SBI e-Pay. You get a unique Registration Number that you use for all follow-ups. By post (when the portal does not cover the public authority) Address the application to the Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Retain the receipt — it is your filing evidence. Enclose the fee in one of the accepted modes: online via Rajasthan Sampark / state RTI portal; IPO / DD for postal; court-fee stamp. Fees — the exact breakdown Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL applicants: free, on production of a BPL card copy). Additional cost for copies: Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD. Inspection of records: free for the first hour; Rs. 5 for each subsequent 15 minutes (standard state rule). Fee modes: online via Rajasthan Sampark / state RTI portal; IPO / DD for postal; court-fee stamp. Governing rules: Rajasthan Right to Information Rules, 2005 (as amended) . Sample RTI application — Rajasthan format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? Pick from the sample RTI library — FIR, admission, exam marks, ration card, pension, refund, and more. What happens next — the 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Transfer under §6(3) if the matter sits with another public authority; the 30-day clock restarts from the date of transfer. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline. Silence deemed refusal under §7(2). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal under §19(1) to the Department FAA (one rank above PIO). ."},{"s":"file-rti-in-sikkim","t":"How to File RTI in Sikkim — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Sikkim — state portal, fee (Rs. 10","u":"/file-rti-in-sikkim","x":"How to File RTI in Sikkim — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: sikkim-sic.nic.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Sikkim. Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Sikkim State Information Commission at Gangtok. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Sikkim state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: sikkim-sic.nic.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Sikkim Right to Information Rules, 2005 . Sample RTI — Sikkim format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Sikkim State Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Sikkim-specific things to know Sikkim has specific protections under Article 371F; Sikkim-subject certificate matters are sensitive. For organic-mission / tourism records, Department of Horticulture and Department of Tourism. Nepali, Bhutia, Lepcha, and English are accepted. State Information Commission Name: Sikkim State Information Commission Address: Tashiling Secretariat, Gangtok - 737101 Website: ''sikkim-sic.nic.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the PIO locate your file. Related reading How to file RTI online — national guide Why RTI gets rejected Ask for records, not answers Grounds"},{"s":"file-rti-in-tamil-nadu","t":"How to File RTI in Tamil Nadu — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Tamil Nadu — state portal, fee, SIC address, sample template and appeal path. Rs. 50 (one of the higher state fees; BPL is free","u":"/file-rti-in-tamil-nadu","x":"How to File RTI in Tamil Nadu — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: tnsic.tn.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. Fee Rs. 50 (one of the higher state fees; BPL is free) (Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD for copies). Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Tamil Nadu State Information Commission (TNSIC) . Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Tamil Nadu state procedure. Where to file — the two routes Online (faster) Portal: ''https: tnsic.tn.gov.in'' Works for most Tamil Nadu state departments, public undertakings, and major urban local bodies. Fee is paid online through SBI e-Pay. You get a unique Registration Number that you use for all follow-ups. By post (when the portal does not cover the public authority) Address the application to the Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Retain the receipt — it is your filing evidence. Enclose the fee in one of the accepted modes: demand draft or crossed banker's cheque in favour of 'Accounts Officer, [Department]' (postal); court-fee stamp; limited online via individual department portals. Fees — the exact breakdown Application fee: Rs. 50 (one of the higher state fees; BPL is free) (BPL applicants: free, on production of a BPL card copy). Additional cost for copies: Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD. Inspection of records: free for the first hour; Rs. 5 for each subsequent 15 minutes (standard state rule). Fee modes: demand draft or crossed banker's cheque in favour of 'Accounts Officer, [Department]' (postal); court-fee stamp; limited online via individual department portals. Governing rules: Tamil Nadu Right to Information (Fees) Rules, 2005 . Sample RTI application — Tamil Nadu format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? Pick from the sample RTI library — FIR, admission, exam marks, ration card, pension, refund, and more. What happens next — the 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Transfer under §6(3) if the matter sits with another public authority; the 30-day clock restarts from the date of transfer. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory"},{"s":"file-rti-in-telangana","t":"How to File RTI in Telangana — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Telangana — state portal, fee (Rs. 10","u":"/file-rti-in-telangana","x":"How to File RTI in Telangana — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: tgsic.telangana.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Telangana. Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Telangana State Information Commission at Hyderabad. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Telangana state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: tgsic.telangana.gov.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Telangana Right to Information Rules, 2014 . Sample RTI — Telangana format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Telangana State Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Telangana-specific things to know Telangana was carved out in 2014; the SIC was established separately from the AP SIC. For GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) and HMDA, file directly to the ULB / authority PIO. Telugu and Urdu are widely used; English is accepted. State Information Commission Name: Telangana State Information Commission Address: 2nd Floor, HMDA Maitrivanam, Ameerpet, Hyderabad - 500038 Website: ''tgsic.telangana.gov.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the PIO locate your file. Related reading How to file RTI online —"},{"s":"file-rti-in-tripura","t":"How to File RTI in Tripura — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Tripura — state portal, fee (Rs. 10","u":"/file-rti-in-tripura","x":"How to File RTI in Tripura — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: tsic.tripura.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Tripura. Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Tripura State Information Commission at Agartala. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Tripura state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: tsic.tripura.gov.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Tripura Right to Information Rules, 2005 (as amended) . Sample RTI — Tripura format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Tripura State Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Tripura-specific things to know Tripura has a Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (Sixth Schedule); TTAADC records are held by the Council. Bengali is the most widely used language; English is accepted. State Information Commission Name: Tripura State Information Commission Address: New Capital Complex, Agartala - 799010 Website: ''tsic.tripura.gov.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the PIO locate your file. Related reading How to file RTI online — national guide Why RTI gets rejected Ask for records, not answers Grounds"},{"s":"file-rti-in-uttar-pradesh","t":"How to File RTI in Uttar Pradesh — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Uttar Pradesh — state portal, fee, SIC address, sample template and appeal path. Rs. 10 fee. 2026 edition.","u":"/file-rti-in-uttar-pradesh","x":"How to File RTI in Uttar Pradesh — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: rtionline.up.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. Fee Rs. 10 (Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD for copies). Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission . Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Uttar Pradesh state procedure. Where to file — the two routes Online (faster) Portal: ''https: rtionline.up.gov.in'' Works for most Uttar Pradesh state departments, public undertakings, and major urban local bodies. Fee is paid online through SBI e-Pay. You get a unique Registration Number that you use for all follow-ups. By post (when the portal does not cover the public authority) Address the application to the Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Retain the receipt — it is your filing evidence. Enclose the fee in one of the accepted modes: online via SBI e-Pay (portal); IPO / demand draft in favour of 'Accounts Officer, Department concerned' (postal); court-fee stamp of Rs. 10 (postal). Fees — the exact breakdown Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL applicants: free, on production of a BPL card copy). Additional cost for copies: Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD. Inspection of records: free for the first hour; Rs. 5 for each subsequent 15 minutes (standard state rule). Fee modes: online via SBI e-Pay (portal); IPO / demand draft in favour of 'Accounts Officer, Department concerned' (postal); court-fee stamp of Rs. 10 (postal). Governing rules: Uttar Pradesh Right to Information Rules, 2015 (as amended) . Sample RTI application — Uttar Pradesh format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? Pick from the sample RTI library — FIR, admission, exam marks, ration card, pension, refund, and more. What happens next — the 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Transfer under §6(3) if the matter sits with another public authority; the 30-day clock restarts from the date of transfer. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline. Silence deemed refusal under §7(2). Day 31 → Day 60 — First"},{"s":"file-rti-in-uttarakhand","t":"How to File RTI in Uttarakhand — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in Uttarakhand — state portal, fee (Rs. 10","u":"/file-rti-in-uttarakhand","x":"How to File RTI in Uttarakhand — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: uic.uk.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority in Uttarakhand. Fee Rs. 10 . Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to Uttarakhand State Information Commission at Dehradun. Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the Uttarakhand state procedure. Where to file Online Portal: ''https: uic.uk.gov.in'' Covers state departments, public undertakings, and (in many cases) urban local bodies. Fee is paid through the portal's payment gateway. By post Address: Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Keep the receipt. Fee modes: IPO / DD in favour of \"Accounts Officer, [Department]\"; court-fee stamp; bank challan where prescribed. Fees Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL: free on proof). Per-page copy cost: Rs. 2 for A4; Rs. 50 for a CD. Rules: Uttarakhand Right to Information Rules, 2013 . Sample RTI — Uttarakhand format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? See the sample RTI library . The 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Possible §6(3) transfer to the correct authority. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline; silence deemed refusal (§7(2)). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal to the department-designated FAA. Day 75 → Day 165 — Second Appeal to Uttarakhand State Information Commission . Deadline detail: First Appeal timelines and FAA appellate-review checklist . Uttarakhand-specific things to know Uttarakhand has a strong civil-society tradition on forest rights; FRA records via SDLC / DLC. Char Dham pilgrimage / tourism matters route via the Department of Tourism. Hindi is the preferred language. State Information Commission Name: Uttarakhand State Information Commission Address: Subhash Road, Dehradun - 248001 Website: ''uic.uk.gov.in'' Common mistakes Filing at the wrong PIO — route via the concerned department, not a generic grievance portal. Asking \"why\" questions. Ask for records, not answers — see the records-not-answers drafting guide. Missing the fee payment on the online route. Skipping the application-identifier that lets the PIO locate your file. Related reading How to file RTI online — national guide Why RTI gets rejected Ask for records, not answers"},{"s":"file-rti-in-west-bengal","t":"How to File RTI in West Bengal — Online & Postal Guide (2026)","d":"Step-by-step guide to filing an RTI application in West Bengal — state portal, fee, SIC address, sample template and appeal path. Rs. 10 fee. 2026 edition.","u":"/file-rti-in-west-bengal","x":"How to File RTI in West Bengal — Online & Postal Guide (2026) In one line. File your RTI either online at https: rtionline.wb.gov.in or by Speed Post to the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. Fee Rs. 10 (Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD for copies). Statutory reply in 30 days . If refused or silent, file a First Appeal under §19(1) within 30 days , then a Second Appeal to West Bengal Information Commission (WBIC) . Part of How to file RTI online in India — this page covers the West Bengal state procedure. Where to file — the two routes Online (faster) Portal: ''https: rtionline.wb.gov.in'' Works for most West Bengal state departments, public undertakings, and major urban local bodies. Fee is paid online through SBI e-Pay. You get a unique Registration Number that you use for all follow-ups. By post (when the portal does not cover the public authority) Address the application to the Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Full address] . Send by Speed Post with Acknowledgement Due . Retain the receipt — it is your filing evidence. Enclose the fee in one of the accepted modes: online via GRIPS (portal); IPO / DD in favour of 'PIO, [Department]' or 'Accounts Officer, [Department]' (postal); court-fee stamp. Fees — the exact breakdown Application fee: Rs. 10 (BPL applicants: free, on production of a BPL card copy). Additional cost for copies: Rs. 2 per page (A4); Rs. 50 per CD. Inspection of records: free for the first hour; Rs. 5 for each subsequent 15 minutes (standard state rule). Fee modes: online via GRIPS (portal); IPO / DD in favour of 'PIO, [Department]' or 'Accounts Officer, [Department]' (postal); court-fee stamp. Governing rules: West Bengal Right to Information Rules, 2006 (as amended) . Sample RTI application — West Bengal format [sample application] Need a topic-specific template? Pick from the sample RTI library — FIR, admission, exam marks, ration card, pension, refund, and more. What happens next — the 30-day clock Day 0 — PIO receives your RTI. Day 0–5 — Transfer under §6(3) if the matter sits with another public authority; the 30-day clock restarts from the date of transfer. Day 10–25 — Most routine requests are answered. Day 30 — Statutory reply deadline. Silence deemed refusal under §7(2). Day 31 → Day 60 — First Appeal under §19(1) to the Department FAA (one"},{"s":"file-rti-online-india","t":"File RTI Online in India: 12 Steps (2026)","d":"File an RTI online at rtionline.gov.in in 12 steps. Rs 10 fee, tracker link, and the exact phrasing that gets past Section 8(1","u":"/file-rti-online-india","x":"File RTI Online in India: 12 Steps (2026) Last updated: 20 April 2026 · Verified against the Right to Information Act, 2005 and the DPDP Rules, 2025. Quick Answer. Every Indian citizen can file an RTI online at rtionline.gov.in for Central Government Ministries and Departments. The fee is Rs 10, paid by UPI, card, or net banking. The Public Information Officer must reply within thirty days. After the DPDP Rules, 2025 notification on 14 November 2025, Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act operates without its earlier public-interest override; public interest now flows through Section 8(2). Did you know? Most RTIs that succeed ask for documents (file notings, orders, certified copies), not answers . The Right to Information Act, 2005 gives access to existing records, not to explanations the officer has never written down. A complete 2026 guide to RTI online filing in India. Covers the Central Government portal, ready-to-use application templates in English and Hindi, fees, timelines, common mistakes, status tracking, and what to do if the reply is unsatisfactory. You paid your taxes. You deserve an answer. A missing pension file, a stalled building sanction, an unanswered scholarship claim, all of these can be traced through a single legal right. The Right to Information Act, 2005 gives every citizen of India this right. The Central Government's online portal at rtionline.gov.in makes filing possible in under ten minutes from a phone or a laptop, with a Rs 10 fee paid online. With the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 in force from 14 November 2025 , the shape of Section 8(1)(j) has changed. The filing process itself has not. This guide walks through every step as it stands in 2026. For the full amendment note, see DPDP Rules, 2025: the amendment to Section 8(1)(j). What is RTI and who can file it The Right to Information Act, 2005 is a Central law. It gives every citizen of India the right to ask for information from a public authority. Who can file: Any individual citizen of India, of any age. You do not have to give a reason for the request. Section 6(2) bars the Officer from asking why. Who cannot file: A company, firm, trust, or NGO, in its own name. A non-citizen. A director or employee of a company can file in his or her own personal name. The right flows from Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, recognised in"},{"s":"guide","t":"Guides — Right to Information Act, 2005","d":"The hub of practical RTI guides on this site — one guide per role: citizen applicant, Public Information Officer, First Appellate Authority, and public authority. Current with DPDP 2025.","u":"/guide","x":"Guides — Right to Information Act, 2005 The hub of practical RTI guides on this site. One guide for each role under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — citizen applicant, Public Information Officer, First Appellate Authority, and public authority. For beginners, start with the FAQ or the online-filing walkthrough. In one line. Pick the guide that matches your role. Each guide is short, current, and linked to the templates and case law you need in practice. What that means in practice. New to RTI? Start with the FAQ or the online-filing guide. Officer handling an RTI? Go straight to the PIO guide. Hearing an appeal? Use the FAA guide. By role For citizens (applicants) Guide for applicants . Who can file, what can be asked, how to draft, fee and timelines, the appeal path, and the penalty on the Officer. A short and current reference. How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 Step-by-Step Guide . Ten steps through the Central Government portal with a ready-to-use English and Hindi template, the Rs 10 online fee flow, and the appeal path. Why RTI Applications Get Rejected . The five drafting mistakes that cause most refusals, with a bad-versus-good fix for each and two case studies of rejected RTIs corrected on appeal. Navigating rtionline.gov.in — the Central Government portal . The portal itself, screen by screen, for first-time users. State RTI vs Central RTI . Which jurisdiction applies, where to file, the fee and appellate differences, worked examples. For Public Information Officers Guide for PIOs . Your duties under Section 5, the five-question test for every request, third-party procedure under Section 11, the penalty under Section 20, and a standard file-noting structure. PIO reply after DPDP Rules, 2025 . The revised Section 8(1)(j) test, sample reply paragraphs, and the audit trail the First Appellate Authority will expect. Template: standard PIO reply . Ready-to-use. Template: PIO partial disclosure with severability . Template: third party notice under Section 11 . For First Appellate Authorities Guide for FAAs . Your duty under Section 19(1), how to structure a speaking order, the thirty-day (extendable to forty-five) timeline, when to invoke Section 8(2). Template: FAA speaking order . Ready format with severability and public-interest-override clauses. For public authorities Guide for public authorities . Section 4(1)(b) suo motu disclosure duties, record-management for RTI readiness, institutional liability under Section 20, and the annual RTI return to the"},{"s":"guide:applicant","t":"Guide for applicants","d":"A step-by-step guide to the Right to Information Act, 2005 for a citizen seeking information from a public authority.","u":"/guide/applicant","x":"Guide for applicants Did you know? Under Section 6(2) , the Public Information Officer is expressly barred from asking why you want the information. You do not need to disclose your purpose — and an officer who demands a reason is acting outside the Act. If your last RTI was rejected. See Why RTI Applications Get Rejected in India — and How to Avoid It. Five reasons, the exact fix for each, and two case studies of rejected RTIs corrected on appeal. A step-by-step guide to the Right to Information Act, 2005 for a citizen seeking information from a public authority. The guide sets out the fee, the drafting, the timelines, and the appeal path. It is written for a first-time applicant and for a practitioner who wants a short and current reference. New to RTI? Start with the three most-used guides on this site: How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 Step-by-Step Guide. Why RTI Applications Get Rejected — and How to Avoid It. FAQ — twenty-five most-asked RTI questions. Who can file an application Any citizen of India can file an application for information from a public authority. Section 3 of the Act confers the right. The Act does not ask the applicant to show a reason or to disclose any personal detail beyond what is needed to deliver the information. Section 6(2) expressly bars the Public Information Officer from asking why the information is needed. What information can be sought The right extends to any information in any form that is held by a public authority or that is under its control. The definition is at Section 2(f). The forms listed in that section include records, documents, memos, emails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, log books, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, and data held in an electronic form. The right extends only to existing information. It does not require a public authority to create a new record or to answer a question of opinion. This limit was set out by the Supreme Court in CBSE and Anr. v. Aditya Bandopadhyay, (2011) 8 SCC 497. Drafting a first application The form prescribed for a first application under Section 6(1) varies by jurisdiction. The Central Government has notified a simple format. Several States have notified their own formats. See RTI Rules for the format applicable in your case. A sound first application has the following parts."},{"s":"guide:applicant:application","t":"RTI Forms","d":"Here are the compilation of Sample Right to Information Applications. These have been attempted based upon the feedback and experience gathered from our forum.","u":"/guide/applicant/application","x":"RTI Forms Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Sample RTI Applications 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 your 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. Download RTI Act ~~socialite~~"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:how-fill-rti-application-form","t":"How to Fill an RTI Application Form — The 2026 Practitioner's Guide","d":"How to fill an RTI application form in India, 2026. Section-by-section drafting, copy-paste template, fee, mode of payment, and the PIO tricks to avoid. A 20-year practitioner's guide.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/how-fill-rti-application-form","x":"How to Fill an RTI Application Form — The 2026 Practitioner's Guide In one line: An RTI application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 is a short, specific, document-seeking letter addressed to the Public Information Officer. You need: (1) a clear subject line, (2) one-to-five numbered document requests, (3) a Rs 10 Indian Postal Order (IPO) for the application fee, and (4) your address. No legal form is prescribed; plain A4 with a clear structure is enough. Reply is due in 30 days under Section 7. Did you know? Under Section 6(2), the Public Information Officer cannot ask you why you want the information. You do not have to justify your reasons. The only acceptable question from the PIO is: \"Please clarify the dates or file numbers\" — nothing about motive, citizenship (must be Indian), or anticipated use. Legal basis Section 6(1) — the right to make a request; in writing or electronic form; in English, Hindi, or the official State language. Section 6(2) — no reason required, no personal details except contact. Section 6(3) — PIO must transfer within 5 days if the matter lies elsewhere. Section 7(1) — 30-day reply (48 hours if life or liberty). Section 7(5) — BPL applicants pay no fee . RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005 — Rs 10 application fee; Rs 2 per A4 copy; first hour of inspection free. The 8-step drafting flow Step 1 — Identify the document, not the question RTI gives you access to records. It does not give you answers, opinions, or action. So frame your ask as a document request , not a question. ^ Do not write ^ Write instead ^ \"Why has my passport application been delayed?\" \"A copy of the file noting and current status of my passport application no. A1234567 dated 12 Jan 2026.\" \"When will the road be fixed?\" \"A copy of the sanction order, contract, and completion certificate for road repairs in [ward] in FY 2024-25.\" \"Is my file with the Tahsildar?\" \"A copy of the file-movement register entry for file no. RT/12/2026 showing the current officer.\" Step 2 — Choose the correct department Most RTIs are rejected because they go to the wrong public authority . Think through: Is the subject a Central matter (Passport, Income Tax, Railways, EPF, Defence) or a State matter (Land, Police, Health, Education)? Within that, which specific agency"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:how-to-locate-public-information-officer","t":"How to locate Public Information Officer under RTI","d":"Visit the website of the concerned public authority and scrutinize RTI icon. For state information, also visit the official portal of state govt and...","u":"/guide/applicant/application/how-to-locate-public-information-officer","x":"How to locate Public Information Officer under RTI Visit the website of the concerned public authority and scrutinize RTI icon. For state information, also visit the official portal of state govt and information commission for these details. If you do not get details of PIO, visit the nearest office of relevant public authority and try to get the address of PIO. Name is not important, as officers do get changed. If you do not still succeed, please address your application to PIO C/o. Head of the dept/office to which information is required. If you want the information of a district, you can address application to PIO of District Collectorate. If the envelope is not accepted or returned by post office, send the original application with a photocopy of the envelope to the PIO of Office of Chief Secretary at State Capital or connected ministry at Delhi, with a request to forward the enclosed application to the concerned PIO. A reference to india.gov.in website will be useful. Alternatively, you can also file RTI application for the same information with PIO of Office of Chief Secretary at State Capital or connected ministry at Delhi, and PIO will redirect the application to correct PIO within 5 days of receipt by him with intimation to you. Simultaneously, file a complaint with Central Information Commission/State Information Commission for difficulties in locating PIO of a particular dept/office. You can take help of local/state-level NGOs or RTI helpline phone numbers for locating correct PIO, who would be holding the information required by you. Most of Central Govt public authorities have placed details of PIO etc on their websites. However, states are yet to follow. Some state information commissions do not have details of PIO/FAA on their website! ~~socialite~~ ---- More Articles from Guide Section ---- [<>] Related RTI Form in Marathi. RTI Application Forms. When to supply information free of Cost?. Who can ask for information under Right to Information?. Where You cannot get Information. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:information-free-of-cost","t":"When to supply information free of Cost?","d":"30 days after request: Normally, the Public Information Officer (PIO","u":"/guide/applicant/application/information-free-of-cost","x":"When to supply information free of Cost? 30 days after request: Normally, the Public Information Officer (PIO), who received RTI Request shall decide it and supply information to the applicant within 30 days from receipt of RTI request. If further document charges are involved, PIO shall intimate the details of such further charges along with its calculation to the Applicant. Intervening period from the date of decision of PIO and date of actual remittance of document charges by Applicant shall not be counted for the purpose of calculating 30 days for supply of information. In case the public authority did not supply information to the Applicant within 30 days limit, the applicant is entitled to receive information free of cost thereafter. Third Party Information: Where third party information is involved and the PIO served a notice to that third party, then PIO has time of 40 days to decide the application and supply information to the applicant. In such cases, if the information is not supplied within 40 days from submitting RTI request, the applicant is entitled to receive information free of cost after 40 days. Below Poverty Line Applicant: An applicant Below Poverty Line (BPL category) is entitled to receive information free of charge, provided the applicant submit proof to establish that he is a BPL applicant. ---- ~~socialite~~ More Articles from Guide Section ---- [<>] Related RTI Form in Marathi. RTI Application Forms. How to locate Public Information Officer under RTI. Who can ask for information under Right to Information?. Where You cannot get Information. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:penality-provisions-pio","t":"What are the Penalty and Compensation","d":"As per Section 20(1","u":"/guide/applicant/application/penality-provisions-pio","x":"What are the Penalty and Compensation Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Penalty provision As per Section 20(1) of the RTI Act, the CIC or the SIC, has the powers to impose a penalty on the PIO, while deciding on a complaint or a second appeal. The penalty can be imposed, if the PIO has: Refused to receive an application Not furnished the requested information within 30 days of receiving the application Malafidely denied the request for information Knowingly given incorrect, incomplete or misleading information Destroyed information which was the subject of the request Obstructed in any manner, in furnishing the information The amount of penalty shall be Rs. 250.00 per day, till the information is furnished or the application is received, subject to a maximum of Rs. 25,000.00. The penalty has to be paid by the PIO from his salary and not by the Public Authority. The CIC or the SIC will give the PIO a reasonable opportunity to be heard before the penalty is imposed. However the burden of proving that he acted reasonably shall be on the PIO. Under Section 20(2) of the RTI Act, the CIC or the SIC can also recommend disciplinary action as per the service rules applicable to the PIO. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) or the Public Authority (PA) are not subjected to any penalty clause under the RTI Act. Though the Act states that the burden of proving that PIO acted reasonably and diligently shall be on the Public Information Officer.(([CIC/OIC/A/2006/00637 Dated. 04.07.2008)) ” Therefore, it can be interpreted by the Information Commissioner that the PIO “knowingly” committed his actions of omission or commission, and it is for the PIO to produce evidence that he did so unknowingly. However, CIC has many a times interpreted in favor to PIO stating that “If there was no malafide in denial of information in servicing requests for information and that the refusal stems from a genuine conviction within the public authority that the information was exempted from disclosure, the CIC has not imposed the penalty. Further, remember that Section 7(1) allows only for 30 days for responding to an application under the RTI Act from the date of receipt to the date of dispatch of the information. It does not allow for 30 working days. ((Decision on 07th May, 2008, Adjunct to appeal No. CIC/WB/A/2007/00274 dt 10 -03- 2007)) In the following explanations, Reply,"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:procedure-for-inspection-under-rti","t":"Inspection of Records under RTI: Your Rights, the PIO's Playbook, and How to Win","d":"A 20-year RTI practitioner's guide to inspection of records under Section 2(j","u":"/guide/applicant/application/procedure-for-inspection-under-rti","x":"Inspection of Records under RTI: Your Rights, the PIO's Playbook, and How to Win In one line: Section 2(j)(i) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 gives every Indian citizen the right to inspect records in person at a public authority's office. The first hour is free ; subsequent hours cost Rs 5 each . Certified copies during inspection are Rs 2 per A4 page . This page covers the full procedure, the fee structure, the seven most common PIO tactics used to block inspection, and the counter-strategies that defeat each. Did you know? Inspection of records is often more valuable than photocopies. It lets you see the file-noting trail , inter-office remarks , attached correspondences , and every page in the file, including the ones a PIO would never voluntarily photocopy. The cost: Rs 10 application fee, plus the first hour of inspection free. Less than a cup of coffee, for access to files that cost crores to assemble. Your right: what Section 2(j)(i) actually says The RTI Act defines the \"right to information\" in Section 2(j): > \"The right to information accessible under this Act which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes the right to (i) inspection of work, documents, records ; (ii) taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records; (iii) taking certified samples of material; (iv) obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode...\" Three things flow from this. Inspection is a first-class right , not a concession. A PIO cannot offer photocopies instead of inspection if you have asked to inspect. Taking notes during inspection is free , under Section 2(j)(ii). Your notebook is your tool. Certified copies during inspection cost Rs 2 per A4/A3 page under Rule 4(a) of the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. The fee structure (know this before you apply) ^ What ^ Fee ^ Source ^ Application fee Rs 10 (BPL: nil) Rule 3, RTI Fee Rules 2005 First hour of inspection FREE Rule 4(b), RTI Fees Rules Each subsequent hour of inspection Rs 5 per hour Rule 4(b) A4 or A3 photocopy during inspection Rs 2 per page Rule 4(a) Larger-than-A3 size copy Actual cost Rule 4(a) proviso Information on diskette, CD, or USB Rs 50 per unit Rule 4(c) BPL applicants pay nothing at any stage, per"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:commencement","t":"RTI Application for Commencement Certificate","d":"Use Application Format (if any","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/commencement","x":"RTI Application for Commencement Certificate Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. To The Public Information Officer \\\\ Building Proposal Department, \\\\ Municipal Corporation \\\\ ....(Full address) \\\\ PIN .............\\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act\\\\ Sir,\\\\ Please supply me the following information in respect of Real Estate / Housing / Building Project mentioned below: Details of Real Estate/Housing/Building Project Real Estate/Housing/Building Project Name: ..............\\\\ Address of the Property : .....................\\\\ Survey No/CTS No/ Khasra no: ....................\\\\ Name & address of Builder/Developer : ....................\\\\ Particulars of information required [1] Certified copy of Commencement Certificate.\\\\ [2] Certified copy of Completion Certificate.\\\\ [3] Certified copy of Occupation Certificate.\\\\ I am affixing Rs.10/- Court Fee Stamp on this application towards RTI application fee. OR I am attaching IPO for Rs.10/- payable to the Accounts Officer, Municipal Corporation ............. payable at ........... towards RTI Application Fee. [ Check the mode of payment from the State RTI Rules applicable to the public authority ] Please send the information to my below address by Registered post. Yours faithfully, Signature \\\\ Name .................. \\\\ Address ............... \\\\ Date: Use Application Format (if any) and Application Fee as per your State RTI Rules It is possible that the builder has not fulfilled all the statutory requirement to issue the Occupation Certificate. Therefore, file another RTI Application with a different date as per sample below: To The Public Information Officer \\\\ Building Proposal Department, \\\\ Municipal Corporation \\\\ ....(Full address) \\\\ PIN .............\\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act\\\\ Sir,\\\\ Please supply me the following information in respect of Real Estate / Housing / Building Project mentioned below:\\\\ Details of Real Estate/Housing/Building Project .\\\\ Real Estate/Housing/Building Project Name: …………..\\\\ Address of the Property : …………………\\\\ Survey No/CTS No/ Khasra no: ………………\\\\ Name & address of Builder/Developer : ………………\\\\ Particulars of information required [1] Certified copy of application along with all supporting documents as submitted by builder M/s ……………………………… seeking Occupancy Certificate with respect to above property. [2] Certified copy of Completion Certificate submitted by Builder's architect stating that"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:competitive-exam-marks","t":"Competitive Exam Marks","d":"( Check Application Format and mode of payment of RTI Application Fee from RTI Rules applicable to the public authority","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/competitive-exam-marks","x":"RTI Application for Competitive Examination Marks Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. To The Public Information Officer\\\\ Name of Public Authority,\\\\ Full Address\\\\ PIN Code …..\\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act. Sir, Please supply me the following information with respect to following examination appeared by me: Details of Examination: Employment Notice No. and date:…………………\\\\ Category No…………………..\\\\ Name of Post:……………….\\\\ Date of Exam:……………….\\\\ Centre Name:………………..\\\\ Roll No……………………………\\\\ Particulars of Information sought: [1] certified copy of my evaluated answer sheet for the ..........exam detailed above. [2] Please inform me the total marks obtained by me in above Exam. [3] Please inform me the cut off marks for General, SC, ST and OBC candidates in above exam. [4] Please inform me the Total number of candidates qualified in Genl, SC, ST and OBC categories in Tier-I Written Test. [5] Please inform me the Total number of candidates qualified in Genl, SC, ST & OBC categories in Tier-II Written Test [6] Please inform me the total number of candidates called for Document verification / Interview [7] Please inform me the Total number of candidates selected for appointment in Genl, SC, ST & OBC categories [8] Please inform me the Cut Off marks for Genl, SC, ST & OBC category candidates finally selected and recommended for appointment. RTI Application Fee of Rs.10/- is attached as …………………………… Please send the information to my below address by Registered post. Yours faithfully, Signature\\\\ Name ………………\\\\ Full Address …………… \\\\ PIN Code.......\\\\ Date: .....\\\\ ( Check Application Format and mode of payment of RTI Application Fee from RTI Rules applicable to the public authority )\\\\ \\\\ For guidance in writing and submitting RTI Applications, please refer to: How to Fill RTI Application Form Related Guide for applicants. The procedure, fee, and appeal path. Template: first RTI application. A general-purpose first-application format. Template: first appeal. For drafting an appeal under Section 19(1). PIO reply after DPDP Rules, 2025. On how a Public Information Officer is to reply when personal information is involved. All sample RTI applications. The full index. Sources"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:complaint","t":"RTI Application for Complaint Status","d":"Use Application Format and fee as prescribed in Centre/State RTI Rule as applicable to the public authority.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/complaint","x":"RTI Application for Complaint Status Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. \\\\ Whenever your complaint or grievance is not addressed by the concerned office like Municipality, Electricity Board, BSNL/MTNL, University or any such other public authority, within reasonable time, say 10 to 20 days, you can file RTI Application with the Public Information Officer of that public authority and seek following information: To \\\\ The Public Information Officer\\\\ [ Name of Public Authority]\\\\ [ Full Address ]\\\\ [Pin Code]\\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act.\\\\ \\\\ Sir,\\\\ \\\\ Please supply me the following information with respect to my complaint detailed below:\\\\ \\\\ Details of complaint: \\\\ \\\\ Name of Govt Office :\\\\ Date of Complaint :\\\\ Complaint Number :\\\\ Subject of Complaint :\\\\ \\\\ Particulars of Information sought :\\\\ \\\\ [1] certified copy of note sheet indicating notings by various officials and decision of competent authority on my above mentioned complaint/grievance dated ……….\\\\ \\\\ [2] Certified copy of investigation report or feedback obtained with respect to the grievances raised in my above mentioned complaint dated ……………\\\\ \\\\ [3] Certified copy of the note sheet indicating notings by various officials and decision of competent authority on investigation report or feedback obtained with respect to the issues raised in my above mentioned complaint dated …………… \\\\ \\\\ [4] Certified copy of letter, directions and/or instructions issued to concerned authority / subordinate office as a follow up action based on investigation report or feedback on my above mentioned complaint dated ……… \\\\ \\\\ [5] In case no action is taken on my complaint dated ………., please inform me the name of officer(s) and staff responsible, but failed to take action on my above mentioned complaint dated …………\\\\ \\\\ [6] Certified copy of your rules or citizens charter or any other document stipulating the time frame in number of days by which such a complaint/matter should have been dealt with and resolved by your public authority.\\\\ \\\\ I am affixing Rs.10/- Court Fee Stamp on this application towards RTI application fee OR I am"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:epf-transfer","t":"RTI Application for EPF transfer Status","d":"When the Employees’ Provident Fund account is transferred from one Employer Company (previous employer","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/epf-transfer","x":"RTI Application for EPF transfer Status Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. To The Central Public Information Officer\\\\ [EPFO of Previous Employer Company] \\\\ [ Full Address ] \\\\ [Pin Code] \\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act. \\\\ \\\\ Sir, \\\\ \\\\ I had applied for transfer of my EPF from my previous employer. My request for PF transfer has not been processed. Please supply me the following information with respect to my request for transfer of EPF Account as detailed below. I am attaching Employee ID as proof of EPF Account holder. Details of EPF Account: \\\\ \\\\ My EPF account number : \\\\ Previous Employer : \\\\ Current Employer : \\\\ EPF office of previous employer : \\\\ EPF office of current employer : \\\\ Transfer application Form-13(Rev) date :\\\\ \\\\ Particulars of Information sought: \\\\ \\\\ [1] Certified copy of EPF transfer Form-13 (Revised) submitted by undersigned through M/s ...... [Name of Present employeer company] to transfer my PF account no. .............. from your EPFO ……… to M/s ................. (Name of Present employer Co.) EPFO ................ (address of present EPFO) along with details filled in by M/s ………………… (name of Present employer Co.) in Form-13(Rev), which was received by your public authority. [2] Certified copy of Form No.10 submitted by M/s ...........(previous employer company) in the month of ...................and ........ ( the month and next month of your leaving employment from previous company.) [3] Certified copy of Note Sheet indicating notings by various officials and decision of competent authority on my application Form 13 (Rev) for transfer of EPF Account to EPFO ........ (Address of EPFO of present employers’ jurisdiction) [4] Certified copy of Transfer Intimation i.e Annexure-K [Revised] in respect of my EPF Account no. .............. based on my application Form-13 (Rev) submitted to your public authority through M/s .......(Name & address of present employer). [5] Please inform me the Cheque / DD Number under which my EPF Balance was transferred to EPFO ..................... (Address of EPFO of present employers’ jurisdiction). [6] If no action"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:epf-withdrawal","t":"RTI Application for EPF Withdrawal Status","d":"First and foremost aspect with regard to EPF withdrawal is to verify whether you have submitted correct withdrawal Form filled in all respects along with...","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/epf-withdrawal","x":"RTI Application for EPF Withdrawal Status Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. To\\\\ \\\\ The Central Public Information Officer\\\\ Employees Provident Fund Organization\\\\ Full Address\\\\ Pin Code\\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act .\\\\ \\\\ Sir,\\\\ \\\\ I have applied for Temp/Final withdrawal of EPF vide Form No. ----. However the claim is not settled till today. The on-line status being shown in EPFO website is also not satisfactory. Therefore, I seek following information under Right to Information Act with respect to my EPF Withdrawal claim. Following are my PF withdrawal details: My EPF account / UAN number : \\\\ Previous/current Employer name: \\\\ Withdrawal application Form No: \\\\ Withdrawal application date : \\\\ Details of information sought: (1) Date on which the EPF Withdrawal claim application submitted by me was received in your EPFO office. (2) Please inform me the date on which my EPF withdrawal claim was passed and the payment was deposited to my Bank Account through electronic mode / or cheque no. and date, (if claim settled by cheque.) (3) In case the amount is still not deposited to my bank account, please inform me the due date by which my EPF withdrawal claim was required to be settled in terms of Para 72(7) of EPF Scheme. (4) Certified copy of communication sent by EPF Commissioner to me with respect to deficiencies, if any, in my EPF Withdrawal application. (5) Certified copy of Note Sheet indicating notings by various officials and decision of EPF Commissioner on my Application for withdrawal of amount from my above metioned EPF Account. (6) please supply me certified copy of statutory provision under which my EPF withdrawal claim is disapproved / disallowed, in case the withdrawal is disallowed or disapproved under any specific statutory provisions. (7) If no decision is taken and settled the EPF withdrawal Claim made by me vide Withdrawal application mentioned above, please inform me the name, destination and office address of EPF Commissioner concerned, who is personally liable to pay penal interest for delay beyond 30 days."},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:exam-paper","t":"RTI Application for Examination Paper","d":"If you have any queries regarding filing RTI Application, you can go ahead at our forums and request assistance from our community.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/exam-paper","x":"RTI Application for Examination Paper Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. This is the sample questions for asking evaluated answersheet under Right to Information Act. You can read about latest judgements and rulings regarding Answer Sheets from our Case Law segment here. If you have any queries regarding filing RTI Application, you can go ahead at our forums and request assistance from our community. ---- Format for the RTI Application To, Central Public Information Officer, O/o Registrar of University, [Name of the University] [Full Address] Subject: Information under Right to Information Act 2005 Dated: [Enter the Date of RTI Application] Dear Sir, Kindly furnish certified copies of my answer-sheets, the details of which are as under: 1. Name of the candidate: [Enter Your Name] 2. Roll Number : [Enter the Roll Number] 3. Name of Exam : [Write the name of the examination, say BSC 2nd year] 4. Date of Exam : [Date of the Examination] 5. Name of the Subject: [Give the names of the subjects for which you want the copies] 6. Exam Center: [Exam center location] 7. Subject Code: [Write the Subject Code of Exam] 8. Centre Code: [Write the Center code as available in Hall Ticket] [If you are attaching the Xerox copy of the Hall Ticket, Kindly click here and write, I am attaching the xerox copy of the Hall ticket] I am attaching the prescribed fees of Rs [Write the fee amount deposited. Check the University website for the correct RTI Fees] /- paid through [Write the Mode of Payment Cash /Cheque/Postal Order e.t.c] dated [Write the date of the examination]. With Regards, [Name of Yours here] [Date of writing RTI Application] [Full Postal Address along with email & Telephone number] ---- Guidelines for filing RTI Application Form Obtaining answer sheets under RTI and revaluation and/or rechecking are different process. By filing RTI application, the student can obtain copy of his own evaluated answer sheet from the university within the Record Retention period. Student can seek this information directly from the PIO of the University. For re-valuation, there"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:fir","t":"RTI Application for FIR — Sample Format to Get Copy, Status & Officer Details (2026)","d":"Ready-to-use RTI application format to obtain a certified copy of an FIR, investigation progress, and the officer-in-charge details. Rs 10 fee, 30-day reply. 2026 edition.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/fir","x":"RTI Application for FIR — Sample Format to Get Copy, Status & Officer Details (2026) Answer in one line The quickest route to a certified copy of an FIR, its investigation progress, and the Investigating Officer's details is a Right-to-Information application under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 — addressed to the PIO at the Commissioner of Police or Superintendent of Police office, for Rs. 10, with a statutory reply within 30 days. Scroll to the ready-to-use format below and copy-paste. If the FIR was never registered , the route is different — see FIR Not Registered? RTI to the Police which extracts the Daily Diary entry and the SHO's written decision under Lalita Kumari v. UP , (2014) 2 SCC 1. When to use this RTI Use this template when you already have an FIR number and need one or more of the following: A certified copy of the FIR itself (for litigation, insurance, employment verification). The periodical investigation progress report. Name, designation, badge number, and contact of the Investigating Officer. A case diary extract showing arrests, reasons, and notifications to family. The investigation report and witness / accused statements relied on. The standard time frame within which your police station should have investigated, per the state citizen's charter. If your problem is different, pick the right recipe: FIR not registered → RTI to police for Daily Diary and SHO's decision. Case closed without informing you → Same guide — ask for the Final Report under Section 173 BNSS and the Magistrate's order. Delay in chargesheet → Ask for the chargesheet-filing status and the IO's roster. General police complaint ignored → RTI for ignored complaints or sample complaint-status RTI. Legal framework — what makes this work RTI Act, 2005 — Section 6(1) request, Section 7 reply deadline (30 days), Section 8(1)(h) exemption during investigation (time-bounded), Section 19 appeals. Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 — Section 173 (registration of FIR), Section 175(3) (Magistrate's power to direct investigation), Section 230 (supply of chargesheet and connected documents). Lalita Kumari v. Government of UP , (2014) 2 SCC 1 — mandatory registration of FIR on disclosure of a cognizable offence. Joginder Kumar v. State of UP , (1994) 4 SCC 260 — arrest procedure and the requirement to notify a relative / friend. Ready-to-use RTI application format [sample application] What each item extracts — and why it matters Item 1 (certified"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:gram-panchayat","t":"RTI Application for Gram Panchayat","d":"Use Application Format (if any","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/gram-panchayat","x":"RTI Application for Gram Panchayat Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. Include the following in your RTI Application Use Application Format (if any) and Application Fee as per your State RTI Rules File RTI Application with the concerned Public Information Officer of the Panchayat and seek following information: For Budget grant [1] certified copy of the Head-wise budget grant sanctioned for the year 2014-15 and 2015-16. [2] certified copy of the statement of total tax, cess and/or Octroi or Local Body Tax (LBT) collected under various heads during 2014-15 and 2015-16. [3] Please supply me details of MP-LAD, MLA-LAD funds received by the Panchayat for execution of works, during 2014-15 and 2015-16. [4] Please supply me details of MGNREG funds received by the Panchayat during 2014-15 and 2015-16. For Abstract Works and expenditure [5] Head-wise expenses of the Gram Panchayat separately for the period 2014-15 and 2015-16. [6] List of Plan-head works contracts and Maintenance works Contracts awarded and expenditure incurred for such works, for the years 2014-15 and 2015-16 separately. [7] List of works completed under MGNREG funds and the actual expenditure charged to MGNRG Works during 2014-15 and 2015-16 separately. [8] Certified list of works completed by Panchayat, out of funds released from MP-LAD funds during 2014-15 and 2015-16. [9] Certified list of works completed by Panchayat, out of funds released from MLA-LAD funds during 2014-15 and 2015-16. For Work Expenses [1] certified copy of Letter of Acceptance of all works awarded from 1/4/2014 to 31/1/2016 (LoA shall contain exact description of work awarded on contract, name and address of contractor to whom the work awarded, accepted contract value, date of commencement, target date of completion.) [2] certified copy of latest paid On-account bill (OR running bill) in respect of all on-going works. (On-Account Bill/Running Bill shall contain details payments made in the past) [3] certified copy of Final Bills of all contracts completed from 1/4/2014 to 31/1/2016 (Final bill will show all details of amount paid, recoveries due and made, escalation in rates or contract value allowed, final Completion Cost etc.)"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:grievancesstatus","t":"Grievancesstatus","d":"Check Application Format and mode of payment of RTI Application Fee from Centre/State RTI Rules applicable to the public authority.\\\\ \\\\ For guidance in...","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/grievancesstatus","x":"RTI Application for Grievances Status Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. To The Public Information Officer \\\\ ........................(Name of public authority/unit) \\\\ …............(Full address) \\\\ PIN Code…………. \\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act. \\\\ \\\\ Sir, \\\\ \\\\ Please supply me the following information in respect of my application dated ........... regarding ......................... \\\\ \\\\ Details of pending grievance \\\\ \\\\ Application date. ............................\\\\ Name of applicant ..........................\\\\ Address of applicant .....................\\\\ Subject matter of Grievance application............\\\\ \\\\ Particulars of information required \\\\ \\\\ [1] certified copy of note sheet indicating notings by various officials and decision of competent authority on my application dated ……….. regarding ........... [2] Certified copy of investigation report or feedback obtained with respect to my application dated …………… [3] Certified copy of the note sheet indicating notings by various officials and decision of competent authority on the investigation report/feedback received. [4] Certified copy of letter, directions and/or instructions issued to concerned authority / subordinate office as a follow up action based on my application dated ……… [5] In case no action is taken on my application dated ………., please inform me the name of officer(s) and staff responsible, but failed to take action on my application dated ………… [6] Certified copy of your rules or citizens charter or any other document stipulating the time frame in number of days by which such a application for relief should have been dealt with and resolved by your public authority. Application Fee of Rs..... is remitted as under (strike out which is not applicable): \\\\ \\\\ [a] Paid by Challan and copy attached. \\\\ [b] Pasted Court Fee Stamp for Rs...... \\\\ [c] Attached IPO for Rs.10/- payable to the Accounts Officer, ........... \\\\ \\\\ Please send the information to my below address by Registered post.\\\\ \\\\ Yours faithfully,\\\\ \\\\ Signature \\\\ Name ……………… \\\\ Address …………… \\\\ Pin Code .........\\\\ \\\\ Date: Check Application Format and mode of payment of RTI Application Fee from Centre/State RTI Rules applicable to the public authority.\\\\ \\\\ For guidance in"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:hindi","t":"RTI Application Hindi Format","d":"RTI Application Hindi Format. Part of the RTI Wiki reference for India's Right to Information Act, 2005.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/hindi","x":"RTI Application Hindi Format Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. दिनांक:\\\\ रजिस्टर्ड पोस्ट द्वारा\\\\ सेवा में,\\\\ जन सूचना अधिकारी,\\\\ विभाग / कार्यालय\\\\ स्थान\\\\ 1- अभ्यर्थी का नाम:\\\\ 2- पूरा पता एवं दूरभाष नं:\\\\ 3- वांछित सूचना का उल्लेख:\\\\ [a]\\\\ [b]\\\\ [c]\\\\ 4- अदा किये गये शुल्क का उल्लेख:\\\\ क) दस रुपये का शुल्क का भुगतान रसीद द्वारा के कार्यालय में किया गया। (प्रति संलग्न), अथवा\\\\ ख) दस रुपये का शुल्क का भुगतान _________ के द्वारा जारी किया गये, ड्राफ़्ट / पे ऑर्डर / पोस्टल ऑर्डर, संख्या ________, दिनांक _____, के प्रति किया गया, अथवा \\\\ ग) मैं गरीबी रेखा से नीचे परिवार का सदस्य हूँ, (बी पी एल प्रमाण पत्र की प्रति संलग्न)।\\\\ 5- यदि कोई स्व:प्रमाणित संलग्न दस्तावेज़ है तो उसका उल्लेख।\\\\ 6- मैं एक भारतीय नागरिक हूँ। कृपया माँगी गयी जानकारी अतिशीघ्र उपलब्ध कराएं।\\\\ अभ्यर्थी के हस्ताक्षर\\\\ Download ______________ Related Guide for applicants. The procedure, fee, and appeal path. Template: first RTI application. A general-purpose first-application format. Template: first appeal. For drafting an appeal under Section 19(1). PIO reply after DPDP Rules, 2025. On how a Public Information Officer is to reply when personal information is involved. All sample RTI applications. The full index. Sources The Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 19. The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005, Central Government. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, Section 44(3). Last reviewed on 19 April 2026"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:illegal-construction","t":"Illegal Construction","d":"There may be situations where you will find that a public land is encroached upon and new constructions are started.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/illegal-construction","x":"RTI Application for Illegal Construction Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. There may be situations where you will find that a public land is encroached upon and new constructions are started. Sometimes, the landlord or promoter of a Housing Scheme starts constructing additional floors, without the knowledge and consent of flat owners. RTI can be used effectively to obtain mandatory documents required for such constructions, based on following sample. Use application format if prescribed under RTI Rules applicable to the public authority. \\\\ \\\\ For illegal Construction of Additional Floors To\\\\ \\\\ The Public Information Officer \\\\ [Name of Public Authority] \\\\ [ Full Address ] \\\\ [Pin Code] \\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act.\\\\ \\\\ Sir, \\\\ \\\\ Please supply me the following information with respect to proposed construction / construction works being carried out at below mentioned property: Details of Property/ construction: \\\\ \\\\ Building name:\\\\ Plot No:\\\\ City survey No:\\\\ Ward No:\\\\ Street No:\\\\ Name of landlord:\\\\ \\\\ Particulars of Information sought: \\\\ \\\\ [1] Certified copy of the Sanctioned building plan with respect to the ongoing construction / proposed construction / additional construction in existing building at above detailed plot / address.\\\\ \\\\ [2] Certified copy of the sanctioned building plan with respect to the ongoing construction works / proposed construction / additional construction beyond Ground+1 floor, if sanctioned by your public authority.\\\\ \\\\ [3] Inform me the name, designation and office address of officers and subordinate staff who verified the parameters of the ongoing construction / proposed construction / additional construction plan, specifically with respect to permissible FSI, Floor plan and structural strength of the existing building to bear the additional load.\\\\ \\\\ [4] certified copy of sanction letter and FSI permitted.\\\\ \\\\ [5] certified copy of commencement letter for the construction of buildings.\\\\ \\\\ [6] certified copy of sanction accorded for construction beyond G+1 (2nd floor onward).\\\\ \\\\ [7] certified copy of the building bylaws or building regulations or any such other document indicating the provision to permit construction beyond 2nd floor in"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:income-tax","t":"RTI Application for income tax refund status","d":"Guide for applicants. The procedure, fee, and appeal path. Template: first RTI application. A general-purpose format. All sample RTI applications.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/income-tax","x":"RTI Application for income tax refund status Drafting notes. This sample is for the status of the applicant's own income tax refund claim. The Income Tax Department is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Frame the request around the applicant's own file and the decision record, not around named officers, to reduce the chance of refusal under Section 8(1)(j) as amended on 14 November 2025. Format [sample application] Related Guide for applicants. The procedure, fee, and appeal path. Template: first RTI application. A general-purpose format. All sample RTI applications. The full index. Sources The Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 6(1), 7, 8(1)(j), and 19. The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005, Central Government. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, Section 44(3). Last reviewed on 19 April 2026"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:irctc","t":"RTI Application for IRCTC refund status","d":"Guide for applicants. The procedure, fee, and appeal path. Template: first RTI application. A general-purpose format. All sample RTI applications.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/irctc","x":"RTI Application for IRCTC refund status Drafting notes. This sample is for the status of the applicant's own refund claim on a ticket booked through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited. IRCTC is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The request relates to the applicant's own ticket record and is normally not exempt under Section 8(1)(j). Format [sample application] Related Guide for applicants. The procedure, fee, and appeal path. Template: first RTI application. A general-purpose format. All sample RTI applications. The full index. Sources The Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 6(1), 7, and 19. The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005, Central Government. Last reviewed on 19 April 2026"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:land-mutation","t":"Land Mutation","d":"A sample RTI for land mutation delays — use the First RTI template and adapt.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/land-mutation","x":"Land Mutation {htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords (rti sample guide applicant application sample land-mutation) metatag-description (A sample RTI for land mutation delays — use the First RTI template and adapt.)} A sample RTI for land mutation delays — use the First RTI template and adapt. Continue to: guide / applicant / application / sample / start for the current index and related templates. Copy-paste the first RTI template File RTI online — 12-step 2026 guide RTI Rules Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:lpg-delay","t":"Lpg Delay","d":"Often the LPG Refill is not supplied by the distributor company for long duration.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/lpg-delay","x":"RTI Application for LPG Refill Delay Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. Often the LPG Refill is not supplied by the distributor company for long duration. Mostly such distributors expect the consumer to collect the LPG Refill form their shop, though they may be availing charges for home delivery. With online booking, even the distributor's outlet do not pick up phone. You will become helpless. You can file RTI Application with the CPIO of concerned Oil Company and seek information as below: To \\\\ \\\\ The Central Public Information\\\\ ............. Petroleum Corporation Ltd\\\\ …............(Full address) \\\\ PIN Code…………. \\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act. \\\\ \\\\ Sir, \\\\ \\\\ Please supply me the following information: \\\\ \\\\ Details of LPG Connection: \\\\ \\\\ Name of LPG Distributor: M/s …....…….\\\\ Address of LPG Distributor:\\\\ My Consumer No. ..................... \\\\ Address of Consumer: ..............\\\\ \\\\ Particulars of information required \\\\ \\\\ [1] Kindly supply me certified copy of ‘Dealership Agreement’ executed by and between M/s …………………………………………… (Indane/HP/BP - Agency name) , for distribution of Indane/HP/BP LPG cylinders, including Terms & Conditions as well as Services and facilities required to be provided by the Dealer to the consumers / Customers. [2] Kindly supply me List showing (a) Consumer No., (b) Date of Booking, [c] Date of Delivery & (d) Bill/Cash Memo number and date, of all Domestic use Indane/HP/BP LPG Cylinders booked and delivered by M/s …………………… (Agency name) , from ………………to …………………….. (this period is 2 days before your date of booking and one day after you received delivery or actual date of filing RTI Application, if refill is not received) [3] Kindly supply me date-wise quantity (in number of cylinders) of Indane/HP/BP domestic use LPG cylinders supplied by Indane/HP/BP to M/s ………………………… (Agency name) , from ……………to …………… (this period is 2 days before your date of booking and one day after you received delivery or actual date of filing RTI Application, if refill is not received) [4] Kindly supply me list showing date-wise Home Delivery as well as Cash"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:marksheet","t":"RTI Application for marksheet verification","d":"Guide for applicants. The procedure, fee, and appeal path. Template: first RTI application. A general-purpose first-application format.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/marksheet","x":"RTI Application for marksheet verification Drafting notes. This sample is for verifying one's own marksheet with the issuing University. The University is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The request is for the applicant's own academic record and is normally straightforward. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. Format [sample application] Related Guide for applicants. The procedure, fee, and appeal path. Template: first RTI application. A general-purpose first-application format. All sample RTI applications. The full index. Sources The Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 6(1), 7, and 19. The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005, Central Government. Last reviewed on 19 April 2026"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:missing-file-record","t":"Missing File Record","d":"In a large number of cases, when information is sought under RTI, the Public Information Officers evade to supply information under the plea that the concerned...","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/missing-file-record","x":"RTI Application for Missing File or Record Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. In a large number of cases, when information is sought under RTI, the Public Information Officers evade to supply information under the plea that the concerned file or record is/are \"missing\" or \"not traceable\". Unless proved that record was destroyed as per the prescribed record continueso / retention the policy, it is deemed that record continues to be held by public authority. Claim of file “missing” or “not traceable” has no legality as it is not recognized as exception by RTI Act. Such contention of ‘missing file’ cannot be read into as exception in adthe dition to exceptions prescribed by RTI Act. It amounts to breach of Public Records Act, 1993 and punishable with imprisonment up to a term of five years or with fine or both. Public Authority has a duty to initiate action for this kind of loss of public record, in the form of ‘not traceable’ or ‘missing’. The Public Authority also has a duty to designate an officer as Records Officer and protect the records. A thorough search for the file, inquiry to find out public servant responsible, disciplinary action and action under Public Records Act, reconstruction of alternative file, relief to the person affected by the loss of file are the basic actions the Public Authority is legitimately expected to perform. In such cases, the Applicant must submit first appeal before the designated First Appellate Authority on above grounds. Simultaneously, applicant / appellant can file another RTI Application with same PIO as per following sample – BY SPEED POST To The Public Information Officer\\\\ [ Name of Public Authority]\\\\ [ Full Address ] \\\\ [Pin Code]\\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act.\\\\ \\\\ Sir,\\\\ \\\\ I had filed RTI Application dt .... and sought certified copy of .......... . You have decided the same vide communication dated ........ and advised that the concerned ‘record / file is missing’. Copy of your communication dated ...... is enclosed herewith for ready reference. In this"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:mla-fund","t":"RTI Application for MPLAD Funds","d":"The Rajya Sabha Members of Parliament can recommend works in one or more districts in the State from where he/she has been elected.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/mla-fund","x":"RTI Application for MPLAD Funds Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Division is entrusted with the responsibility of implementation of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). Under the scheme, each MP has the choice to suggest to the District Collector for, works to the tune of Rs.5 Crores per annum to be taken up in his/her constituency. The Rajya Sabha Members of Parliament can recommend works in one or more districts in the State from where he/she has been elected. The Nominated Members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha may select any District in the Country for implementation of their choice of work under the scheme. The Department has issued the guidelines on Scheme Concept, implementation, and monitoring. The Department has initiated all necessary steps to ensure that the scheme is successfully implemented in the field. The new experimental site of MPLAD is A normal tendency is to stagger the recommendations on the last year of the term. Also those District which has not released the Utilisation Certificate (UC) of the previous works, new works under MPLAD cannot be taken up. Thus many MPs complaint to State Government and to Central Government about non utilisation of previous works. This sample will effectively help you in knowing the recommendations of MP for work, whether the work has been undertaken by the District, and what is the stage of the work. If you have any queries regarding filing RTI Application, you can go ahead at our forums and request assistance from our community. Format for the RTI Application To, Public Information Officer,\\\\ Office of the District Planning Officer,\\\\ District Collectorate,\\\\ [Name of the District],\\\\ [Full Address]\\\\ Subject: Information under Right to Information Act 2005 Dated: [Enter the Date of RTI Application] Dear Sir, Kindly furnish information with regard to MPLAD Works recommended by Hon'ble MP and executed by your District authority: Name of Hon'ble MP: [ MP Name] Name of Constituency: [Constituency Name] Nodal District: [Nodal District under MPLAD] Implementing District Name: [Name of District implementing"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:mplad","t":"Mplad","d":"A sample RTI for MPLAD funds — use the First RTI template and adapt.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/mplad","x":"Mplad {htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords (rti sample guide applicant application sample mplad) metatag-description (A sample RTI for MPLAD funds — use the First RTI template and adapt.)} A sample RTI for MPLAD funds — use the First RTI template and adapt. Continue to: guide / applicant / application / sample / start for the current index and related templates. Copy-paste the first RTI template File RTI online — 12-step 2026 guide RTI Rules Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:occupancy-certificate","t":"RTI Application for Occupancy Certificate","d":"The Occupancy Certificate is issued to the Builder / Developer of the project. Copy of Occupancy Certificate must be supplied to the purchaser by the builder /...","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/occupancy-certificate","x":"RTI Application for Occupancy Certificate Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. The Occupancy Certificate is issued to the Builder / Developer of the project. Copy of Occupancy Certificate must be supplied to the purchaser by the builder / developer. At the time of purchase, you may forget to demand this important document. Completion Certificate is an important condition precedent for issuing Occupancy Certificate. If the construction is not completed in accordance with the building regulations and standards, the Authorities may decline Occupancy Certificate to the Builder. If the builder is reluctant to produce or supply this document on demand, you can obtain it from the Municipal authorities or the Development Agency by filing RTI Application as below. To\\\\ \\\\ The Public Information Officer \\\\ Building Proposal Department, \\\\ Municipal Corporation \\\\ Full address \\\\ PIN ………….\\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act. \\\\ \\\\ Sir,\\\\ \\\\ Please supply me the following information in respect of Real Estate / Housing / Building Project mentioned below: \\\\ \\\\ Details of Real Estate/Housing/Building Project. \\\\ \\\\ Real Estate/Housing/Building Project Name: ………….\\\\ Address of the Property : …………………\\\\ Survey No/CTS No/ Khasra no: ………………\\\\ Name & address of Builder/Developer : ………………\\\\ \\\\ Particulars of information required \\\\ \\\\ [1] Certified copy of the Occupancy Certificate issued by your public authority in respect of the housing scheme mentioned above.\\\\ \\\\ [2] In case the Occupancy Certificate is not yet issued, then please supply me Certified copy of application along with all supporting documents as submitted by builder M/s ……………………………… seeking Occupancy Certificate with respect to above property.\\\\ \\\\ [3] Certified copy of Completion Certificate submitted by Builder's architect stating that construction has been completed according to the standards set forth in the IOD and CC.\\\\ \\\\ [4] Note sheet indicating notings by various officials and decision of competent authority on application submitted by Builder M/s ……………………………… seeking Occupancy Certificate.\\\\ \\\\ [5] In case file is not moved or decision is not initiated on the application submitted by builder M/s ……………………………… seeking occupation certificate in respect"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:owner-land","t":"Owner Land","d":"INSPECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF LAND RECORDS: \\\\ \\\\ There are often queries about getting access to records of ancestral properties left decades ago.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/owner-land","x":"RTI Application for Land Records Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. INSPECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF LAND RECORDS: \\\\ \\\\ There are often queries about getting access to records of ancestral properties left decades ago. Most such contentions are that the great-grandfather or grandfather owned considerable land property in native village and for many decades grandfather and father are residing in city in connection with service or profession and after fathers’ death, the children want to locate ancestral property fell to the share of deceased father.\\\\ \\\\ In a different situation, when you want to purchase some agricultural land out of the city to build a farm-house for the weekend stay, the revenue official impose a condition that agricultural land can be sold only to an agriculturist. The revenue officer may tell you to find out if there is some ancestral land at your native place and if so, bring the copy of the Record of Right or the 7/12 Extract etc.\\\\ \\\\ It is here that you start for locating details of your ancestral property. Ancestral land might be spread over a number of villages. You must gather names of all villages. You must be aware of names of your ancestors of that period. Else, you must find out names of your grandfather and your forefathers and if possible names of their brothers and sisters. It will be easy if you could get old land records available to any of your family members.\\\\ \\\\ After gathering the above information, you may visit Tahsildar office ( or Taluka Inspector of Land Records - TILR) and inspect the entire land records of that village. If the land records of your village are available from any oldest date, you have to search land record from that date. You can identify the land details from names of ancestors from the Record of Rights. You can cross verify these details from Tax Register, Heirship Cases Register which indicate the name(s) of deceased landholder and his heirs, who are your ancestors in lien. Cross verification is required since a village"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:ownership-vehicle","t":"RTI Application for Ownership of Vehicle","d":"In most states, there is a prescribed procedure for obtaining Registration Particulars of motor vehicles from the office of Regional Transport Officer where...","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/ownership-vehicle","x":"RTI Application for Ownership of Vehicle Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. In most states, there is a prescribed procedure for obtaining Registration Particulars of motor vehicles from the office of Regional Transport Officer where the vehicle is registered, by making an application in prescribed Application Format and remitting prescribed fee. This procedure is simple and faster to get registration particulars of the vehicle in question in a day or two, which shall contain name and address of registered owner of the vehicle. It is also possible to obtain Registration Particulars of vehicle by filing RTI Application with the Public Information Officer in office of concerned Regional Transport Office, where the vehicle is registered and seek: To The Public Information Officer \\\\ Regional Transport Office \\\\ …............(Full address) \\\\ PIN Code…………. \\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act. \\\\ \\\\ Sir, \\\\ \\\\ Please supply me the following information in respect of Motor Vehicle mentioned below:\\\\ \\\\ Details of Motor Vehicle \\\\ \\\\ Vehicle Registration No. .....................\\\\ \\\\ Particulars of information required \\\\ \\\\ [1] Please supply me the certified copy of the Registration Particulars / Details of Vehicle Registration No. ………………. \\\\ \\\\ I am attaching Application Fee Rs.10/- by way of ........................ \\\\ \\\\ Please send the information to my below address by Registered post. \\\\ \\\\ Yours faithfully,\\\\ \\\\ Signature \\\\ Name ……………… \\\\ Address …………… \\\\ Pin Code .........\\\\ Date: \\\\ \\\\ [ Check the Application Format (if any) and mode of payment of Application Fee from the Centre-State RTI Rules applicable to the public authority ] When the name and address of vehicle owner is required in connection with serious accident involving the said vehicle, the information can be sought and is required to be supplied under Life or Liberty clause within 48 hours. Kindly refer CIC decision in this link: Vehicle Owner Details under Life or Liberty clause Related Guide for applicants. The procedure, fee, and appeal path. Template: first RTI application. A general-purpose first-application format. Template: first appeal. For drafting an appeal under"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:passport","t":"Passport","d":"A sample RTI for passport delays — use the First RTI template and adapt.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/passport","x":"Passport {htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords (rti sample guide applicant application sample passport) metatag-description (A sample RTI for passport delays — use the First RTI template and adapt.)} A sample RTI for passport delays — use the First RTI template and adapt. Continue to: guide / applicant / application / sample / start for the current index and related templates. Copy-paste the first RTI template File RTI online — 12-step 2026 guide RTI Rules Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:passport-delays","t":"RTI Application for Passport Delay","d":"RTI Application shall be addressed to The Public Information Officer of the jurisdictional Superintendent of Police (Special Branch","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/passport-delays","x":"RTI Application for Passport Delay Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. While writing an RTI Application include the following in your application RTI Application shall be addressed to The Public Information Officer of the jurisdictional Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) or (Passport Branch) dealing with Passport Verification Process and seek the following information: ( Please use RTI Application format, if any, prescribed in your State RTI Rules for submitting RTI request ) By Speed Post To The Public Information Officer, .... full address My passport application details: 1. Name of the Applicant : _____ 2. Passport Application Number : _____ 3. Passport Office : _____ 4. Application Submission Date : _____ I have applied for passport and document verification process completed on ............ Passport Application bearing No. ............. has thereafter been sent for police verification. On line passport status of Passport Office, indicates that the police verification report is still awaited by Regional Passport Office, .......... In this connection, please supply me following information with respect to Police Verification in respect of passport application No. ……………………… submitted by me i.e. Sh. ……………, R/o ………………….. in Regional Passport Office, ………………. [1] Names, designations and office addresses of the officials with whom, the said Passport Application is/was lying since its date of receipt in your office & date wise period with each official & details of action taken by him/her. [2] Name, designation and office address of the police official entrusted with the verification of passport application No. …………….. submitted by me. [3] Date on which the designated/assigned police official verified the antecedents of the passport applicant with respect of passport application No. ……………… [4] Certified copy of note sheets indicating file notings by various officials and the decision of competent authority with respect to the police verification on the said passport application No. ……………………… [5] Certified copy of Rules, regulations, notifications, circulars, Govt Resolutions, Policy, Code, Ordinance, Office Memorandum, Instructions, or Guidelines or any such other document, stipulating the designations of persons who shall handle passport application from the date of its receipt for the"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:pension","t":"RTI Application for Pension","d":"Please check the mode of payment of RTI Application Fee and Application Format (if any","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/pension","x":"RTI Application for Pension Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. To\\\\ \\\\ The Public Information Officer\\\\ Name of the Public Authority \\\\ Full Address\\\\ Pin Code\\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act .\\\\ \\\\ Sir,\\\\ \\\\ I retired from your organisation as ........... on superannuation. I am entitled to receive pension. I have submitted necessary pension papers along with all relevant documents, including pension bank account in the month of .................. However, pension is not yet sanctioned in my case. Therefore, I seek following information under Right to Information Act with respect to my pending pension case. My pension application details: Full Name : \\\\ Staff No./PF No.: \\\\ Designation: \\\\ Date of Superannuation : \\\\ Unit from which retired: \\\\ Office where pension papers submitted: \\\\ Details of information sought: [1] please supply me certified copy of Note sheet indicating notings by various officials and decision of competent authority on my pension application dated ............... [2] please supply me certified copies of all file notings and decisions thereon indicating reasons for not granting pension till date. [3] please supply me certified copies of all correspondence with Finance / Accounts department with respect to my pension case. [4] Please supply me certified copy of assessment sheet indicating my qualified service entitled for pension. [5] Please supply me certified copy of assessment sheet indicating my non-qualified service, not entitled for pension. [6] please supply me certified copy of Citizens' Charter of your public authority indicating the time frame by which my Pension Pay Order (PPO) shall be issued to me, superannuated on ______. [7] please supply me certified copy of instructions and guidelines indicating normal period within which the employer department is required to sanction pension, after superannuation of an employee. [8] Please inform me the date by which my pension was required to be settled in accordance with the instructions and guidelines in vogue. [9] Please inform me the amount of pensionary benefits such as commutation value, gratuity, leave salary, Group Insurance, monthly pension and such other benefits due and"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:pf-withdrawal","t":"Pf Withdrawal","d":"A sample RTI for PF withdrawal delays — use the First RTI template and adapt.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/pf-withdrawal","x":"Pf Withdrawal {htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords (rti sample guide applicant application sample pf-withdrawal) metatag-description (A sample RTI for PF withdrawal delays — use the First RTI template and adapt.)} A sample RTI for PF withdrawal delays — use the First RTI template and adapt. Continue to: guide / applicant / application / sample / start for the current index and related templates. Copy-paste the first RTI template File RTI online — 12-step 2026 guide RTI Rules Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:ration-card-delay","t":"Ration Card Delay","d":"##Check Application Format and mode of payment of RTI Application Fee from Centre/State RTI Rules","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/ration-card-delay","x":"RTI Application for Ration Card Delay Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. To The Public Information Officer \\\\ District Civil Supply Office \\\\ …............(Full address) \\\\ PIN Code…………. \\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) read with proviso below Section-7(1) of RTI Act. \\\\ \\\\ Sir, \\\\ \\\\ Please supply me the following information under Life or Liberty proviso in respect of Ration Card Application details mentioned below: \\\\ \\\\ Details of Ration Card Application: \\\\ \\\\ NFS Application ID/Online Citizen ID No. .....................\\\\ Date of Application : ……………………..\\\\ Name of Family Head: ………………….\\\\ Full address : …………………………….\\\\ \\\\ Particulars of information required: \\\\ \\\\ [1] certified copy of the note sheet indicating notings by various officials and decision of competent authority on my application dated ................ submitted to ................ for issue of Ration Card for my family consisting myself, my wife, ...... children. [2] In case no action is taken till today, please inform me the name, designation and office address of the officer(s) responsible to take action and issue Ration Card in response to the application referred in sr.no.(1) above. [3] Certified copy of the rules/regulations/circulars/policy/notifications/ government resolution or any such document including the Citizen Charter which stipulates the time limit within which an application for issuance of Ration Card shall be required to be decided by the authority concerned. [4] In case the Ration Card is sanctioned and endorsed to a Ration Shop, please inform me the Name and address of the Ration Shop including its registration No/Licence No., where I am able to get the Ration Card and able to draw Ration periodically. I am attaching Application Fee Rs.10/- by way of ......................## \\\\ \\\\ Please note that as per Central Information Commission decision dated 24/03/14 (Kausalya Vs Food & Supply Dept, GNCTD, file No. CIC/AD/A/2012/ 003135-SA & Ors) information about ration card is held to be information’ relating to life OR liberty as enumerated in proviso below section-7(1), and hence, information shall be supplied within forty eight hours. Please send the information to my below address by Registered"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:rc-book-delay","t":"Rc Book Delay","d":"Please check the mode of payment of RTI Application Fee and Application Format (if any","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/rc-book-delay","x":"RTI Application for RC Book Delay Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. To\\\\ \\\\ The Public Information Officer\\\\ Regional Transport Officer/Authority \\\\ Full Address\\\\ Pin Code\\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act .\\\\ \\\\ Sir,\\\\ \\\\ Kindly supply following information with respect to RC Book of my Vehicle detailed below: Vehicle Registration details: Vehicle Registration No.: \\\\ Name & address of Owner : \\\\ Name of RTO : \\\\ Details of information sought: [1] Date of Registration of Vehicle No. ................. and the date of dispatch of RC book to the Registered Owner by your public authority. [2] Speed Post Receipt number and date under which the RC Book was dispatched to the registered owner. [3] Address of the registered owner to which the RC Book was dispatched by your public authority. [4] In case the RC book is not delivered, but returned to your public authority, please inform me the name, designation and mobile number of the Officer(s) and staff who should be contacted for taking delivery of the RC book. [5] In case the RC book is not prepared and dispatched to the registered owner till this date, please inform me the name of officer(s) and staff responsible to prepare and dispatch the RC book to the registered owner, but failed to do so. [6] Certified copy of the citizen charter or any other such document stipulating the minimum time limit within which the vehicle RC book is required to be prepared and disptched to the registered owner. [7] Supply me the copy of rules, regulations, circulars, GR, notifications or any such other document stipulating the provisions and method for obtaining the RC book, if the same is not delivered to the Registered owner even after reasonable period of 5 months from the date of registration. Application Fee of Rs..... is remitted as under (strike out which is not applicable): [a] Paid by Challan and copy attached. \\\\ [b] Pasted Court Fee Stamp for Rs...... \\\\ [c] Attached IPO for Rs.10/- payable to the Accounts Officer, ........... ."},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:road-work","t":"Road Work","d":"Bad roads are attributable to different causes. One of the main causes in bad riding is improper maintenance by public authorities such as NHAI in case of...","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/road-work","x":"RTI Application for Road Works Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. Bad roads are attributable to different causes. One of the main causes in bad riding is improper maintenance by public authorities such as NHAI in case of National Highways, State PWD in case of State Highways and major roads, Municipal Corporation / Municipality for roads within municipal limits, Gram Panchayat for Rural Roads etc. Another reason for bad road is substandard asphalting work resulting in battered road surface and asphalting layer. Another cause is road cutting or digging work undertaken by various agencies like State Electricity Boards or Power Distribution Companies for laying electric cables, telephone/Mobile operators for laying communication cables, private parties for laying or crossing water and sewerage pipelines. On completion of these works, these agencies do not fill up the pits properly or do not bituminize / cement the cut/digged surface. For all these aspects, separate RTI Applications are required to be filed before the concerned public authority. Sample for improper road maintenance To\\\\ \\\\ The Public Information Officer\\\\ Name of the Public Authority \\\\ Full Address\\\\ Pin Code\\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act .\\\\ \\\\ Sir,\\\\ \\\\ Please supply me following information under Right to Information Act with respect to bad conditions of road. Details of road about which information is required: Road Name : \\\\ Road Stretch: from ......... to ............ and/or any portion of road, inclusive of stretch of road from ......... to ...........\\\\ Area / locality \\\\ Period of information: From ........ to ......... \\\\ \\\\ Details of information sought: [1] please supply me certified list of maintenance and/or repair works carried out through contractual agency, in respect of road stretch and period mentioned above. [2] please supply me certified copy of work orders issued / contracts awarded along with schedule of work, sanctioned detailed estimate, approved drawing/sketch in respect of maintenance and/or repair work of the road stretch during period mentioned above. [3] Certified copies of Measurement Books wherein the measurement with respect to each of the work order /"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:rti-application-for-foreign-tour-details","t":"Rti Application For Foreign Tour Details","d":"I am attaching IPO for Rs.10/- payable to the Accounts Officer, …………. payable at ……….. towards RTI Application Fee.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/rti-application-for-foreign-tour-details","x":"RTI Application for Foreign Tour Details Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. To\\\\ \\\\ The Public Information Officer\\\\ Name of the Public Authority \\\\ Full Address\\\\ Pin Code\\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act .\\\\ \\\\ Sir,\\\\ \\\\ Please supply me following information under Right to Information Act with respect to official Foreign Tour conducted by Mr ........ Designation ............Office ............ Unit ....... Details of Foreign Tour about which information is required: Name of officer visited abroad on official duty:........ \\\\ Year of visit : ............. \\\\ Period of information: From ........ to ......... \\\\ Details of information sought: [1] Certified copy of the approved tour programme(s) for journey(s) to foreign country(s) carried out by Mr ................ Designation .................... working in office of ............................ during the period mentioned herein above. [2] Certified copy of the flight/ship ticket(s) submitted by the officer for claiming air-fares / ship fares for the above approved journey(s). [3] In case air/ship fares are not claimed by the above official, please inform the mode of transport used by the above mentioned official for travelling to foreign country(s). [4] Certified copy of the letter sanctioning ex-India Leave, including ex-India Leave sanctioned and availed at country of official visit in continuation of official journey by Mr ............. Designation ........ during the year ......... [5] Please inform me the period of ex-India leave sanctioned to and availed by Mr ........ Designation ...... during the year ............ [6] Certified copy of the Record Notes of Tour / visit to foreign country(s) by Mr ............. Designation ........ during the year ............... [7] Certified copy of the minutes of various official meetings Mr ............ Design ............. or his entourage held with officials of Govt of ........, and or Govt of the various Provinces/States of that country and / or Major business / commercial / scientific entities at that country during official visit to that country. [8] Certified list of agreement(s) and/or memorandum of understanding(s) or any such other instruments signed between Govt of India and/or instrumentalities of the State in India and"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:rti-application-on-issues-referred-by-mp","t":"Rti Application On Issues Referred By Mp","d":"You may have occasion to refer important public issues or personal grievances to Hon'ble Member of Parliaments for their intervention.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/rti-application-on-issues-referred-by-mp","x":"RTI Application on Issues referred by MP Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. You may have occasion to refer important public issues or personal grievances to Hon'ble Member of Parliaments for their intervention. They rightly raise such issues to the concerned public authority for suitable action and reporting feedback to concerned citizen directly. If you don't get any feedback from the public authority within a reasonable period, say one month or so, you can file RTI Application with the CPIO or SPIO of the concerned public authority as per following sample and get information. There are other issues pertaining to your elected representatives, on which you can seek information from concerned public authorities - Member of Parliament To\\\\ \\\\ The Central/State Public Information Officer\\\\ Name of Public Authority\\\\ Full Address of the Public Authority\\\\ Pin Code\\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1)of RTI Act. \\\\ \\\\ Sir, \\\\ \\\\ Please supply me the following information regarding communication(s) received by your public authority from Hon'ble MP Shri. ............. with regard to ...............(subject matter of your issue or memorandum / representation), in respect of Mr ..........(your name).\\\\ \\\\ Subject matter of information: ​Memorandum / Representation submitted through Hon'ble MP Shri. .............. regarding ........................... in respect of ..................\\\\ \\\\ Particulars of information sought: \\\\ \\\\ [1] Certified copy/copies of the communication(s) received by your public authority from Hon'ble MP Shri. ............. with regard to ...............(subject matter of your memorandum), in respect of Mr ..........(your name). [2] certified copy of note sheet indicating notings by various officials and decision of competent authority with respect to communication referred to above, from Hon'ble MP Shri................. [3] Certified copy of investigation report or feedback obtained with respect to the issues raised in the memorandum received by your office along with communication / representation referred to above, from Hon'ble MP Shri................. [4] Certified copy of letter, directions and/or instructions issued to concerned authority / subordinate office as a follow up action based on communication referred to above, from Hon'ble MP Shri................. [5] In case no action is taken on the communication"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:rti-form-marathi","t":"Sample RTI form in Marathi","d":"Sample RTI form in Marathi. Part of the RTI Wiki reference for India's Right to Information Act, 2005.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/rti-form-marathi","x":"Sample RTI form in Marathi Drafting notes. A downloadable sample RTI application form in Marathi, suitable as a starting-point for Marathi-speaking applicants. Customise every field before filing. See Guide for applicants for the procedure, fee, and appeal path. For the post-14-November-2025 drafting considerations on personal information, see the practitioner note. Download Related Guide for applicants. The procedure, fee, and appeal path. Template: first RTI application. A general-purpose format in English. All sample RTI applications. The full index. Sources The Right to Information Act, 2005 (No. 22 of 2005). The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005, Central Government. Last reviewed on 19 April 2026"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:scholarship","t":"RTI Application for scholarship status","d":"Guide for applicants. The procedure, fee, and appeal path. Template: first RTI application. A general-purpose format. All sample RTI applications.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/scholarship","x":"RTI Application for scholarship status Drafting notes. This sample is for status of the applicant's own (or the applicant's child's) scholarship application. A request about another student's scholarship engages Section 8(1)(j) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 as amended on 14 November 2025 and is more readily refused. See the practitioner note on the amendment for the test. Ask for documents, not opinions. Format [sample application] Related Guide for applicants. The procedure, fee, and appeal path. Template: first RTI application. A general-purpose format. All sample RTI applications. The full index. Sources The Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 6(1), 7, 8(1)(j), 10, and 19. The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005, Central Government. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, Section 44(3). Last reviewed on 19 April 2026"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:scholarship-delay","t":"Scholarship Delay","d":"Large number of queries are raised regarding inordinate delay in sanction of Scholarship.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/scholarship-delay","x":"RTI Application for Scholarship Delay Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. Large number of queries are raised regarding inordinate delay in sanction of Scholarship. Now that the process is online, but the authorities both at college level as well as at Nodal Agency level fail to update the details of the student such as marks scored in previous examination and/or other mandatory information, causing hold up or abnormal delay. In such situation, it is necessary to submit a representation narrating the issues to the concerned officer at State Education Department or Nodal Agency for Scholarships as well as to the concerned University /college with a request to grant scholarship immediately. If no action is taken within 30 days' time, please file RTI application before the concerned Public Information Officer of Education Department or Nodal Agency for Scholarships as also University (*separately) and seek following information: To The Public Information Officer \\\\ *Education Department \\\\ …............(Full address) \\\\ PIN Code…………. \\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) read with proviso below Section-7(1) of RTI Act. \\\\ \\\\ Sir, \\\\ \\\\ Please supply me the following information in respect of Scholarship Application details mentioned below: \\\\ \\\\ Details of Scholarship Application \\\\ \\\\ Application ID ...............\\\\ Student Registration ID \\\\ Date of Application : ………………………\\\\ Name of College: ………………………….\\\\ Name of Course : …………………………\\\\ Year and Semester: .............\\\\ District : ……………………………………\\\\ State ..................\\\\ \\\\ Particulars of information required \\\\ \\\\ [1] certified copy of the Note sheet indicating notings by various officers and decision of competent authority on my representation dated ............... regarding grant of scholarship to me. [2] If no action is taken and no decision is taken on my representation dated ......, please inform me the name, designation and office address of the Officer(s) and staff responsible for taking action on my representation dated ............... regarding grant of scholarship to me. [3] please inform me the normal time required for taking decision on my representation dated ..... regarding grant of scholarship to me, based on citizen charger of your public authority. [4] Please"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:service-record","t":"RTI Application for service record of a Government employee","d":"Guide for applicants. The procedure, fee, and appeal path. Template: first RTI application. A general-purpose format. Annual Confidential Report.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/service-record","x":"RTI Application for service record of a Government employee Drafting notes. This sample is for a Government employee seeking copies of his or her own service record. A request for another employee's service record engages Section 8(1)(j) as amended on 14 November 2025 and is more readily refused. For the applicant's own service record, the file is a personal record and the Public Information Officer is ordinarily required to disclose. Format [sample application] Related Guide for applicants. The procedure, fee, and appeal path. Template: first RTI application. A general-purpose format. Annual Confidential Report. Concept note on the ACR. All sample RTI applications. The full index. Sources The Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 6(1), 7, 8(1)(j), and 19. The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005, Central Government. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, Section 44(3). Last reviewed on 19 April 2026"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:start","t":"Sample RTI applications","d":"A compilation of sample Right to Information applications for common subjects. Each sample is a drafting starting-point.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/start","x":"Sample RTI applications If your RTI was rejected. See Why RTI Applications Get Rejected in India — and How to Avoid It. Five reasons, the exact fix for each, and two case studies. A compilation of sample Right to Information applications for common subjects. Each sample is a drafting starting-point. Customise every line for your matter before filing. For the procedure, fee, timelines, and appeal path that apply to every application, see Guide for applicants. Drafting principles. Ask for documents, not opinions. The Right to Information Act gives access to existing records, not to reasons or assessments a public authority has not recorded. Phrase each request as a demand for a certified copy or a factual status. Be specific. Include the file number, application reference number, or date range that lets the Public Information Officer identify the record in one step. Keep each request to one numbered sub-paragraph. A first application with clear sub-paragraphs is easier to dispose than one with one long paragraph. After 14 November 2025, requests that seek information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Frame such requests around a public interest ground if one exists. See the practitioner note on the amendment for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. Samples by subject New to RTI? File your first application in ten minutes. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 Step-by-Step Guide with a ready-to-use English and Hindi template, the Rs 10 online fee flow, and the appeal path. Related Guide for applicants. The procedure that governs every application. Template: first RTI application. A general-purpose format. PIO reply after DPDP Rules, 2025. How a Public Information Officer is to reply when personal information is involved. RTI Rules. Central and State fee structures and application formats. Sources The Right to Information Act, 2005 (No. 22 of 2005). The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005, Central Government. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (No. 22 of 2023), Section 44(3). Last reviewed on 19 April 2026"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:tender","t":"RTI Application for Tender Documents","d":"\\\\ As per CVC directives, details of concluded tenders are required to be uploaded on official website of the public authority concerned.","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/tender","x":"RTI Application for Tender Documents Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. TENDER DOCUMENTS \\\\ As per CVC directives, details of concluded tenders are required to be uploaded on official website of the public authority concerned. You can access details of such concluded tenders from its website. If the public authority didn't upload such details, you can file RTI Application with the concerned PIO of that public authority and seek information pertaining to concluded tenders. An ordinary citizen may not have the details and nomenclature of tender works awarded by a particular public authority. It would therefore be necessary to ascertain the details of all works tenders invited and finalized by the public authority, for which Letter of Acceptance issued as also the works executed, being executed and pending for execution. Tender related information is voluminous. Therefore, it is advisable to obtain the list of all works for which tender acceptance issued by the public authority as also the copy of Tender Acceptance Letter issued to successful bidder by filing First RTI Application as per sample given below. On getting information from the PIO, from the list of works and the copy of acceptance letter, you can plan further course of action. Letter of Acceptance of Tender Offer, issued to the successful bidder shall contain many attributes like Cost of accepted tender, total completion period, special conditions, if any. You can pick up few works of your interest, from the list of works or Letters of Acceptance of Tender Offers or from the Contract Agreements and file second RTI Application as per sample below and seek specific documents pertaining to that particular tender. Remember, documents pertaining to a concluded Tender may contain 100 to 1000 pages, depending upon the nature of work. Therefore, before filing second RTI Application, you must select the work(s) with objectivity to serve specific purpose, such as - inordinate delay in completion of work and apathy of public authority in not enforcing penal clauses etc., thereby causing inconvenience to public. To The Public Information Officer\\\\ [ Name of Public Authority]\\\\ ["},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:sample:toll-collection","t":"Toll Collection","d":"Toll is collected based on a contract, which include the terms and conditions of issuance of Passes to the residents of nearby areas and toll charges fixed for...","u":"/guide/applicant/application/sample/toll-collection","x":"RTI Application for Toll Collection Drafting notes. This is a sample application. Customise each item before filing. See Guide for applicants for procedure, fee, and appeal path. After 14 November 2025, requests seeking information about a named individual engage Section 8(1)(j) as amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. See the practitioner note for the test the Public Information Officer must apply. Toll is collected based on a contract, which include the terms and conditions of issuance of Passes to the residents of nearby areas and toll charges fixed for various types of vehicles. Contracts are mostly for a specified period or collection of a particular amount to meet cost of construction, annuity charges, running maintenance cost and element of profit, during agreed maintenance period. But the agencies may continue to collect toll charges much beyond the agreed limits. There are cases, where the Agreement is for a specified period, but the cost of construction is collected within first one or two years, however, the agency continue to collect same Toll charges from citizens based on erroneous estimation and fixing of Toll Charges by the authorities regulating such Toll Collection. Therefore, in such cases, it is necessary for the public authority concerned to reassess and refix the toll charges so as to spread the collection to the agreed period, when time is the essence of that contract. Citizens paying Toll charges are entitled to know such details of the Contract as also the discrepancies or illegalities involved. Please prefer an RTI Application before the PIO of the authority granted the Contract and seek information as detailed below: To The Public Information Officer \\\\ Name of Public Authority \\\\ …............(Full address) \\\\ PIN Code…………. \\\\ \\\\ Sub: Request for information under Section-6(1) of RTI Act. \\\\ \\\\ Sir, \\\\ \\\\ Please supply me the following information in respect of Toll Collection at below mentioned Toll Naka \\\\ \\\\ Details of Toll Naka \\\\ \\\\ Toll Naka No. …………………...(if any)\\\\ Name of Toll Naka……………….\\\\ Road Location (Km of NH/SH)………..\\\\ Name of agency collecting Toll charges…….\\\\ \\\\ Particulars of information required \\\\ \\\\ [1] certified copy of the Contract Agreement between NHAI and M/s ..............(agency managing the Toll Naka) for collection of Toll at Toll Naka erected at ..........................(give full address of the Toll Naka) [2] Certified copy of the document indicating the calculations or estimation or assessment,"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:where-you-cannot-apply-rti","t":"Where You cannot get Information","d":"(See section 24","u":"/guide/applicant/application/where-you-cannot-apply-rti","x":"Where You cannot get Information THE SECOND SCHEDULE (See section 24) Act shall apply to the intelligence and security organisations specified in the Second Schedule, being organisations established by the Central Government, provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations shall not be excluded. Section 24: Act not to apply to certain organisations (1) Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the intelligence and security organisations specified in the Second Schedule, being organisations established by the Central Government or any information furnished by such organisations to that Government: Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations shall not be excluded under this sub-section: Provided further that in the case of information sought for is in respect of allegations of violation of human rights, the information shall only be provided after the approval of the Central Information Commission, and notwithstanding anything contained in section 7, such information shall be provided within forty-five days from the date of the receipt of request. (2) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, amend the Schedule by including therein any other intelligence or security organisation established by that Government or omitting therefrom any organisation already specified therein and on the publication of such notification, such organisation shall be deemed to be included in or, as the case may be, omitted from the Schedule. (3) Every notification issued under sub-section (2) shall be laid before each House of Parliament. (4) Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to such intelligence and security organisation being organisations established by the State Government, as that Government may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify: Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations shall not be excluded under this sub-section: Provided further that in the case of information sought for is in respect of allegations of violation of human rights, the information shall only be provided after the approval of the State Information Commission and, notwithstanding anything contained in section 7, such information shall be provided within forty-five days from the date of the receipt of request. (5) Every notification issued under sub-section (4) shall be laid before the State Legislature. List of Organisations Intelligence Bureau. Research and Analysis Wing of the Cabinet Secretariat. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. Central Economic Intelligence Bureau. Directorate of"},{"s":"guide:applicant:application:who-can-ask-information-rti","t":"Who can ask for information under Right to Information?","d":"For citizens, OCI's and PIO's who are staying out of India, the RTI Application can be filed with the PIO of the local Indian Embassy/Consulate/High Commission...","u":"/guide/applicant/application/who-can-ask-information-rti","x":"Who can ask for information under Right to Information? Any citizen can ask for information under these laws.The Act extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. OCI's (Overseas Citizens of India) and PIO's (Persons of Indian Origin) card holders can also ask for information under the RTI Act. For citizens, OCI's and PIO's who are staying out of India, the RTI Application can be filed with the PIO of the local Indian Embassy/Consulate/High Commission and they will inform you regarding the amount of application fee in local currency as well as the mode of payment. Some Important Pacts Regarding Who can obtain information under RTI: It is quite interesting to note that even though under Section 3 of the Act right of all citizens, to receive information, is statutorily recognised but Section 6 gives the said right to any person. Therefore, Section 6, in a sense, is wider in its ambit than Section 3. (Observed by Supreme Court of India: ) RTI Act does not define PERSON. However, The General Clauses Act, 1897 defines PERSON as Person\" shall include any company or association or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, \"Political Agent\" shall mean- In relation to any territory outside India, the Principal Officer, by whatever name called, representing the Central Government in such territory, and in relation to any territory within India to which the Act or Regulation containing the expression does not extend, any officer appointed by the Central Government to exercise all or any of the powers of a Political Agent under that Act or Regulation. Thereby, another organisation can ask for information from another organisation. Irrespective of the nature of the job a person may be performing as far as a person is a citizen of India he/she shall have the right to information subject to the provisions of RTI Act. ALL citizens are entitiled for information under RTI, which includeds employees. Same is clear from S. 6(1). It starts with non obstinate clause 'A person'. So it is the person matters not the employability or employee. The application/ appeal from an Association or a Partnership Firm or a Hindu Undivided Family or from some other group of individuals constituting as a body or otherwise is to be accepted and allowed. Kolkata high court has allowed use of post box in filing RTI which shall enable contact of a"},{"s":"guide:applicant:first-appeal:faa","t":"How to File First Appeal under RTI","d":"First Appeal is the statutory remedy available to the RTI Applicant, when there is no response from the Public Information Officer within stipulated time limit...","u":"/guide/applicant/first-appeal/faa","x":"How to File First Appeal under RTI First Appeal is the statutory remedy available to the RTI Applicant, when there is no response from the Public Information Officer within stipulated time limit or the decision of PIO is not satisfactory or the PIO offered / supplied incorrect / misleading information or demanded exorbitant further fee etc. The First Appeal is required to be filed under Section-19(1) of RTI Act. Who can file First Appeal? A person who submitted an RTI Application and aggrieved by no response or unsatisfactory reply or incorrect information. Third Party or parties whom the information sought relates to or has been supplied and treated as Confidential. Finding First Appellate Authority First Appeal should be filed before the designated First Appellate Authority (FAA), who is an officer higher in rank than PIO. Details of First Appellate Authority shall be included in PIO's decision letter itself. When there is no response / decision from PIO, it is better to search website (RTI link) of the public authority for FAA details. Details of FAA can also be obtained through telephone from the office of public authority. Alternatively, if the office of PIO is nearer to applicant, he can visit PIO’s office, where details of PIO / FAA can be gathered from RTI Notice Board. In case, the applicant is not able to get details or address of FAA, applicant can address First Appeal as “The First Appellate Authority under RTI, Office of ……………………………, and send it to the address of PIO. First Appeal can also be submitted to APIO for onward submission to FAA. Situations for filing First Appeals and prescribed Time Limits ^ Sl ^ Situations for filing First Appeal ^ Time limit for filing First Appeal ^ 1. PIO did not respond within 30 days from receipt of RTI Application in his office. After 30 (+7 days for postal transit time) but within 60 days from the date of receipt of RTI Application at PIO’s Office. 2. RTI Application submitted through APIO but PIO did not respond within 30 days from receipt of RTI Application in PIO’s office. After 35 (+7 days for postal transit time) but within 60 days from the date of receipt of RTI Application at PIO’s Office. 3. RTI Application transferred by the original public authority to another public authority (PIO) but transferee PIO did not respond within 30 days from receipt of"},{"s":"guide:applicant:fundamental-facts","t":"Fundamental Facts about RTI","d":"Common Right to Information Terms This segment contains most researched topics and which are very commonly referred to at our forums.","u":"/guide/applicant/fundamental-facts","x":"Fundamental Facts about RTI Common Terms Common Right to Information Terms This segment contains most researched topics and which are very commonly referred to at our forums. These terms are substantiated with case references and decisions of various courts. There common terms can be sited in your RTI Applications, appeals and various other forums. ---- [<>] Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"guide:applicant:fundamental-facts-about-rti","t":"What is Right to Information","d":"The beginner's primer on the Right to Information Act, 2005 — what RTI is, the Article 19(1","u":"/guide/applicant/fundamental-facts-about-rti","x":"What is Right to Information Did you know? The Right to Information is not a gift of the Act — it is inherent in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution (freedom of speech and expression). The Act of 2005 only provides the machinery to exercise that pre-existing right. In one line. The Right to Information Act, 2005 turned a fundamental right into a usable machinery — a citizen can ask for any record held by a public authority and the authority must reply within thirty days. What that means in practice. Every citizen of India has the right under Section 3 . No reason need be given under Section 6(2) . The fee is Rs 10 (Central) and the reply deadline is thirty days . Refusal is possible only on one of the ten grounds in Section 8(1) or under Section 9, 11, or 24. The appeal is free and runs through a two-level ladder: Section 19(1) first appeal, then Section 19(3) to the Information Commission. What RTI actually is Right to Information is not new. Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution gives every citizen the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression , which the Supreme Court has read to include the right to receive information from the State. The Right to Information Act, 2005 does not create the right. It creates the machinery to exercise it: the form, the fee, the deadlines, the officer, the appeal, the penalty. Without the Act, a citizen who walked into a government office saying \"Article 19 is my right, show me the file\" would be thrown out. The Act gives that citizen a procedure that officers are legally bound to respect. The objective The Act's purpose is stated in its Preamble: to set out a practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities, in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority . In working terms: an informed citizenry keeps government honest. Transparency cuts corruption. Accountability makes the people the master, not the served. How the Act is structured The Act runs from Section 1 to Section 31. The working sections for a citizen are these: Section 3 — the right to information is conferred on every citizen. Section 4 — every public authority must publish seventeen categories of information on its own ( suo motu )"},{"s":"guide:applicant:second-appeal","t":"Second Appeal","d":"The detailed infographics on filing the second appeal. This is the most easiest way to learn and understand the second appeal under RTI","u":"/guide/applicant/second-appeal","x":"Second Appeal When can you file RTI PIO Refused to take a Right to Information application PIO Did not provide the information in the period required by the Act PIO Refused to give the information with malafide intent PIO Knowingly gave false, partial or misleading information Destroyed the information asked for, or obstructed in providing it Anybody who is unhappy or dissatisfied with the decision of the Appellate Authority can file Second Appeal to the Information Commission at the Centre or respective States. You need to send your appeal to the relevant Information Commission in writing. For issues related to Central Government public authorities, you need to send your appeal to the Central Information Commission. For matters related to State Government public authorities, send your appeal to concerned State Information Commission. Appeals against Panchayats should also be sent to the relevant State Information Commission. Time Limit for filing Second Appeal If the appellant is not satisfied with the decision of the first appellate authority, he should file a second appeal to the Information Commission within 90 days of the unsatisfactory decision. However, if the first appellate authority does not pass any order within the 30 day period it is a ‘deemed refusal’, and the appellant should file a second appeal within 90 days, i.e. within 120 days of filing the first appeal. There is no time limit for disposal of seconds appeal. The first draft of this bill had a provision of forty-five days for disposal of second appeals by the Information Commissions, which was removed in the final draft. If Commissions do not deliver within a reasonable time of about 60 to 90 days, the law will lose its importance. What will you get from CIC The decisions of the Commissions are not merely recommendatory but have to be followed as per law and have statutory force. The Commission may reject the application if it comes to the conclusion that the information sought is not information or the body is not a public authority or the information is covered by the exemptions of Section 8 (1), and there is no larger public interest. It may also reject an appeal if it finds that the information has been provided by the PIO within the specified time. Read now ~~NOTOC~~ ~~AUTHORS:off~~ [<>] Related First Appeal. Fundamental Facts about RTI. RTI Form in Marathi. RTI Application Forms. When to supply information free"},{"s":"guide:applicant:second-appeal:cic","t":"How to file a Second Appeal under RTI — a practical guide for 2026","d":"How to file a Second Appeal under the RTI Act before the Central or State Information Commission. Section 19(3","u":"/guide/applicant/second-appeal/cic","x":"How to file a Second Appeal under RTI — a practical guide for 2026 In one line. A Second Appeal under Section 19(3) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 lies before the Central Information Commission (for Union public authorities) or the State Information Commission (for State public authorities), within 90 days of the First Appellate Authority's order or the expiry of the period for it. What that means in practice. The Second Appeal is the last administrative remedy. What follows is a writ in the High Court under Article 226. File online at cic.gov.in for Union matters, or the concerned State Commission's portal for State matters. Five documents are mandatory. Missing any one is a routine ground for return. The hearing is adversarial but short. Preparation wins. Commission orders are binding under Section 19(7). The Commission can order disclosure, impose a penalty of up to Rs 25,000 on the Public Information Officer under Section 20, and direct compensation under Section 19(8)(b). Did you know? The ninety-day clock starts from the day the First Appellate Authority's order should have been passed — not from the day the applicant received it. If the First Appellate Authority is silent, the clock runs anyway. Missing the window is the single largest reason Second Appeals are dismissed. Two sentences on why Second Appeal exists The First Appeal is decided inside the public authority that refused. The Second Appeal lifts the matter out of the public authority and puts it before a statutory Commission. That external review is the real engine of the RTI Act. When you can file a Second Appeal You can file a Second Appeal under Section 19(3) if any one of the following is true. The First Appellate Authority's order is against you, wholly or partly. The First Appellate Authority has not decided within 30 days (or 45 days, for reasons recorded in writing). The Public Information Officer demanded a fee beyond what the Rules allow, and the First Appellate Authority upheld that. The Public Information Officer's reply is evasive or non-responsive and the First Appellate Authority has failed to cure it. A direct complaint under Section 18 lies in a different set of cases, such as where the Public Information Officer is not appointed, or where the authority refuses to even receive the application. See First Appeal under Section 19(1) for the full distinction. Central or State Commission — which"},{"s":"guide:applicant:second-appeal:complaint","t":"How to file a Complaint to CIC","d":"The detailed guidelines on filing second appeal complaint. The document also contains second appeal rti format for filing RTI at Central and State Information Commission","u":"/guide/applicant/second-appeal/complaint","x":"How to file a Complaint to CIC Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 RTI Act confers right to access to information held by a Public Authority on all Citizens. The Act also prescribes remedy, when such a right is denied to a citizen. When an applicant do not receive a decision on his RTI Request within 30 days or is aggrieved by the decision, applicant can prefer an Appeal under Section-19(1) and further appeal under section-19(3) before the Information Commission within time limit. In such an appeal, the applicant can seek relief to supply information by PIO. What is the difference between a Complaint and Appeal A second appeal under section 19 (3) of the Act is filed against an order of the FAA in a public authority or when the FAA does not make a decision within the specified time. A complaint under section 18 of the Act may be filed directly on the grounds mentioned in sub-section (1) of this section. The main difference between a complaint and a second appeal is that in the case of an appeal, this Commission may pass orders directing the CPIO to provide the requested information to the appellant in appropriate cases whereas such orders cannot be passed while dealing with a complaint. In which cases complaint can be filed Section 18 (1) provides for making complaints to the Information Commission in the following circumstances: When an appellant is unable to submit her RTI application since no PIO or APIO are appointed, or they refuse to take the RTI application. When information is denied by the PIO. When information has not been provided in the time limit provided. Where fee in excess of that specified in the rules is being charged. When an appellant has been given incomplete, misleading or false information. Any other matter like noncompliance of Section 4. For 2) and 3) above a provision for a first appeal is also there as per Section 19. These cases apply to the first appeal under section 19 since it applies to both non-decisions and any decision of a PIO. Most Commissions do not entertain an appeal in this matter until the first appeal has been made. Hence, it would be a good practice for appellants to file complaints to the Commission for matters covered by 1), 4), 5) and 6) and file first appeals for 2) and 3). When an applicant"},{"s":"guide:applicant:time-limit-under-rti","t":"Time Limits under Right to Information Act 2005","d":"RTI Act Prescribes time limit under which the reply need to be given by Public Information Officer.","u":"/guide/applicant/time-limit-under-rti","x":"Time Limits under Right to Information Act 2005 RTI Act Prescribes time limit under which the reply need to be given by Public Information Officer. For PIO to reply to application : 30 days from date of receipt of application For PIO to transfer to another PA under Sec 6(3) : 5 days from date of receipt of application For PIO to issue notice to 3rd Party : 5 days from date of receipt of application For 3rd Party to make a representation to PIO : 10 days from receipt of notice from PIO For PIO to reply to application if 3rdParty involved : 40 days from date of receipt of application For applicant to make First Appeal : 30 days from date of receipt of PIO’s reply or from date when reply was to be received For First Appellate Authority to pass an order : 30 days from receipt of First Appeal OR Maximum 45 days, if reasons for delay are given in writing For applicant to make Second Appeal before CIC/SIC : 90 days from receipt of First Appeal orders or from the date when orders were to be received For CIC/SIC to decide Second Appeal : No time limit specified ---- Situations for filing First Appeals and prescribed Time Limits ^ Sl ^ Situations for filing First Appeal ^ Time limit for filing First Appeal ^ 1. PIO did not respond within 30 days from receipt of RTI Application in his office. After 30 (+7 days for postal transit time) but within 60 days from the date of receipt of RTI Application at PIO’s Office. 2. RTI Application submitted through APIO but PIO did not respond within 30 days from receipt of RTI Application in PIO’s office. After 35 (+7 days for postal transit time) but within 60 days from the date of receipt of RTI Application at PIO’s Office. 3. RTI Application transferred by the original public authority to another public authority (PIO) but transferee PIO did not respond within 30 days from receipt of Application. After 30 (+7 days for postal transit time) but within 60 days from the date of receipt of RTI Application at transferee PIO’s Office. 4. PIO issued notice to third party under section-11(1), but not decided the application within 40 days from receipt of application at his office. After 40 (+7 days for postal transit time) but within 70 days"},{"s":"guide:guidelines-for-first-appellate-authority","t":"Guidelines for First Appellate Authority (FAA) under the RTI Act, 2005","d":"Comprehensive guide for First Appellate Authorities under the RTI Act, 2005 — appellate jurisdiction, 30-day deadline, speaking-order requirements, Section 19(8","u":"/guide/guidelines-for-first-appellate-authority","x":"Guidelines for First Appellate Authority (FAA) under the RTI Act, 2005 In one line. A First Appellate Authority (FAA) hears appeals under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act, 2005, against the Public Information Officer's decision (or deemed refusal). The FAA must dispose of the appeal by a speaking order within 30 days (extendable to 45 with reasons), examining the PIO's reasoning, applying Section 8(2) public-interest balancing, and exercising the appellate powers under Section 19(8). Why this guide. This page replaces the older bulleted draft. It cross-links to the deeper legal frameworks now hosted on this site for PIOs, FAAs, and citizens, and reflects the post-DPDP-Rules-2025 position. Did you know? Section 19(5) places the burden of proof on the PIO in any appeal — the officer must demonstrate that denial was justified. The FAA presides over this burden. An order that fails to engage with whether the PIO discharged that burden is not a speaking order and is vulnerable on Second Appeal. Who is the First Appellate Authority? Section 19(1) — any person aggrieved by the PIO's decision (or by deemed refusal under Section 7(2)) may appeal to \"such officer who is senior in rank to the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, in each public authority\". The FAA is therefore an internal departmental review — same public authority, senior officer. The FAA does not decide as a court. Procedure is administrative-quasi-judicial, but written reasons and natural-justice principles apply. Statutory deadline: 30 days from receipt of appeal, extendable to 45 with reasons recorded in writing (Section 19(6)). Statutory framework — the four sections every FAA must know Section 19(1) — appellate right Filed within 30 days of the PIO's decision OR within 30 days of the deemed-refusal date. No prescribed format; the FAA may admit a delayed appeal if sufficient cause is shown. Appellant identity stays the same as the original RTI applicant. Section 19(4) — third-party hearing Where the appeal involves information relating to a third party, the FAA must give the third party a reasonable opportunity of being heard. Especially relevant where Section 11 procedure was triggered at the PIO stage (or should have been). Section 19(5) — burden of proof on PIO The burden of justifying the denial rests with the PIO, not the appellant. If the PIO has not justified the denial in writing, the FAA must allow the"},{"s":"guide:guidelines-for-public-authority","t":"Guidelines for Public Authority","d":"Public authorities are the repository of information which the citizen have right to have under the Right to Information Act, 2005.","u":"/guide/guidelines-for-public-authority","x":"Guidelines for Public Authority In one line. A public authority under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act has positive obligations under Section 4 (suo motu disclosure), appointive obligations under Section 5 (designation of Public Information Officers and First Appellate Authorities), and disposal obligations under Sections 6, 7, and 11 on receipt of an application. What that means in practice. Who is a public authority. A body formed under the Constitution, by a law of Parliament or a State Legislature, or by a notification of the appropriate Government. A body owned, controlled, or substantially financed by the appropriate Government. The test was set out by the Supreme Court in Thalappalam Service Coop. Bank v. State of Kerala. Section 4 duties. Publish seventeen categories of information on the authority's own initiative, update at least annually, and facilitate electronic access where possible. Section 5 designations. Designate a Central Public Information Officer and an Assistant Public Information Officer at each office, designate a First Appellate Authority, and publish their particulars. Response obligations. On receipt of an application, the Public Information Officer must act on the timelines in Section 7. Transfer under Section 6(3) within five days if the subject is not with this authority. Third-party notice under Section 11 within five days if applicable. After 14 November 2025. Section 8(1)(j) as amended affects the treatment of personal information in Section 4 disclosures as well as in responses to applications. See DPDP Rules, 2025. Public authorities are the repository of information which the citizen have right to have under the Right to Information Act, 2005. As defined in the Act, a \" Public authority \" is any authority or body or institution of self government established or constituted by or under the Constitution; or by any other law made by the Parliament or a State Legislature; or by notification issued or order made by the Central Government or a State Government. Bodies owned, controlled or substantially financed by the Central Government substantially financed by the Central Government or State Government also fall within the definition of public authority. The financing of the body or the NGO by the Government may be direct or indirect. The Act casts important obligation on public authorities so as to facilitate the citizens or the country to access the information held under their control. The obligations of the authority are basically the obligations of the head of the"},{"s":"guide:guidelines-for-public-authority:rti-cell","t":"RTI Cell","d":"Sub-section (1","u":"/guide/guidelines-for-public-authority/rti-cell","x":"RTI Cell Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Sub-section (1) of Section 5 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 mandates all public authorities to designate as many Public Information Officers as necessary to provide information under the Act. Where a public authority designates more than one Public Information Officer (PIO), an applicant is likely to face difficulty in approaching the appropriate Public Information Officer. The applicants would also face problem in identifying the officer senior in rank to the Public Information Officer to whom an appeal under sub-section (1) of Section 19 of the Act can be made. Therefore all public authorities with more than one PIO should create a RTI Cell within the organisation to receive all the RTI applications and first appeals and to route them to the concerned PIOs/FAAs. Detailed instructions regarding setting up of RTI Cell, its functions and financial assistance in setting up RTI Cell have been issued by the Department. Roles of RTI Cell Coordinate all the work of relating to the implementation of RTI Act, 2005 Serve as the nodal point for receiving applications and appeals physically as well as online and forward it to the concerned CPIOs/Appellate Authority within the Department or to other public authority if the matter does not concern this department Coordinate matters relating to Central Information Commission in terms of hearing, orders and other matters related to Department of Expenditure Appointment of new CPIOs/Appellate Authorities, compiling the list of CPIOs/Appellate Authorities at regular intervals and circulating the same within the Department Serve as a nodal point for applications received by the office of Minister and forward it to the concerned Department of Ministry of Finance Coordinate all the work of Personnel Division of Department relating to the preparation of quarterly returns to be submitted to CIC as per RTI Act, 2005. Any other work related to the RTI Act, 2005 Download the Instructions ~~socialite~~"},{"s":"guide:guidelines-for-public-information-officer","t":"Guidelines for Public Information Officer","d":"The Right to Information Act, 2005 empowers citizens to get information from any 'public authority'.","u":"/guide/guidelines-for-public-information-officer","x":"Guidelines for Public Information Officer Did you know? A PIO who refuses without reasons or delays beyond thirty days can be personally fined Rs 250 per day, up to Rs 25,000 under Section 20. The penalty comes out of the officer's own salary , not the department's budget. In one line. A Public Information Officer must receive a Right to Information application, decide it within thirty days, and furnish information or record a reasoned refusal under one of the clauses of Section 8(1), Section 9, or Section 11 of the Right to Information Act. What that means in practice. Timeline. Thirty days from the date of receipt of the application. Forty-eight hours where life or liberty is involved. Forty days where Section 11 third-party procedure is engaged. File noting. Record on the file the item-wise decision, the clause relied on for any refusal, the Section 8(2) balancing where engaged, and the Section 10 severability consideration. A bare decision without reasoning is vulnerable on appeal. Format. Disclose in the form requested where practicable, per Section 7(9). Do not ask the applicant why the information is needed. Section 6(2) bars this. After 14 November 2025. Section 8(1)(j) is amended. The public interest override within clause (j) is removed. The override operates through Section 8(2). See the practitioner note on the reply and the file noting. Penalty. Section 20 provides a mandatory penalty of two hundred and fifty rupees per day up to twenty-five thousand rupees on the Public Information Officer for malafide refusal, knowingly incorrect or misleading information, or obstruction. Guide For The Central Public Information Officers The Right to Information Act, 2005 empowers citizens to get information from any 'public authority'. The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of a public authority plays a pivotal role in making the right of a citizen to information a reality. The Act casts specific duties on him and makes him liable for penalty in case of default. It is, therefore, essential for a CPIO to study the Act carefully and understand its provisions correctly. Following aspects should particularly be kept in view while dealing with the applications under the Act. What is Information Information means any material in any from. It includes records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic from. It also includes information relating to any private body which"},{"s":"historical-cic-orders","t":"Historical CIC Orders — A Chronological Archive","d":"Chronological archive of significant Central Information Commission orders and news — landmark rulings, policy decisions, and orders that shaped the RTI Act from 2005 to 2026.","u":"/historical-cic-orders","x":"Historical CIC Orders — A Chronological Archive In one line. The Central Information Commission (CIC) has decided over three lakh second appeals and complaints since its establishment on 12 October 2005 . This page is a curated, chronological archive of the orders, news items, and decisions that most shaped the Act — filtered from the full corpus so you can trace the arc without reading every order. How this archive is organised Landmark-tier orders get a dedicated page with case analysis — linked here and cross-referenced from the relevant §8 articles. Significant orders get a one-line entry with the year, outcome, and a link to the primary source where available. News items (commissioner appointments, structural changes) are grouped by year. For the curated top-ten analysis, see 10 Landmark CIC Decisions That Transformed RTI . For recent rulings (2021–2026), see Landmark Rulings 2021–2026 . 2005–2010 — Foundation years 2005-10-12 — CIC constituted under Section 12 of the RTI Act, 2005. First Chief IC: Wajahat Habibullah. 2006 — First full year of operation. Annual report notes ~10,000 registrations; most concerned pension, employment, and public-expenditure queries. 2007 — Hari Devi v. Municipal Corporation of Delhi , the CIC held that property-tax files are public-authority records. 2008 — CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (pre-Supreme Court journey) — CIC directed disclosure of evaluated answer scripts; later affirmed by SC (2011) 8 SCC 497. 2009 — Full Bench rulings on file notings begin the doctrine that was later sealed by R.K. Jain (2013). 2011–2015 — The interpretive decade 2011 — CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay , (2011) 8 SCC 497. Evaluated answer scripts are information; PIOs cannot refuse on fiduciary grounds. See deep dive at RTI for answer-sheet inspection . 2013-06-03 — CIC Full Bench ( Subhash Chandra Agrawal ) held that six national political parties are public authorities under §2(h). Orders to disclose donor lists. Resistance ongoing — see Association for Democratic Reforms cases at SC. 2013 — R.K. Jain v. UoI , (2013) 14 SCC 794. Post-decisional file-notings disclosable; subjective ACRs narrowly exempt. 2013 — Thalappalam Service Cooperative Bank at Kerala HC (later SC 2013); CIC subsequent orders apply the substantial-financing test. 2014 — Girish Ramchandra Deshpande refined — individual service-record items (pay, disciplinary, transfer) become §8(1)(j) presumptive. Integrity certificates treated similarly. 2016–2020 — Privacy and reform 2016 — RBI v. Jayantilal Mistry , (2016) 5 SCC 136. CIC's earlier line on regulator-disclosure upheld — banks"},{"s":"important-decisions","t":"Important Decisions","d":"Supreme Court, High Court and Information Commission Decisions on RTI","u":"/important-decisions","x":"Important Decisions Supreme Court, High Court and Information Commission Decisions on RTI This segment contains decisions of various courts which are relevant to Right to Information. The segment include decisions from Supreme Court of India, High Courts of Various States, Central Information Commissions, State Information Commission and others. These decisions are frequently been quoted by RTI Applicants and Central Information Commission. ---- [<>] Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"important-decisions:cbse-and-anr-vs-aditya-bandopadhyay","t":"CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay: Answer Sheets Ruling","d":"The 2011 Supreme Court ruling that made evaluated answer sheets public under RTI. Facts, holding, and why it still binds after DPDP 2025.","u":"/important-decisions/cbse-and-anr-vs-aditya-bandopadhyay","x":"CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay: Answer Sheets Ruling In plain English A student sought certified copies of his own evaluated examination answer sheets from the Central Board of Secondary Education. The CBSE refused, arguing that it held the answer sheets in a fiduciary capacity under Section 8(1)(e) of the Right to Information Act and could not disclose them. The Supreme Court disagreed. The Court held that an evaluated answer sheet is \"information\" under Section 2(f) of the Act and is held by the Board in its own right, not in a fiduciary capacity. An examining body does not stand in a fiduciary relationship with a candidate in the narrow sense of Section 8(1)(e). The candidate is entitled to a certified copy, subject to the standard fee and cost rules. What it means for you. A candidate can use the Right to Information Act to obtain copies of his or her own evaluated answer scripts from most examining bodies: school boards, universities, and recruitment commissions. The fiduciary objection at Section 8(1)(e) does not ordinarily apply to the examiner-candidate relationship. Current status. The holding on the scope of \"information\" under Section 2(f) and on Section 8(1)(e) remains good law. The proviso to Section 8(1)(j) discussed in the case was removed by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, in force from 14 November 2025. See DPDP Rules, 2025. Reportable IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELALTE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO.6454 OF 2011 [Arising out of SLP [C] No.7526/2009] Central Board of Secondary Education & Anr. … Appellants Vs. Aditya Bandopadhyay & Ors. … Respondents With CA No. 6456 of 2011 (@ SLP (C) No.9755 of 2009) CA Nos.6457-6458 of 2011 (@ SLP (C) Nos.11162-11163 of 2009) CA No.6461 of 2011 (@ SLP (C) No.11670 of 2009) CA Nos.6462 of 2011 (@ SLP (C) No.13673 of 2009) CA Nos.6464 of 2011 (@ SLP (C) No.17409 of 2009) CA Nos. 6459 of 2011 (@ SLP (C) No.9776 of 2010) CA Nos.6465-6468 of 2011 (@ SLP (C) Nos.30858-30861 of 2009) J U D G M E N T R.V.RAVEENDRAN, J. Leave granted. For convenience, we will refer to the facts of the first case. 2. The first respondent appeared for the Secondary School Examination, 2008 conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (for short 'CBSE' or the 'appellant'). When he got the mark sheet he was disappointed with his marks. He"},{"s":"important-decisions:cic-case-laws","t":"Commission Decisions — the CIC line of case law","d":"A curated index of orders of the Central Information Commission and significant State Information Commissions that shape the day-to-day working of the Right to...","u":"/important-decisions/cic-case-laws","x":"Commission Decisions — the CIC line of case law A curated index of orders of the Central Information Commission and significant State Information Commissions that shape the day-to-day working of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Each entry below opens with a plain-language summary. What are Commission orders and why do they matter? The Central Information Commission is the final appellate authority for Central Government matters under Section 19(3) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. A State Information Commission has the equivalent jurisdiction for State matters. The Commission's orders bind the Public Information Officer in the particular matter and set persuasive guidance on the scope of the Act. Where the Commission has laid down a general position on procedure, the order is followed by later Commissions and by First Appellate Authorities across the country. Curated decisions Ketan Kantilal Modi v. Central Board of Excise & Customs . Scope of Section 6(1) \"concerned public authority\" and Section 6(3) transfer. One application cannot seek information scattered across many public authorities; the applicant must file with the authority that actually holds the record. Ministers under the Right to Information Act . The offices of Union and State Ministers are declared \"public authorities\" under Section 2(h). Each Ministerial office must designate a Public Information Officer, a First Appellate Authority, and comply with Section 4 suo motu disclosure. Format of reply by the Public Information Officer . Department of Personnel and Training Office Memorandum dated 6 October 2015 on the minimum content of a reply: application reference, Public Information Officer identity, clause-wise reasoning on any withholding, appeal route, and the certified-copy endorsement. Appearance of an Advocate or non-Advocate before the Commission . Punjab State Information Commission, Full Bench. Any person, including a non-Advocate, may appear on behalf of an information-seeker with the Commission's authorisation. The representative may charge a consideration. Nihar Ranjan Banerjee v. M. N. Ghosh — power of review . The Commission has an inherent power of review in cases of procedural infirmity or error apparent on the face of the record, notwithstanding the silence of the Act on review. Namespace listing New to RTI? File your first application in ten minutes. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 Step-by-Step Guide with a ready-to-use English and Hindi template, the Rs 10 online fee flow, and the appeal path. Related Case law library. The section-wise index of all decisions held"},{"s":"important-decisions:cic-case-laws:advocates-rti","t":"Appearance of Advocate /Non Advocate in the hearing","d":"In an order of the Full Bench Punjab State Information Commission (SIC","u":"/important-decisions/cic-case-laws/advocates-rti","x":"Appearance of Advocate /Non Advocate in the hearing In one line. Any person, including a person who is not an Advocate, may appear on behalf of an applicant or a Public Information Officer before an Information Commission, provided the Commission has authorised the appearance. The representative may charge a consideration. What that means in practice. An applicant is not required to engage an Advocate to appear before the Commission. A non-Advocate representative must obtain the Commission's authorisation; a formal Vakalatnama is not required, but a written authorisation is ordinarily expected. A Public Information Officer may also be represented by an Advocate or a departmental officer. The decision is of the Punjab State Information Commission, Full Bench. It has persuasive value before the Central Information Commission and other State Commissions. In an order of the Full Bench Punjab State Information Commission (SIC) where is has deliberated and decided on the following issues: Whether a person not registered as an Advocate can appear on behalf of an information-seeker before the Commission. Whether a person not registered as an Advocate and not holding a pleader’s license can appear on behalf of an information-seeker in the Commission and plead on his behalf in the proceedings under Sections 18 and 19 of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Whether such a non-Advocate can appear after charging certain consideration from the concerned information seeker. Whether there should be a specific format of Vakalatnama/authorization which must be submitted by non-Advocate representing an information-seeker before the Commission. Whether a formal Order needs to be passed by the Commission in each case permitting such non-Advocate to represent an information-seeker, before such individual can be allowed to appear or plead on behalf of the information seeker. Decision of the Commission Any person (even non advocate) can appear on behalf of information seeker Appearance has to be authorised by the Commission Person appearing can charge consideration for his/her appearance PIO can be represented by Advocate Any party can be represented by an Advocate The Decisions is available here: Related Format for giving information to the applicants. Ministers Under RTI. Shri Ketan Kantilal Modi vs Central Board Of Excise & Customs. Commission Decisions. RTI can’t be Denied on the Ground that Information sought is Irrelevant. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"important-decisions:cic-case-laws:format-rti-cpio","t":"Format for giving information to the applicants","d":"Department of Personnel & Training has issued Format((","u":"/important-decisions/cic-case-laws/format-rti-cpio","x":"Format for giving information to the applicants In one line. The Department of Personnel and Training has prescribed, by Office Memorandum No. 10/1/2013-IR dated 6 October 2015, the minimum content of every reply by a Public Information Officer under the Right to Information Act, 2005. What that means in practice. Every reply should carry the application reference number and date, the name and contact particulars of the Public Information Officer, the clause-wise ground for any withholding, the particulars of any Section 6(3) transfer, the name and contact particulars of the First Appellate Authority with the thirty-day appeal period, and a certified-copy endorsement in the prescribed form where the applicant has asked for certified copies. Department of Personnel & Training has issued Format(( )) for giving information to the applicants under RTI Act. CPIO may also like to read the detailed Guidelines here! It has been observed that different public authorities provide information to RTI applicants in different formats. Though there cannot be a standard format for providing information, the reply should however essentially contain the following information: RTI application number, date and date of its receipt in the public authority. The name, designation, official telephone number and email ID of the CPIO. In case the information requested for is denied, detailed reasons for denial quoting the relevant sections of the RTI Act should be clearly mentioned. In case the information pertains to other public authority and the application is transferred under section 6(3) of the RTI Act, details of the public authority to whom the application is transferred should be given. In the concluding para of the reply, it should be clearly mentioned that the First Appeal, if any, against the reply of the CPIO may be made to the First Appellate Authority within 30 days of receipt of reply of CPIO. The name, designation, address, official telephone number and e-mail ID of the First Appellate Authority should also be clearly mentioned. 2. In addition, wherever the applicant has requested for 'certified copies' of the documents or records, the CPIO should endorse on the document \" True copy of the document/record supplied under RTI Act \", sign the document with date, above a seal containing name of the officer, CPIO and name of public authority; as enumerated below: ^ ^ True copy of the document/record supplied under RTI Act. Sd/- Date (Name of the Officer) CPIO (Name of the Public"},{"s":"important-decisions:cic-case-laws:ministers-under-rti","t":"Ministers Under RTI","d":"In the light of above analysis, the Commission has no hesitation to declare the Ministers in the Union Government and all State Governments as ‘public...","u":"/important-decisions/cic-case-laws/ministers-under-rti","x":"Ministers Under RTI In one line. The Central Information Commission has held that the offices of Union Ministers and State Ministers are \"public authorities\" within the meaning of Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Each office must designate a Public Information Officer, a First Appellate Authority, and comply with Section 4 suo motu disclosure. What that means in practice. A citizen may address a first application under Section 6(1) directly to the Public Information Officer of a Minister's office. Each Ministerial office is to publish the seventeen categories of suo motu disclosure under Section 4(1)(b) and update at least annually. The Commission has directed the Cabinet Secretary of the Union Government and the Chief Secretaries of the States to issue compliance instructions. Declaration and Directions In the light of above analysis, the Commission has no hesitation to declare the Ministers in the Union Government and all State Governments as ‘public authorities’ under Section 2(h) . Thus the Commission holds that the Ministers have a statutory obligation to inform the people as mandated by the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Commission strongly recommends the Centre and States to provide necessary support to each minister, including designating some officers, or appointing as Public Information Officers and First Appellate Authorities . They also shall be given an official-website for suo moto disclosure of the information with periodical updating as prescribed under Section 4 including the facility of meeting people since the Ministers deserve necessary assistance to receive, acknowledge and provide response to the representations given by the people and as Constitutional functionaries, the Ministers have a duty to inform the people about their efforts to fulfill the promises they have made, through Section 4(1)(b) of RTI Act and also to furnish the information as sought by their voters under other provisions of RTI Act. Exercising the power given under Section 19(8)(a)(ii) the Commission requires the public authority, especially, the Cabinet Secretary of Union and all Chief Secretaries of States, to take such steps as may be necessary to secure compliance of the Right to Information Act and the directions in this order, including appointing a Public Information Officer within two months from the date of receipt of this order. The Commission directs its office to send this order to every Chief Secretary of State and Union Territory where the Council of Ministers are constituted for compliance. With reference to"},{"s":"important-decisions:cic-case-laws:shri-ketan-kantilal-modi-vs-central-board-of-excise-customs","t":"Shri Ketan Kantilal Modi vs Central Board Of Excise & Customs","d":"Appeal No. CIC/AT/A/2008/01280 dated 29.09.2008 Right to Information Act 2005 - Section 19.","u":"/important-decisions/cic-case-laws/shri-ketan-kantilal-modi-vs-central-board-of-excise-customs","x":"Shri Ketan Kantilal Modi vs Central Board Of Excise & Customs In plain English An applicant filed one Right to Information application before the Central Board of Excise and Customs seeking information that was actually held across a large number of field offices across the country. The question before the Full Bench of the Central Information Commission was this: when a single application seeks information that is scattered across many public authorities, what is the obligation on the receiving Public Information Officer under Sections 6(1) and 6(3) of the Right to Information Act? The Full Bench held the following. Section 6(1) requires an applicant to file the application before the \"concerned\" public authority, which is the authority that holds the information or is most proximately connected to it. Section 6(3) allows the Public Information Officer to transfer an application where the subject matter is more closely connected to another authority. The transfer provision is not a substitute for the applicant's duty to identify the right authority. Where the information is genuinely held across many public authorities, the applicant is expected to file separate applications before each. Section 7(9) on the form in which information is to be supplied does not change this position. What it means for you. File your application with the public authority that actually holds the record. If you do not know the exact office, file with the nearest senior office and request transfer under Section 6(3). Do not file one omnibus application seeking information that is scattered across many departments or field formations and expect automatic aggregation. Current status. A leading Full Bench decision of the Central Information Commission on Sections 6(1) and 6(3) and the meaning of the \"concerned public authority\". on 22 September, 2009 CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION Appeal No. CIC/AT/A/2008/01280 dated 29.09.2008 Right to Information Act 2005 - Section 19 PARTIES TO THE CASE: Appellants : Shri Ketan Kantilal Modi Public Authority : Central Board of Excise & Customs Date of Decision : 22.09.2009 FACTS OF THE CASE: This second-appeal originated in appellant's RTI-application dated 30.06.2008, which was replied to by the CPIO through his communication dated 24.07.2008. The first-appeal of the appellant dated 07.08.2008 was decided by the Appellate Authority through an order dated 03.09.2008. 2. Appellant filed his second-appeal dated 10.09.2008, which was taken up by the Single Bench of Information Commissioner, Shri A.N Tiwari. A hearing was held on 23.03.2009 and"},{"s":"important-decisions:cic-case-laws:shri-nihar-ranjan-banerjee-cvo-and-shri-bidya-nand-mishra-dgm-vig-coal-india-ltd-vs-shri-mn-ghosh","t":"Power of Review by CIC","d":"The net upshot of these two decisions of the Hon’ble Apex Court is that while in substantive matters there may arguably be no review.","u":"/important-decisions/cic-case-laws/shri-nihar-ranjan-banerjee-cvo-and-shri-bidya-nand-mishra-dgm-vig-coal-india-ltd-vs-shri-mn-ghosh","x":"Power of Review by CIC In one line. The Central Information Commission has an inherent power to review its own orders in limited circumstances — where there is a procedural infirmity that may have led to a miscarriage of justice, or an error apparent on the face of the record — notwithstanding the silence of the Right to Information Act, 2005 on review. What that means in practice. Review is not a substitute for appeal. It lies only for procedural error or error apparent on the record, not for a fresh hearing on the merits. A party aggrieved by an order of the Commission may file a review petition before the same Commission. The Commission may, in the alternative, take up the matter suo motu. The Commission's reasoning follows the Supreme Court in Patel Narshi Thakershi v. Pradyumanshighji Arjunsinghji (AIR 1970 SC 1273) and Rajendra Singh v. Governor, A&N Islands (AIR 2006 SC 75) on statutory silence and inherent review powers. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 The net upshot of these two decisions of the Hon’ble Apex Court is that while in substantive matters there may arguably be no review. In cases of procedural infirmities which may have led to or may be believed to have led to miscarriage of justice or where there is an error apparent on the face of it, the absence of a provision for review shall not be a bar on a given statutory authority assuming that power. In other words, silence of law in regard to review does not prohibit a statutory authority from undertaking review in specific given circumstances. Rajnish Singh Chaudhary Vs. Union Public Service Commission((Appeal No.CIC/MA/A/2006/00622 Rajnish Singh Chaudhary Vs. Union Public Service Commission)) Apex Court in Patel Narshi Thakershi & Ors. Vs. Pradyumanshighji Arjunsinghji((Apex Court in Patel Narshi Thakershi & Ors. Vs. Pradyumanshighji Arjunsinghji ⎯ (AIR 1970 SC 1273)))and Rajendra Singh Vs. Governor, Andaman & Nicobar Islands & Ors.((Rajendra Singh Vs. Governor, Andaman & Nicobar Islands & Ors. AIR 2006 SC 75 AIR 2006 SC 75)) As has been observed in the above case, the Central Information Commission has been assigned somewhat a unique role under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Commission is the last court of appeal, has the exclusive power to impose penalties on defaulting Public Information Officers, and also has a role of superintendence and direction of the information regime. It can direct public"},{"s":"important-decisions:court","t":"Court Decisions on RTI","d":"(HC of Delhi","u":"/important-decisions/court","x":"Court Decisions on RTI ^ Sl ^ Case Name ^ Description ^ Downloads ^ 1. Thalappalam Coop. Vs State of Kerala Co-operative society registered under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 does not fall within the definition of “public authority” under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 as they are not owned, controlled or substantially financed by the appropriate Government. 2. ICAI Vs Shaunak H.Satya ICAI will have to disclose standards of 'moderation', drawn up with reference to its own experiences and the nature and scope of the examinations conducted by it 3. CBSE and Anr. Vs Aditya Bandopadhyay Examining bodies to permit examinees to have inspection of their answer books 4. P.C. Wadhwa Vs Central Information Commission RTI Act does not have the effect of either abrogating or repealing all other enactments dealing with furnishing of information to an information seeker. The over-riding effect of RTI Act is only to the extent of inconsistency CIC decision 5. UPSC Vs Shiv Shambu 6. Directorate of Enforcement Vs Arun Kumar Agrawal 7. Khanapuram Gandaiah Vs Administrative Officer No litigant can be allowed to seek information as to why and for what reasons the judge had come to a particular decision or conclusion. A judge is not bound to explain later on for what reasons he had come to such a conclusion. A judicial officer is entitled to get protection and the object of the same is not to protect malicious or corrupt judges, but to protect the public from the dangers to which the administration of justice would be exposed if the concerned judicial officers were subject to inquiry as to malice, or to litigation with those whom their decisions might offend. 8. Girish Ramchandra Deshpande .Vs. CIC The performance of an employee/officer in an organization is primarily a matter between the employee and the employer and normally those aspects are governed by the service rules which fall under the expression “personal information”, the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or public interest. Supreme Court 9. CIC Vs State of Manipur Sections 18 and 19 of the Act serve two different purposes and lay down two different procedures and they provide two different remedies. One cannot be a substitute for the other 10. Manohar Manikrao Anchule Vs State of Maharashtra Adherence to the principles of natural justice is mandatory for Tribunals or bodies discharging"},{"s":"important-decisions:court:anjali-bhardwaj-vs-union-of-india","t":"Anjali Bhardwaj v. Union of India","d":"The 2019 Supreme Court directions on the appointment of Information Commissioners and their working conditions.","u":"/important-decisions/court/anjali-bhardwaj-vs-union-of-india","x":"Anjali Bhardwaj v. Union of India {{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords (anjali,bhardwaj,union,india,rti case law india) metatag-description (The 2019 Supreme Court directions on the appointment of Information Commissioners and their working conditions.)} The 2019 Supreme Court directions on the appointment of Information Commissioners and their working conditions. Full practitioner note pending. In the meantime, see: Case Law Library for indexed landmark RTI decisions The RTI Act, 2005 (as amended) for the statutory text A decade of change 2015-2025 for context If you have a copy of the judgment text or a well-cited analysis, contributions are welcome via the editorial inbox. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"important-decisions:court:arvind-kejriwal-vs-cpio","t":"Arvind Kejriwal Vs Cpio","d":"Arvind Kejriwal v. CPIO — summary pending; see the Case Law Library for Arvind Kejriwal-related Delhi HC references.","u":"/important-decisions/court/arvind-kejriwal-vs-cpio","x":"Arvind Kejriwal Vs Cpio {htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords (rti sample important-decisions court arvind-kejriwal-vs-cpio) metatag-description (Arvind Kejriwal v. CPIO — summary pending; see the Case Law Library for Arvind Kejriwal-related Delhi HC references.)} Arvind Kejriwal v. CPIO — summary pending; see the Case Law Library for Arvind Kejriwal-related Delhi HC references. Continue to: important-decisions / start for the current index and related templates. Copy-paste the first RTI template File RTI online — 12-step 2026 guide RTI Rules Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"important-decisions:court:bhagat-singh-vs-cic","t":"Bhagat Singh v. Chief Information Commissioner (2007)","d":"Landmark Delhi High Court judgment in Bhagat Singh v. Chief Information Commissioner (2007","u":"/important-decisions/court/bhagat-singh-vs-cic","x":"Bhagat Singh v. Chief Information Commissioner (2007) Did you know? Bhagat Singh was one of the very first writ-court articulations of the RTI Act's default-disclosure principle, decided less than two years after the Act came into force. Its language — \"the Right to Information Act is an important statute aimed at curtailing the culture of secrecy\" — is still quoted in Commission orders today. In one line. The Delhi High Court held that an income-tax investigation pending against the petitioner's wife could not be used as a blanket shield under Section 8(1)(h) to deny the petitioner access to the investigation report — once the assessment order had been passed, the investigation was effectively over, and disclosure could not impede what had already concluded. What that means in practice. Section 8(1)(h) (\"would impede the process of investigation, apprehension, or prosecution\") requires a specific, present impediment — not a generic \"investigation pending\" label. Once the investigation reaches a conclusion (assessment, charge sheet, closure report), the exemption falls away. Default disclosure is the Act's animating principle. Citation Bhagat Singh v. Chief Information Commissioner and Ors. , W.P. (C) No. 3114/2007.\\\\ Bench: Justice Ravindra Bhat.\\\\ Date of judgment: 3 December 2007.\\\\ Court: High Court of Delhi. The facts The petitioner sought, under the RTI Act, the investigation report prepared by the Income Tax Department in connection with a proceeding involving his wife. He also sought copies of the tax evasion petition against her. The CPIO refused, citing Section 8(1)(h) — that disclosure would impede the process of investigation. The First Appellate Authority and the Central Information Commission upheld the refusal. The petitioner approached the Delhi High Court under Article 226. The Court's reasoning Section 8(1)(h) requires specific impediment Justice Ravindra Bhat held that the investigation in question had already concluded — the assessment had been passed. Whatever \"investigation\" existed for purposes of Section 8(1)(h) was over. The CPIO could not invoke the clause as a general shield for all records connected to a historical investigation. The Court reasoned: the Act uses the words \" would impede \" — a future tense, requiring the PIO to show how disclosure would actually impede an ongoing process . A closed investigation cannot be impeded. Disclosure is the rule; exemption is the exception In language that is still quoted today, the Court observed: > \"The Right to Information Act is an important statute aimed at curtailing the culture"},{"s":"important-decisions:court:cpio-supreme-court-v-subhash-agarwal","t":"CPIO, Supreme Court of India v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal","d":"The 2020 Constitution Bench ruling that brought the office of the Chief Justice of India within the RTI Act.","u":"/important-decisions/court/cpio-supreme-court-v-subhash-agarwal","x":"CPIO, Supreme Court of India v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal {{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords (cpio,supreme,court,india,subhash,chandra,agarwal,rti case law india) metatag-description (The 2020 Constitution Bench ruling that brought the office of the Chief Justice of India within the RTI Act.)} The 2020 Constitution Bench ruling that brought the office of the Chief Justice of India within the RTI Act. Full practitioner note pending. In the meantime, see: Case Law Library for indexed landmark RTI decisions The RTI Act, 2005 (as amended) for the statutory text A decade of change 2015-2025 for context If you have a copy of the judgment text or a well-cited analysis, contributions are welcome via the editorial inbox. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"important-decisions:court:girish-ramchandra-deshpande","t":"Girish Deshpande: What is Personal Under RTI?","d":"The SCs 2013 test for personal information under Section 8(1","u":"/important-decisions/court/girish-ramchandra-deshpande","x":"Girish Deshpande: What is Personal Under RTI? Girish Ramchandra Deshpande Versus Central Information Commission T he issue before the Court: Whether the information pertaining to a Public Servant in respect of his service career and also the details of his assets and liabilities, movable and immovable properties, can be denied on the ground that the information sought for was qualified to be personal information as defined in clause (j) of Section 8(1) of the RTI Act. The observations of the Court: “12. The petitioner herein sought for copies of all memos, show cause notices and censure/punishment awarded to the third respondent from his employer and also details viz. movable and immovable properties and also the details of his investments, lending and borrowing from Banks and other financial institutions. Further, he has also sought for the details of gifts stated to have accepted by the third respondent, his family members and friends and relatives at the marriage of his son. The information mostly sought for finds a place in the income tax returns of the third respondent. The question that has come up for consideration is whether the above-mentioned information sought for qualifies to be “personal information” as defined in clause (j) of Section 8(1) of the RTI Act. We are in agreement with the CIC and the courts below that the details called for by the petitioner i.e. copies of all memos issued to the third respondent, show cause notices and orders of censure/punishment etc. are qualified to be personal information as defined in clause (j) of Section 8(1) of the RTI Act. The performance of an employee/officer in an organization is primarily a matter between the employee and the employer and normally those aspects are governed by the service rules which fall under the expression “personal information”, the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or public interest. On the other hand, the disclosure of which would cause unwarranted invasion of privacy of that individual. Of course, in a given case, if the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer of the Appellate Authority is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information, appropriate orders could be passed but the petitioner cannot claim those details as a matter of right. The details disclosed by a person in his income tax returns are “personal information” which stand exempted from disclosure"},{"s":"important-decisions:court:irrelevant-information","t":"RTI can’t be Denied on the Ground that Information sought is Irrelevant","d":"RTI can’t be Denied on the Ground that Information sought is Irrelevant. Part of the RTI Wiki reference for India's Right to Information Act, 2005.","u":"/important-decisions/court/irrelevant-information","x":"RTI can’t be Denied on the Ground that Information sought is Irrelevant Judgement by Delhi High Court Case name: Judgement: ..the question whether the information sought by the petitioner is relevant or necessary is not relevant or germane in the context of the Act; a citizen has a right to information by virtue of Section 3 of the Act and the same is not conditional on the information being relevant. Delhi Hight Court Read More [<>] ~~socialite~~ Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"important-decisions:court:madras-hc-public-servants-assets-2024","t":"Madras High Court on public servants' assets (2024)","d":"Madras High Court direction (2024","u":"/important-decisions/court/madras-hc-public-servants-assets-2024","x":"Madras High Court on public servants' assets (2024) Did you know? Most All-India Service officers already file an Annual Property Return under their conduct rules . The information exists in government files. The Madras HC's 2024 direction simply acknowledged that records already in the government's keeping are not made private by labelling them \"personal\". In one line. The Madras High Court held that Annual Property Returns and similar asset disclosures filed by public servants in the ordinary course of duty are disclosable under the RTI Act where a specific public interest is pleaded under Section 8(2). What that means in practice. Blanket refusal of public servants' asset data under Section 8(1)(j) is not sustainable. The applicant must plead a specific public interest — for example, suspicion of disproportionate assets, investigation of corruption, or institutional integrity. The relevant conduct rules (AIS Conduct Rules, Central Civil Services Conduct Rules, State equivalents) already require the filing of these returns. Citation and context Madras High Court order on RTI applications for public servants' asset disclosures, 2024. Exact docket, parties, and the full text of the order should be consulted on the Madras High Court website and on Indian Kanoon for precise citation. The order sits within a broader 2024 re-affirmation across High Courts that transparency concerning public servants' conduct-related filings is constitutionally sustainable under the Puttaswamy proportionality framework. The background All-India Service officers and most Central and State Civil Service officers are required to file an Annual Property Return under their respective conduct rules. The returns list: Immovable property (land, buildings) held directly or by family members. Significant movable property (investments, vehicles). Loans and liabilities above the prescribed threshold. The question that has come before several Information Commissions and High Courts is: are these returns disclosable under the RTI Act? The earlier Supreme Court line of cases — principally Girish Ramchandra Deshpande (2013) — held that such returns are generally exempt under Section 8(1)(j) unless a larger public interest is shown. The Madras direction The Madras High Court's 2024 order reaffirmed the public-interest override in Section 8(2) for such disclosures, and clarified the contours: The applicant must plead a specific public interest — not merely curiosity. Where the public interest is pleaded (for example, suspicion of disproportionate assets), the PIO must test that interest against the privacy harm. Section 10 severance applies to family members' private data — identifying information about the officer's non-public-servant"},{"s":"important-decisions:court:right-to-information-applications-for-gujarat-high-court-pleadings-cannot-be-filed-by-a-third-party","t":"Right to Information applications for Gujarat High Court pleadings cannot be filed by a third party.","d":"//The information to be accessed/certified copies on the judicial side to be obtained through the mechanism provided under the High Court Rules, the provisions...","u":"/important-decisions/court/right-to-information-applications-for-gujarat-high-court-pleadings-cannot-be-filed-by-a-third-party","x":"Right to Information applications for Gujarat High Court pleadings cannot be filed by a third party. The information to be accessed/certified copies on the judicial side to be obtained through the mechanism provided under the High Court Rules, the provisions of the RTI Act shall not be resorted to. In the latest Judgment, Justice Banumathi held that the Right to Information applications for Gujarat High Court pleadings cannot be filed by a third party. However, one can use the system established by the High Court rules. Justice Banumathi stated in her judgment that “The information to be accessed/certified copies on the judicial side to be obtained through the mechanism provided under the High Court Rules, the provisions of the RTI Act shall not be resorted to.” The Judgment set a precedent for all the High Courts, as well as the apex court. Extract from the Judgement: (i) Rule 151 of the Gujarat High Court Rules stipulating a third party to have access to the information/obtaining the certified copies of the documents or orders requires to file an application/affidavit stating the reasons for seeking the information, is not inconsistent with the provisions of the RTI Act; but merely lays down a different procedure as the practice or payment of fees, etc. for obtaining information. In the absence of inherent inconsistency between the provisions of the RTI Act and other law, overriding effect of RTI Act would not apply. (ii) The information to be accessed/certified copies on the judicial side to be obtained through the mechanism provided under the High Court Rules, the provisions of the RTI Act shall not be resorted to. Download the Supreme Court Decision Related RTI can’t be Denied on the Ground that Information sought is Irrelevant. Commission Decisions. Appearance of Advocate /Non Advocate in the hearing. Case law library. Format for giving information to the applicants. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026"},{"s":"important-decisions:electoral-bonds-adr-2024","t":"Electoral Bonds Case (SC 2024): The RTI Angle","d":"The Feb 2024 Constitution Bench ruling that killed electoral bonds and widened Article 19(1","u":"/important-decisions/electoral-bonds-adr-2024","x":"Electoral Bonds Case (SC 2024): The RTI Angle Did you know? The Electoral Bonds Scheme was introduced via an unusual legislative route — as a money bill, bypassing the Rajya Sabha. The Supreme Court's 2024 ruling struck down not just the scheme but also the amendments that enabled it, restoring disclosure requirements across the Companies Act, the Income Tax Act, and the Representation of the People Act. In one line. A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court struck down the Electoral Bonds Scheme, 2018 as unconstitutional, holding that the voters' right to know the source of a political party's funding is a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a) that cannot be abridged on the ground of donor privacy. What that means in practice for RTI. The right to information is explicitly Article 19(1)(a) ground — reinforcing the foundation on which the RTI Act, 2005 sits. Anonymity of donors to political parties is not a legitimate State interest outweighing the voter's right to know. Institutional integrity is a public-interest factor of first order in Section 8(2) balancing. Citation Association for Democratic Reforms and Anr. v. Union of India and Ors. , Writ Petition (Civil) No. 880 of 2017 and connected matters.\\\\ Bench: Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice B.R. Gavai, Justice J.B. Pardiwala, Justice Manoj Misra (five-judge Constitution Bench).\\\\ Date of judgment: 15 February 2024. The scheme and the challenge The Electoral Bonds Scheme, 2018 was introduced through amendments to the Finance Act, 2017 , which in turn modified the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Companies Act, 2013, and the Income Tax Act, 1961. The scheme allowed: Any individual or company to purchase bearer bonds from the State Bank of India in denominations up to Rs 1 crore. The bonds were redeemable only by registered political parties within fifteen days. The scheme exempted political parties from disclosing the names of donors who gave through this route. Companies could contribute without disclosure obligations under the Companies Act for electoral bonds. ADR and other petitioners challenged the scheme on multiple grounds, principally Article 19(1)(a) — the voter's right to know the source of political funding. What the Supreme Court held Article 19(1)(a) and the right to know The Court held that the right to information about political funding is an integral facet of the freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a). A voter's ability to evaluate a political party —"},{"s":"important-decisions:icai-vs-shaunak-h-satya","t":"Supreme Court- ICAI Vs Shaunak H.Satya","d":"Regulations, 1988 and found that there was no discrepancy in evaluation of answerscripts. The appellant informed the first respondent accordingly.","u":"/important-decisions/icai-vs-shaunak-h-satya","x":"Supreme Court- ICAI Vs Shaunak H.Satya In plain English An unsuccessful candidate in the Chartered Accountancy examination applied to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India for information relating to the evaluation process. The Institute declined, invoking Section 8(1)(e) of the Right to Information Act on the ground that the records were held in a fiduciary capacity. The Supreme Court held that an examining body does not stand in a fiduciary relationship with its examiners, moderators, or candidates within the sense of Section 8(1)(e). Section 8(1)(e) protects a narrower class of relationships such as lawyer-client, doctor-patient, and trustee-beneficiary. Instructions to examiners and model answers are confidential during the evaluation period. Once evaluation is complete, that character is lost and the records are disclosable. The Institute's standard criteria for moderation are disclosable. What it means for you. A candidate can obtain instructions to examiners, moderation standards, and similar evaluation records from an examining body once the evaluation round is over. The body cannot rely on a generic \"fiduciary\" objection. Current status. The holding on the scope of Section 8(1)(e) remains good law. The 14 November 2025 amendment to Section 8(1)(j) does not affect the holding. Reportable IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA \\\\ CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION \\\\ CIVIL APPEAL NO. 7571 OF 2011 [Arising out of SLP (C) No.2040/2011] \\\\ The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India … Appellant Vs. Shaunak H.Satya & Ors. … Respondents \\\\ J U D G M E N T R.V.RAVEENDRAN,J. \\\\ Leave granted. \\\\ 2. The appellant Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (for short ‘ICAI’) is a body corporate established under section 3 of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949. One of the functions of the appellant council is to conduct the examination of candidates for enrolment as Chartered Accountants. The first respondent appeared in the Chartered Accountants’ final examination conducted by ICAI in November, 2007. The results were declared in January 2008. The first respondent who was not successful in the examination applied for verification of marks. The appellant carried out the verification in accordance with the provisions of the Chartered Accountants Regulations, 1988 and found that there was no discrepancy in evaluation of answerscripts. The appellant informed the first respondent accordingly. 3. On 18.1.2008 the appellant submitted an application seeking the following information under 13 heads, under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (‘RTI Act’ for short) : “1) Educational qualification of the"},{"s":"important-decisions:k-s-puttaswamy-vs-union-of-india","t":"Puttaswamy: Privacy Is a Fundamental Right","d":"The 9-judge 2017 ruling that made privacy a fundamental right. What it means for RTI exemptions and the DPDP 2025 architecture.","u":"/important-decisions/k-s-puttaswamy-vs-union-of-india","x":"Puttaswamy: Privacy Is a Fundamental Right Did you know? Puttaswamy runs to nearly 550 pages across six concurring opinions — the longest Constitution Bench output in recent Supreme Court history. Every opinion agreed that privacy is a fundamental right. The divergences were on how to balance it against other State interests. In one line. A nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court unanimously held that the right to privacy is a fundamental right protected by Article 21 of the Constitution of India. What that means in practice for RTI. Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act gains a constitutional shield — the personal-information exemption is not mere statutory creation but reflects a constitutional right. Balancing privacy against transparency is now a proportionality test , not a mechanical checklist. The 14 November 2025 substitution of Section 8(1)(j) by the DPDP Rules, 2025 draws directly on Puttaswamy reasoning. Citation Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India and Ors. , (2017) 10 SCC 1.\\\\ Bench: Chief Justice J.S. Khehar, Justice J. Chelameswar, Justice S.A. Bobde, Justice R.K. Agrawal, Justice R.F. Nariman, Justice A.M. Sapre, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice S.K. Kaul, Justice S. Abdul Nazeer.\\\\ Date of judgment: 24 August 2017. The reference A nine-judge Bench was constituted to resolve a question that had hovered over Indian constitutional law for decades: is there a fundamental right to privacy? Earlier Benches had given conflicting answers. M.P. Sharma (1954) and Kharak Singh (1963) suggested there was no such right. Later cases — Gobind v. State of M.P. (1975), R. Rajagopal v. State of Tamil Nadu (1994), PUCL v. Union of India (1997) — implied there was. The immediate trigger was the challenge to the Aadhaar scheme . But the reference question was broader: does the Constitution recognise a fundamental right to privacy at all? What the Court held Unanimously All nine judges agreed that privacy is a fundamental right inhering in Part III of the Constitution — principally Article 21 (life and personal liberty), but also traceable to Articles 14 (equality) and 19 (freedoms). M.P. Sharma and Kharak Singh , to the extent they held otherwise, were overruled. The three-part test The Court laid down a proportionality test for any State action that infringes privacy: Legality — the action must be backed by a valid law. Legitimate aim — the State must pursue a goal that justifies the infringement. Proportionality — the means adopted must be"},{"s":"important-decisions:rbi-vs-jayantilal-mistry","t":"Reserve Bank of India v. Jayantilal N. Mistry (2016)","d":"Supreme Court judgment in Reserve Bank of India v. Jayantilal N. Mistry (2016","u":"/important-decisions/rbi-vs-jayantilal-mistry","x":"Reserve Bank of India v. Jayantilal N. Mistry (2016) Did you know? Before Jayantilal Mistry , regulators routinely refused RTI requests by labelling their supervisory work as \"fiduciary\". The Supreme Court replied that a regulator is not the regulated party's friend — it is the public's watchman. Section 8(1)(e) has been read narrowly ever since. In one line. The Supreme Court held that the Reserve Bank of India cannot refuse to disclose its inspection reports and related supervisory records of banks under Section 8(1)(e) by claiming a fiduciary relationship — the RBI is a statutory regulator, not a fiduciary of the banks it supervises. What that means in practice. The \"fiduciary\" shield in Section 8(1)(e) requires an actual duty to act in the other party's interest. A regulator's duty is to the public. Supervisory records, inspection reports, and action-taken reports against regulated entities are disclosable . Section 8(2) public-interest override applies where commercial confidence or third-party data is involved. Citation Reserve Bank of India v. Jayantilal N. Mistry , (2016) 3 SCC 525.\\\\ Bench: Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice C. Nagappan.\\\\ Date of judgment: 16 December 2015 (reported 2016). The facts A series of RTI applications were filed before the Reserve Bank of India seeking: Inspection reports of cooperative banks and scheduled commercial banks. Action-taken reports on irregularities flagged during inspection. Details of penalties and censures issued against regulated entities. The RBI refused disclosure on three grounds: Section 8(1)(a) — sovereignty and economic interests of the State. Section 8(1)(d) — commercial confidence of the regulated banks. Section 8(1)(e) — information held in a fiduciary relationship between the RBI and the banks it supervises. The Central Information Commission directed disclosure. The RBI appealed through the High Court and reached the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court's reasoning Fiduciary relationship — Section 8(1)(e) The Court held that a regulator is not a fiduciary of the entity it regulates. The trust element that defines a fiduciary relationship — a duty to act in the other party's interest — is absent between the RBI and the banks it supervises. The RBI's duty is to the banking system and the public at large , not to the individual bank. Therefore, Section 8(1)(e) does not apply. Economic interests — Section 8(1)(a) The Court rejected the vague invocation of \"sovereignty and economic interests\" as a generic shield. The RBI must show a specific and substantial harm to economic"},{"s":"important-decisions:start","t":"Case law library — landmark decisions on the Right to Information Act, 2005","d":"A curated library of the most important judgments of the Supreme Court, the High Courts, and the Information Commissions on the working of the Right to...","u":"/important-decisions/start","x":"Case law library — landmark decisions on the Right to Information Act, 2005 Did you know? In CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011), the Supreme Court settled that file notings are disclosable under the RTI Act. A decade-long battle over a single word in Section 2(f) — ended in one paragraph. If your last RTI was rejected. See Why RTI Applications Get Rejected in India — and How to Avoid It. Five reasons, the exact fix for each, and two case studies of rejected RTIs corrected on appeal. A curated library of the most important judgments of the Supreme Court, the High Courts, and the Information Commissions on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Cases are grouped by the section of the Act they principally engage. Each entry shows court, year, citation, a one-line plain-English holding, and a status note on whether the case remains good law after the November 2025 amendment. How this library is curated. Entries meet at least one of three tests: (a) cited by the Supreme Court or a Full Bench as the governing authority on a clause of the Act, (b) changed the day-to-day working of a provision at the Public Information Officer or First Appellate Authority level, or (c) is a post-2019 or post-14-November-2025 decision whose reasoning must be read into current practice. Cases decided under the now-removed proviso to Section 8(1)(j) are flagged. New to RTI? Start with the three most-used guides on this site: How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 Step-by-Step Guide. Why RTI Applications Get Rejected — and How to Avoid It. FAQ — twenty-five most-asked RTI questions. Constitutional foundations State of U.P. v. Raj Narain , (1975) 4 SCC 428. Supreme Court. The citizen's right to know about the affairs of the Government is implicit in the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a). Foundational for the statutory right later codified in the 2005 Act. S.P. Gupta v. Union of India , 1981 Supp SCC 87. Supreme Court. Right of the people to be informed about every public act. The \"judges' transfer\" case; the reasoning on transparency in government is foundational. People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) v. Union of India , (2003) 4 SCC 399. Supreme Court. Voters' right to information on the criminal antecedents and assets of candidates. Judicial precursor to the transparency regime codified by the 2005 Act. K. S. Puttaswamy"},{"s":"important-decisions:thalappalam-coop-vs-state-of-kerala","t":"Supreme Court- Thalappalam Coop. Vs State of Kerala","d":"The question before the Supreme Court was whether a cooperative society registered under the Kerala Cooperative Societies Act is a \"public authority\" under Section 2(h","u":"/important-decisions/thalappalam-coop-vs-state-of-kerala","x":"Supreme Court- Thalappalam Coop. Vs State of Kerala In plain English The question before the Supreme Court was whether a cooperative society registered under the Kerala Cooperative Societies Act is a \"public authority\" under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act and must therefore disclose its records when an applicant files a request. The Court held that a cooperative society does not become a public authority merely because it is registered under a State cooperative law or supervised by a State Registrar. To qualify as a public authority, the body must satisfy one of the tests in Section 2(h). The body must be formed under the Constitution, by a law of Parliament or a State Legislature, or by a notification of the appropriate Government. In the alternative, the body must be owned, controlled, or substantially financed by the appropriate Government. Mere regulatory oversight is not enough. Ownership or control in the substantive sense is required. What it means for you. Not every registered body is covered by the Right to Information Act. If you are applying to a cooperative society, a registered trust, a non-governmental organisation, or a private body, you first have to establish that it meets the Section 2(h) test. If it does not, the Act does not give you a right of access to its records. Current status. The holding on the test for \"public authority\" under Section 2(h) remains good law. The 14 November 2025 amendment to Section 8(1)(j) does not affect the holding. IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO. 9017 OF 2013 (Arising out of SLP (C) No.24290 of 2012) Thalappalam Ser. Coop. BankLtd. and others Appellants Versus State of Kerala and others Respondents WITH CIVIL APPEAL NOs. 9020, 9029 & 9023 OF 2013 (Arising out of SLP (C) No.24291 of 2012, 13796 and 13797of 2013) JUDGMENT K.S. Radhakrishnan, J. 1. Leave granted. 2. We are, in these appeals, concerned with the question whether a co-operative society registered under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 (for short “the Societies Act”) will fall within the definition of “public authority” under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (for short “the RTI Act”) and be bound by the obligations to provide information sought for by a citizen under the RTI Act. 3. A Full Bench of the Kerala High Court, in its judgment reported in AIR 2012 Ker"},{"s":"karnataka-hc-rti-rulings","t":"Karnataka High Court — Landmark RTI Rulings","d":"Landmark RTI rulings of the Karnataka High Court — substantial-financing test, fiduciary relationships, examiner-identity, and regulatory disclosures for professional bodies.","u":"/karnataka-hc-rti-rulings","x":"Karnataka High Court — Landmark RTI Rulings In one line. Karnataka HC's RTI jurisprudence has refined the §2(h)(d)(ii) financing test, the §8(1)(e) fiduciary relationship, and tender disclosures for public-sector undertakings. Bengaluru's technology and educational institutions feature prominently. Part of the PIO / FAA knowledge base . See also Bombay HC, Madras HC, and Kerala HC rulings. Why Karnataka HC matters Karnataka HC hears high-stakes appeals involving PSUs (BHEL, HAL, BEL), universities (IISc, IIM-B, Bangalore University), and state regulators. Its rulings clarify where the financing test actually bites, and how professional-body fiduciary claims are bounded. Landmark rulings 1. Bangalore Development Authority v. Karnataka Information Commission (Karnataka HC, 2012) Ratio. Land-allotment, auction, and beneficiary records of a statutory development authority are presumptively disclosable; privacy objections need specific reasoning per applicant. PIO takeaway. DDAs / BDAs / urban-development authorities cannot shield allotment data on blanket privacy. 2. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation v. Karnataka Information Commission (Karnataka HC, 2015) Ratio. PSU employee-service data (transfer, posting, APAR) is balanced — routine records disclosable, subjective evaluations protected (§8(1)(e)). PIO takeaway. For service records, PIOs must segregate routine from evaluative content; blanket denial fails. 3. S.P. Gupta v. President of India (applied by Karnataka HC in 2013 orders) Ratio. Transparency is \"part of the basic structure\"; exemptions must be narrowly construed. PIO takeaway. When two readings of a §8(1) exemption are possible, prefer the disclosure-friendly one. 4. IISc v. Karnataka State Information Commission (Karnataka HC, 2016) Ratio. Even centres of excellence like IISc are public authorities under §2(h) and must disclose governance, budget, and faculty-appointment records, subject to §8(1)(e) for faculty evaluations. PIO takeaway. The institute's \"academic freedom\" claim does not override RTI; evaluations are bounded fiduciary items. 5. Bangalore University v. Karnataka State Information Commission (Karnataka HC, 2017) Ratio. Dissertation / thesis evaluation records are subject to §8(1)(e); scoresheets and award records are disclosable per Aditya Bandopadhyay . PIO takeaway. Thesis examiner identity — protected. Scoresheets + award certificate — open. 6. State of Karnataka v. C.V. Srinivasa (Karnataka HC, 2014) Ratio. A public authority cannot ask the applicant to give reasons for seeking information, barring life-and-liberty cases under §7(1) proviso or severability under §10. PIO takeaway. The §6(2) bar is firm — PIOs who demand reasons invite §20 penalty. 7. BMRCL v. Karnataka State Information Commission (Karnataka HC, 2018) Ratio. Metro-rail corporations' DPRs, tender records, and alignment decisions are public-authority records; financial-bid technicalities post-award"},{"s":"kerala-hc-rti-rulings","t":"Kerala High Court — Landmark RTI Rulings","d":"Landmark RTI rulings of the Kerala High Court — Thalappalam co-operative ratio, privacy jurisprudence, file-noting disclosures, and commission / statutory-body governance.","u":"/kerala-hc-rti-rulings","x":"Kerala High Court — Landmark RTI Rulings In one line. Kerala HC's RTI jurisprudence shaped the Thalappalam frame for co-operative societies, the privacy boundary under §8(1)(j), and the architecture of file-noting disclosures. The rulings are cited across India. Part of the PIO / FAA knowledge base . See also Bombay HC and Madras HC rulings. Why Kerala HC matters Kerala HC handed down the ratio that the Supreme Court later affirmed in Thalappalam Service Cooperative Bank Ltd. v. State of Kerala (2013). Its rulings on state information commissions, statutory-body disclosures, and medical-college regulation are foundational. Landmark rulings 1. Thalappalam Service Cooperative Bank Ltd. v. State of Kerala (Kerala HC, 2009, affirmed SC 2013) Ratio. Co-operative societies registered under the Co-operative Societies Act are not automatically public authorities under §2(h); the substantial-financing test under §2(h)(d)(ii) must be independently satisfied. PIO takeaway. For co-operative banks, the \"substantial finance / control\" test governs; mere registration does not make the body public. 2. Kerala Public Service Commission v. State Information Commission (Kerala HC, 2011) Ratio. Category-wise cut-offs, scored marks, and rank-data are disclosable; examiner-identity and model answers are protected. PIO takeaway. PSC records follow Aditya Bandopadhyay + Shaunak Satya exactly. 3. Treesa Irish v. Central Public Information Officer (Kerala HC, 2010) Ratio. File-notings are part of the \"record\" under §2(i) and are disclosable, subject to §8(1). PIO takeaway. File-noting is not automatically exempt; §8(1) grounds must be evaluated line by line. 4. Dr. G. John v. Kerala State Information Commission (Kerala HC, 2017) Ratio. Medical colleges funded by the State and regulated by the MCI / NMC are public authorities; faculty governance and inspection records are disclosable. PIO takeaway. Medical-college inspection and faculty records fall under §2(h); §8(1)(d) needs specific commercial harm. 5. State of Kerala v. Kerala State Information Commission (Kerala HC, 2016) Ratio. The SIC cannot sit in substitution over policy decisions; it enforces disclosure but does not direct administrative action. PIO takeaway. SIC orders that instruct the PIO to \"take action\" beyond disclosure are reviewable on jurisdiction. 6. M/s Carbon Resources v. Kerala State Information Commission (Kerala HC, 2015) Ratio. §8(1)(d) commercial confidence requires a demonstrable competitive harm; financial-bid data redaction is permissible post-award but only for genuinely competitive elements. PIO takeaway. For tenders, technical evaluation post-award is disclosable; only narrowly defined commercial data stays redacted. 7. Velu v. State of Kerala (Kerala HC, 2020) Ratio. Life-and-liberty requests under §7(1) proviso"},{"s":"landmark-cic-decisions","t":"10 Landmark CIC Decisions That Transformed RTI in India (With Case Analysis & Practical Lessons)","d":"Ten landmark Central Information Commission decisions that reshaped the RTI Act, 2005 in India — judges' assets, file notings, political parties, RBI, BCCI, answer sheets and more. With case analysis ","u":"/landmark-cic-decisions","x":"10 Landmark CIC Decisions That Transformed RTI in India (With Case Analysis & Practical Lessons) In one line. Since its establishment on 12 October 2005, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has decided over three lakh second appeals and complaints — and a small set of landmark rulings has repeatedly shaped how Indian citizens, courts, and departments read the Right to Information Act, 2005. This article curates ten of the most consequential. What that means for you. Each case shows how an exemption under Section 8 actually plays out. Each ruling gives you a line of argument to cite in your own RTI or appeal. Each ruling signals how far Indian transparency law has come — and where it hesitates. Did you know? The CIC is not a court, but its orders are final and binding under Section 19(7) of the RTI Act. A party aggrieved by a CIC order can challenge it only through a writ petition before the High Court. Several CIC orders have been later upheld — and in some cases expanded — by the Supreme Court. What is the Central Information Commission? The Central Information Commission (CIC) is an independent statutory body constituted under Section 12 of the Right to Information Act, 2005. It comprises a Chief Information Commissioner and up to ten Information Commissioners, appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee headed by the Prime Minister. The CIC is the final appellate authority for Second Appeals and complaints arising from RTI applications made to Central Government bodies — ministries, departments, public-sector undertakings, regulators, constitutional bodies, and central universities. Each State has its own State Information Commission (SIC) for state-level bodies. Website: ''cic.gov.in''. Why CIC decisions matter Binding interpretation. CIC orders are the authoritative reading of the Act on the Central-government side. Public authorities must follow them unless overturned by a court. Precedent-setting value. CIC orders are cited by High Courts, the Supreme Court, other CICs, and State Information Commissions. Many landmark Supreme Court rulings on RTI have their origin in a CIC order. Practical grammar. CIC orders show how Section 8 exemptions, Section 4 proactive disclosure, Section 6 requests, and Section 19 appeals actually work in real cases. Citizen leverage. A well-chosen CIC order cited in your First Appeal or Second Appeal often persuades the appellate desk to release information. The 10 most important CIC decisions 1. Subhash Chandra Agarwal v. CPIO, Supreme"},{"s":"landmark-rulings-2021-2026","t":"Landmark RTI Rulings, 2021 to 2026","d":"A curated list of the most significant Supreme Court and High Court rulings on the Right to Information Act between 2021 and April 2026. Includes Electoral Bonds, Delhi HC PhD theses, and the DPDP-era","u":"/landmark-rulings-2021-2026","x":"Landmark RTI Rulings, 2021 to 2026 Did you know? The single most consequential legislative change to the RTI Act between 2021 and 2026 was not a judgment but the 14 November 2025 DPDP Rules substitution of Section 8(1)(j) . Every post-2025 ruling has to be read against that statutory re-shaping. In one line. Seven developments between 2021 and April 2026 have done most of the work in re-shaping the RTI regime — two legislative and five judicial. The legislative changes are the RTI Amendment Act, 2019 (operational since 24 October 2019) and the DPDP Rules, 2025 (notified 14 November 2025). The judicial developments are listed below. What that means in practice. The substantive right under Section 3 of the Act is undisturbed. The administration (tenure, salaries) is under Central Government rule-making since 2019. The personal-information exemption under Section 8(1)(j) is tighter since November 2025. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged and still decisive. A curated list of the most significant Supreme Court and High Court rulings on the RTI Act between 2021 and April 2026. Each entry carries the citation, the holding in one sentence, and the section of the Act it engages. For the full practitioner-level analysis of each case, follow the internal link. Supreme Court 1. Association for Democratic Reforms v. Union of India (Electoral Bonds) — 2024 Citation: ADR v. Union of India , W.P. (C) 880 of 2017 and connected matters, Supreme Court of India, 15 February 2024 . Five-judge Constitution Bench. Holding in one line. The Electoral Bonds Scheme, 2018 was struck down as unconstitutional; the voter's right to know the source of political funding is a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a) that cannot be abridged on the ground of donor privacy. Why it matters for RTI. It is the clearest post-2020 statement from the Supreme Court that informational transparency is an Article 19(1)(a) freedom — the constitutional anchor on which the RTI Act itself sits. See the full case page. Section engaged. RTI Act Section 3 (animating right); Constitution Article 19(1)(a). 2. Anjali Bhardwaj v. Union of India — ongoing from 2019 Citation: Anjali Bhardwaj and Ors. v. Union of India , W.P. (C) 436 of 2018 (Supreme Court of India), with subsequent directions through 2021 and later. Holding in one line. The Court declined to strike down the RTI Amendment Act, 2019 but issued detailed directions on transparent appointment processes at"},{"s":"madras-hc-rti-rulings","t":"Madras High Court — Landmark RTI Rulings","d":"Landmark RTI rulings of the Madras High Court — examiner confidentiality, health records, third-party notice under Section 11, and university governance. Ratio-first citations for PIOs and applicants.","u":"/madras-hc-rti-rulings","x":"Madras High Court — Landmark RTI Rulings In one line. Madras HC's RTI work has driven the ratio on examiner-confidentiality balancing, Section 11 third-party notice, and disclosures from university and cooperative bodies. These rulings are routinely cited by Tamil Nadu SIC and across southern states. Part of the PIO / FAA knowledge base . See also Bombay HC rulings and Kerala HC rulings. Why Madras HC matters Madras HC handles large volumes of RTI appeals, particularly from universities, co-operative institutions, and the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission. Its rulings on answer-script disclosure (pre- and post- Aditya Bandopadhyay ) and Section 11 procedural discipline are among the country's most detailed. Landmark rulings 1. Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission v. Tamil Nadu Information Commission (Madras HC, 2017) Ratio. Answer-scripts are disclosable as per Aditya Bandopadhyay ; model answers and examiner-identity remain protected under §8(1)(e). PIO takeaway. For a PSC, the answer-script is open on request; the evaluator's identity is not. 2. Principal, Madras Christian College v. State Information Commission (Madras HC, 2014) Ratio. Aided institutions that are substantially financed by the State are public authorities under §2(h). PIO takeaway. Financial-control test applies; aided colleges cannot claim private-body status. 3. C. Muniyappan v. State of Tamil Nadu (Madras HC, 2013) Ratio. Section 11 notice to a third party cannot be dispensed with when personal records are involved; procedural compliance is mandatory. PIO takeaway. The Section 11 procedure is not optional — skipping it is grounds to set aside the PIO order. 4. S. Muthukumarasamy v. Commissioner, Labour Department (Madras HC, 2018) Ratio. Inspection reports prepared by public authorities in regulatory capacity are subject to §8(1)(h) only during pendency; after action, they become disclosable. PIO takeaway. \"Investigation pending\" ceases to be a §8(1)(h) ground after closure; new reasoning is required then. 5. S. Venkatesan v. Chief Information Commissioner (Madras HC, 2016) Ratio. A PIO's blanket refusal citing voluminous data fails §7(9); the PIO must offer inspection instead. PIO takeaway. For voluminous requests, propose inspection and certified copies on identified pages; don't reject wholesale. 6. University of Madras v. Tamil Nadu Information Commission (Madras HC, 2019) Ratio. University governance records — syndicate, senate, academic council minutes — are public-authority records; blanket commercial-confidence ground is unavailable. PIO takeaway. For universities, governance minutes are disclosable; specific agenda items may be severed under §10. 7. Chairman, Indian Bank v. Central Information Commission (Madras HC, 2015) Ratio. Banking customer"},{"s":"pdfs","t":"PDF Document Library","d":"Complete index of every PDF document across RTI Wiki — State rules, Acts, case-law judgments, and departmental memoranda. Searchable, paginated, deep-linked to source pages.","u":"/pdfs","x":"PDF Document Library ~~NOCACHE~~ Every PDF document hosted across RTI Wiki is indexed below. This page auto-updates — new uploads appear within 30 minutes. Use the search box to filter; the table shows 100 rows at a time, with a \"Show 100 more\" button at the bottom. How this page works The index is built by scanning every ''.pdf'' file under the site's media directory and every content page for references. Each document row shows: name + download link , source page (the wiki page that references the PDF), and a short description derived from the filename. Orphan PDFs (stored but not referenced from any page) are also listed so editors can find and link them. Refresh cycle: 30 minutes. Uploads during that window appear on the next auto-rebuild. Related The RTI Act, 2005 (as amended) RTI Rules — Central, State, UT Landmark RTI decisions Ready-to-file templates Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026"},{"s":"pio-banking-financial-rti","t":"Banking, Financial, and Tax RTIs — A PIO Playbook","d":"How PIOs handle banking, regulatory, and tax-record RTIs after //RBI v. Jayantilal Mistry// — what's disclosable, what's protected, and drafting templates.","u":"/pio-banking-financial-rti","x":"Banking, Financial, and Tax RTIs — A PIO Playbook Core rule. RBI v. Jayantilal Mistry (2016) 3 SCC 525 — the regulator-regulated relationship is NOT fiduciary. Inspection reports, willful-defaulter lists, risk assessments held by RBI are disclosable. But customer-level account data remains protected under §8(1)(j). Legal framework §8(1)(e) — fiduciary exemption, narrowed by Jayantilal Mistry . §8(1)(d) — commercial confidence, for genuine trade-secret content. §8(1)(j) — personal information (customer-level data). Income Tax Act, §138 — statutory secrecy of individual tax records; interacts with §22 of RTI Act (overriding effect). §10 — severability; essential in mixed-customer-regulatory records. Decision matrix Element Default Reasoning RBI inspection report on a named bank Disclose Jayantilal Mistry Willful-defaulter list Disclose Mistry line; public interest Risk-assessment report on a bank Disclose Mistry Customer bank account details Exempt §8(1)(j) Loan agreement of a private borrower Exempt §8(1)(j) + §8(1)(d) Bank's own circular on interest rates Disclose Institutional, public SEBI order on a listed company Disclose Final order, post-decisional Stock-exchange compliance files Mostly disclose Institutional Individual tax-return details Exempt IT Act §138 + §8(1)(j) Tax-enforcement action against PSU Partial Institutional portion disclosable GST registration details of businesses Disclose Publicly listed on GSTN CBIC circular Disclose Institutional Insurance policy holder details Exempt §8(1)(j) + §8(1)(e) privacy IRDAI action on an insurer Disclose Mistry line Decision framework Step 1. Identify the holder — regulator (RBI/SEBI/IRDAI/CBIC) or regulated entity. Step 2. If regulator, default to disclosure of regulator's records per Mistry . Step 3. If regulated entity, check whether it is a \"public authority\" under §2(h) — PSU banks yes, private banks no (RTI doesn't apply to private banks directly). Step 4. Identify customer-specific elements — redact under §10 + §8(1)(j). Step 5. Identify trade-secret elements (proprietary risk models, bid formulas) — §8(1)(d). Step 6. Section 11 notice to third parties (borrowers, investors, policy-holders) where their confidentiality is implicated. Step 7. Speaking reply citing Mistry where fiduciary is invoked and narrowed. Template — regulatory inspection report disclosure [sample application] Template — refusal of customer-level data [sample application] Subject-wise examples RTI for a PSU bank's NPA status. Institutional disclosure; Mistry . RTI for a named borrower's default status. §8(1)(j); exempt. RTI for RBI's show-cause notice to a co-op bank. Disclose after the notice has been adjudicated. RTI for a chartered accountant's working papers held by SEBI. Working papers are fiduciary (auditor-client); but SEBI's regulatory use of them is disclosable — surgical §10 redaction"},{"s":"pio-citing-case-law","t":"How to Cite Case Law in PIO Replies and FAA Orders","d":"How PIOs and FAAs should cite case law in RTI replies and appeal orders — ratio vs obiter, the three-line citation, pitfalls to avoid, and a citation library keyed to each Section 8 sub-clause.","u":"/pio-citing-case-law","x":"How to Cite Case Law in PIO Replies and FAA Orders The test. A well-cited PIO reply survives First Appeal. A poorly-cited or un-cited reply is the single most frequent ground for remand. Three lines of citation, correctly chosen, outperform three paragraphs of generic reasoning. The three-line citation that persuades Pattern: \"... as held by the [Court] in [Case Name], [Citation], where the Court ruled that [one-line ratio].\" Example: > \"The information sought falls within Section 8(1)(j) as held by the Supreme Court in Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. CIC (2013) 1 SCC 212, where the Court held that service records and APAR grading of government employees are personal information unless larger public interest is demonstrated.\" Three lines. One case. One ratio. Precisely-cited statutory provision. Ratio vs obiter — the essential distinction Ratio decidendi the legal principle necessary to the decision. Binding on all lower courts and authorities. Obiter dicta passing observations not necessary to the decision. Persuasive but not binding. Rule of thumb: if removing the statement changes the outcome, it's ratio; if removing it doesn't, it's obiter. Citation library — by Section 8 sub-clause Section 8(1)(a) — sovereignty / security UoI v. ADR , (2002) — right to know is inherent in Article 19(1)(a); exemptions must be strictly construed. Use sparingly; §8(1)(a) rarely litigated because departments mostly agree. Section 8(1)(d) — commercial confidence RBI v. Jayantilal Mistry , (2016) 3 SCC 525 — narrow reading; regulator is not fiduciary. (Also relevant to §8(1)(e).) Pair with clear identification of the trade-secret element. Section 8(1)(e) — fiduciary relationship CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay , (2011) 8 SCC 497 — four-factor fiduciary test. RBI v. Jayantilal Mistry , (2016) 3 SCC 525 — narrow application. ICAI v. Shaunak Satya , (2011) 8 SCC 781 — temporal fiduciary for exam material. Section 8(1)(h) — investigation Bhagat Singh v. CIC (Delhi HC 2008) — specific impedance required; blanket refusal struck down. Section 8(1)(i) — Cabinet papers R.K. Jain v. UoI , (2013) 14 SCC 1 — file notings are information; post-decisional disclosable. Section 8(1)(j) — personal information Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. CIC , (2013) 1 SCC 212 — service records. CPIO, SC v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal , (2020) 5 SCC 481 — proportional balance for public offices. K.S. Puttaswamy v. UoI , (2017) 10 SCC 1 — three-step privacy test. CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay , (2011) 8 SCC 497 — own data to self. Section"},{"s":"pio-deemed-refusal-section-7-2","t":"Deemed Refusal Under Section 7(2) — A PIO's Recovery Guide","d":"Section 7(2","u":"/pio-deemed-refusal-section-7-2","x":"Deemed Refusal Under Section 7(2) — A PIO's Recovery Guide Core rule. When the PIO fails to respond within the statutory 30-day window (48 hours for life / liberty; 35 days post Section 6(3) transfer; 40 days post Section 11 notice), the failure is treated as refusal under Section 7(2). The applicant accrues the right to file First Appeal immediately, and the PIO faces potential penalty under Section 20 — Rs. 250 per day of delay, up to Rs. 25,000. Legal framework Section 7(1). PIO to respond within 30 days of receipt. Section 7(2). Failure to communicate a decision within the period in sub-section (1) shall be deemed refusal. Section 7(3). Where the PIO requires additional fee, the 30-day period starts from the date of communication of the fee and the applicant's payment. Section 7(5). If further fee is charged, the applicant can appeal it. Section 19(1). First Appeal lies against the PIO's decision, including deemed refusal. Section 20(1). Penalty on the PIO who fails to receive or respond: Rs. 250/day, capped at Rs. 25,000; plus recommended disciplinary action. Key principles Silence is refusal. No further act required from the PIO; the applicant's appeal right accrues on Day 31. Burden on the PIO. Under Section 19(5), the PIO must prove the denial was justified — hard to do when there was no reasoning. Late reply ≠ cure. A reply issued on Day 35 does not cure the deemed refusal; the Commission can still impose penalty. Timelines extend in specific cases. 48 hours — life/liberty (Section 7(1) proviso). 35 days — Section 6(3) transfer (30 days from transferee's receipt). 40 days — Section 11 third-party procedure. Fee suspends the clock. If PIO intimates fee on Day 10, the clock restarts on payment date (Section 7(3)). What to do if the PIO missed the deadline Step 1 — Calculate the delay. From Day 31 (or the relevant adjusted date) till the date of actual reply (or the date of Commission hearing if no reply). Step 2 — Assess reason on the file. Genuine reasons (file transit, public-authority closure, natural disaster) mitigate; routine backlog does not. Step 3 — Issue the reply immediately. Even a late reply is better than none; it caps further Section 20 exposure. Step 4 — Attach an apology + explanation in the reply. Not legally required, but routinely softens Commission response. Step 5 — Respond to the First"},{"s":"pio-education-rti","t":"Education Sector RTIs (Beyond Exams) — A PIO Playbook","d":"How PIOs in the education sector handle RTIs beyond exams — scholarships, institute affiliations, admissions, faculty qualifications, fees. Framework, templates, case law.","u":"/pio-education-rti","x":"Education Sector RTIs (Beyond Exams) — A PIO Playbook Scope. This playbook covers education-sector RTIs other than direct exam answer-sheet / marking queries (which are covered separately in our recruitment and exam playbook). Here: scholarships, institute affiliations, admission processes, faculty qualifications, fee regulation. Legal framework §2(h) — UGC, AICTE, NMC, CBSE, NCTE, state Universities, affiliated colleges (aided) all are public authorities. §8(1)(j) — student / faculty personal data. §8(1)(e) — fiduciary protection for examination-adjacent records (narrowed temporally). §4(1)(b)(xii) — scholarship beneficiary lists. Right to Education Act, 2009 + rules — SMC and school records public. Decision matrix Element Default Own scholarship application status Disclose Third-party scholarship beneficiary list (aggregate) Disclose under §4(1)(b)(xii) Institute's UGC / AICTE / NMC approval Disclose — institutional, public UGC inspection report of a university Disclose post-completion NCTE recognition file Disclose College faculty qualifications (aggregated) Disclose — institutional Individual faculty APAR Exempt — Deshpande College admission list (category-wise merit) Disclose Individual student's admission file Disclose to self Fee regulation affidavits filed by a college Disclose — regulatory SMC minutes (school) Disclose Samagra Shiksha fund-release records Disclose Research-scholar fellowship release Disclose to scholar; aggregate to public Placement data (aggregate) Disclose Placement of a specific student Exempt — §8(1)(j) Decision framework Step 1. Classify — institutional vs individual. Step 2. Institutional: default to disclosure under §4. Step 3. Individual: self-data disclose; third-party with §11 + §10 + §8(2) balancing. Step 4. Academic-integrity questions — check temporal (live cycle exempt; post-cycle disclosable). Step 5. Speaking reply with institutional/regulatory grounding. Template — scholarship status disclosure [sample application] Template — institute-affiliation file disclosure [sample application] Subject-wise examples Own scholarship delay. Disclose; see scheme delay guide. College-level UGC approval. Disclose. Admission merit list. Disclose. Individual student's marks in another stream. Exempt — §8(1)(j). Institute fee-hike justification filed with regulator. Disclose. NCTE recognition for a B.Ed college. Disclose. Fellowship disbursement record for own scholarship. Disclose. Case law CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011) 8 SCC 497 — own-exam disclosure; principle extends to own-scholarship. ICAI v. Shaunak Satya (2011) 8 SCC 781 — temporal protection for examination material. Thalappalam Service Co-op Bank v. State of Kerala (2013) 16 SCC 82 — the \"public authority\" test applicable to affiliated colleges and cooperative educational bodies. Common mistakes Treating all education-sector records as exam secrets. Denying own-scholarship information. Releasing third-party students' marks. Not checking §4(1)(b)(xii) for scholarship lists — proactive duty. Over-charging for institute-record photocopies. Pro tips Publish"},{"s":"pio-faa-knowledge-base","t":"PIO & FAA Knowledge Base — Advanced RTI Decision-Making","d":"The PIO & FAA knowledge base: 25 advanced, legally-accurate articles on RTI decision-making, exemptions, case law and speaking-order drafting — clustered for serious practitioners.","u":"/pio-faa-knowledge-base","x":"PIO & FAA Knowledge Base — Advanced RTI Decision-Making Who this section is for. Central and State Public Information Officers (PIOs / CPIOs) drafting replies under Section 7 of the RTI Act, 2005. First Appellate Authorities (FAAs) disposing of appeals under Section 19(1). Public authorities designing proactive disclosure (Section 4) and PIO training. Senior RTI applicants, journalists, lawyers who need to understand how legally sustainable decisions are constructed. How this knowledge base is organised. 25 advanced articles across 5 clusters. Each article solves one real decision-making problem, carries case-law citations, and ends with a copy-ready drafting template. Did you know? Section 19(5) of the RTI Act, 2005 places the burden of proof on the PIO in any appeal — the officer must demonstrate that denial was justified. A reasoned, case-law-grounded reply is the best defence at First Appeal, Second Appeal, and writ stages. Start here The PIO RTI reply guide — 7-step framework + 9 templates (canonical) Guidelines for PIOs (official reference) Guidelines for First Appellate Authorities Guidelines for public authorities Cluster 1 — RTI Legal Interpretation How each major exemption actually works. Narrow reading, public-interest tests, severability. 1.1 Section 8(1)(j) — Personal information after DPDP 2025 (FULL ARTICLE) PIO framework for Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025\\\\ Read the law right. Apply the public-interest test correctly. Cite Deshpande and Aditya Bandopadhyay. Draft a speaking rejection. Survive First Appeal. 1.2 Section 8(1)(e) — Fiduciary relationship (narrow reading after Jayantilal Mistry) Outline. When is the PIO's relationship with a regulated / supervised / advisory party a fiduciary one? When is it not? Why Reserve Bank of India v. Jayantilal N. Mistry (2016) redrew the line. Rejection template with Mistry citation. Subject-wise examples: regulator ↔ regulated; auditor ↔ auditee; SEBI ↔ stock exchange; teacher ↔ student; lawyer ↔ client. Common mistakes. 1.3 Section 8(1)(i) — Cabinet papers and the post-decisional trigger Outline. The \"complete or over\" test. What pre-decisional material is covered. What material loses exemption the moment a notification is issued. CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay on post-decisional disclosure. R.K. Jain v. UoI on file notings. Template for declining pre-decisional; for releasing post-decisional. 1.4 Section 10 — Severability done right Outline. The most under-used tool in the PIO's kit. Identifying exempt parts. Redaction technique (line-level, not page-level). The severability note that should accompany every partial reply. When the Information Commission ordered re-disclosure because the PIO invoked blanket denial. 1.5 Section 11"},{"s":"pio-health-hospital-rti","t":"Health and Hospital Sector RTIs — A PIO Playbook","d":"How PIOs in the health sector handle RTIs — duty rosters, drug stock, Ayushman Bharat billing, medical records, doctor-patient privilege. Framework and templates.","u":"/pio-health-hospital-rti","x":"Health and Hospital Sector RTIs — A PIO Playbook Scope. RTIs at government hospitals, AIIMS, PGI, state medical bodies, CGHS, National Health Authority (Ayushman Bharat), CDSCO, ICMR. Two axes: institutional transparency (high) and patient privacy (very high — doctor-patient privilege). Legal framework §8(1)(j) — patient personal data — medical records, diagnosis, treatment. §8(1)(e) — doctor-patient fiduciary relationship. §4(1)(b)(xii) — beneficiary lists (Ayushman Bharat, CGHS). §10 — severability, essential in mixed records. §11 — third-party notice (patient) where applicable. Clinical Establishments Act, 2010 — disclosure duties of facilities. Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) — institutional standards; records aligned are disclosable. Decision matrix Element Default Doctor duty roster Disclose — institutional Individual doctor's attendance (aggregate month) Disclose Drug stock register (item-wise) Disclose Equipment register (functional / repair) Disclose ICU bed occupancy (aggregate) Disclose ICU bed occupancy (named patient) Exempt — §8(1)(j) OPD numbers served Disclose — aggregate Own medical record Disclose to self Third-party medical record Exempt — §8(1)(j) + §8(1)(e) Ayushman Bharat empanelment list Disclose — public Ayushman Bharat claim of a named patient Exempt — §8(1)(j); disclose to self Hospital inspection report by CMO Disclose post-completion Maternal-mortality / infection data (aggregate) Disclose Drug approval by CDSCO Disclose Blood-bank test register Disclose (redact donor identity) Decision framework Step 1. Institutional or individual-patient? Step 2. Own data or third-party? Step 3. For institutional queries — default to disclosure; apply IPHS as the checklist. Step 4. For third-party patient data — §8(1)(j) + fiduciary §8(1)(e). Decline unless own or overriding public interest (public-health outbreak investigation). Step 5. §11 notice where named third party is implicated. Step 6. §10 redaction for aggregates that include identifiable patients. Step 7. Speaking reply; doctor-patient privilege is a strong anchor. Template — institutional hospital disclosure [sample application] Template — patient-record denial [sample application] Subject-wise examples Hospital's overall OPD numbers for a month. Disclose. Particular doctor's consultations on a specific day. Partial — aggregate disclosable; named-patient list exempt. Own operation record. Disclose to self. A public-figure's hospital admission. Generally exempt; carve-outs for legitimate public interest (e.g., elected representative in hospital at public expense). Ayushman Bharat denied claim for own treatment. Disclose to self — own file. Pattern of claim-rejection rates at empanelled hospitals. Institutional aggregate disclose; named-patient data redact. Blood-bank donor matching record. Institutional testing-register disclose; donor identity redact. Case law Girish Deshpande (2013) 1 SCC 212 — personal data under §8(1)(j). CIC orders on AIIMS, ICMR, NHA —"},{"s":"pio-high-court-rulings","t":"High Court Interpretations of the RTI Act — Regional Takeaways","d":"High Court interpretations of the RTI Act across Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Kerala, Karnataka, and Calcutta — regional precedents every PIO and FAA should know.","u":"/pio-high-court-rulings","x":"High Court Interpretations of the RTI Act — Regional Takeaways Why High Courts matter. High Courts apply Supreme Court principles to state-specific facts and often produce the first reasoned view on novel questions. A PIO who knows the local HC's line writes better replies within that jurisdiction. Delhi High Court — the largest RTI docket Bhagat Singh v. CIC (2008) Holding. Section 8(1)(h) requires specific impedance to investigation; cannot be invoked as a class. Severable factual information unrelated to the live investigation must be disclosed. Takeaway for PIOs. Do not reject FIR details or preliminary-enquiry records wholesale under §8(1)(h). Identify the specific prejudicial element; release the rest. Union of India v. Namit Sharma (2013, pre-SC) Holding. Reaffirmed the quasi-judicial character of Information Commissions. Subsequently travelled to the SC. Delhi HC — PhD theses ruling (2024) Holding. Published PhD theses held by universities are public records under RTI. University cannot claim copyright-based exemption under Section 9 against disclosure. Takeaway. Academic output funded or certified by a public university is disclosable. Coverage of our dedicated page: Delhi HC PhD theses ruling. Arvind Kejriwal v. CPIO, CIC (Delhi HC 2010) Holding. Procedural compliance with Section 11 is mandatory. Failure to issue third-party notice is fatal to the PIO's denial. Takeaway. Section 11 notice cannot be skipped even when the PIO believes disclosure is obvious. Bombay High Court Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority v. SIC (Bombay HC, 2014) Holding. Municipal / metropolitan authorities cannot claim commercial-confidence blanket (§8(1)(d)) against routine land-allotment and tender records. Post-decisional tender material is disclosable. Takeaway. §8(1)(d) during live bid; disclosure after award. See also tender RTI playbook. Dr. Celsa Pinto v. Goa SIC (Bombay HC, Goa Bench) Holding. Public authorities cannot charge non-statutory inspection fees; Rs. 5 per hour (after first hour free) is the ceiling. Takeaway. Stick to the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2012 schedule. Madras High Court Tamil Nadu Road Development Co. v. SIC (Madras HC) Holding. A public-sector undertaking undertaking government work is a \"public authority\" regardless of corporate form. RTI applies in full. Takeaway. Corporate form does not immunise from RTI where the body is substantially financed or controlled by government. R.K. Rangarajan v. TNPSC (Madras HC) Holding. Tamil Nadu PSC answer sheets and evaluation data are within RTI scope, following Aditya Bandopadhyay . Examiner identity protected; candidate's marks not. Takeaway. State PSCs cannot rely on their own rules to deny what"},{"s":"pio-investigation-rti","t":"Investigation, Police, and CBI RTIs — A PIO Playbook","d":"How PIOs handle RTIs on investigation, police, CBI matters — Section 8(1","u":"/pio-investigation-rti","x":"Investigation, Police, and CBI RTIs — A PIO Playbook Scope. RTIs touching criminal investigation, police files, CBI enquiries, and the Second-Schedule exempted organisations. Governed by Sections 8(1)(h) and 24, read together with the Bhagat Singh specific-impedance test. Legal framework Section 8(1)(h) — information that would impede the process of investigation, apprehension, or prosecution of offenders. Section 24 — the Act does not apply to the intelligence and security organisations listed in the Second Schedule (CBI, IB, RAW, NIA, etc.), except information relating to: Allegations of corruption , or Human-rights violations . Section 22 — overriding effect of the RTI Act over other secrecy laws. Key principles Specific impedance, not class exemption. Bhagat Singh v. CIC (Delhi HC 2008) — §8(1)(h) requires demonstrable prejudice to a specific investigation. Temporal. Once the investigation closes (chargesheet filed / closure report / case disposed), §8(1)(h) weakens. Section 24 carve-back. For corruption and HR violations, the exemption does NOT apply. Your own FIR is your own record. Complainant can obtain copy of own FIR under §2(f) + ground in the Code of Criminal Procedure itself. Case diaries and witness statements carry heavier protection until closure. Decision matrix Element Default Reasoning Applicant's own FIR Disclose Own document Third-party FIR (court-filed chargesheet) Disclose Public document once in court Case diary during investigation Exempt §8(1)(h) — integrity of investigation Case diary post-closure Partial Witness identity may still be protected Closure report Disclose Post-decisional Chargesheet Disclose Filed in court, public Witness statement under §161 CrPC / §173 BNSS Exempt during trial §8(1)(h) Sting-operation recording Case-by-case Balance §8(1)(h) and §8(2) CBI file on corruption allegation Disclosable §24 proviso CBI file on security matter Exempt §24 (no corruption/HR angle) Police station daily diary Disclosable Public record Decision framework Step 1. Identify whether the authority is in the Second Schedule (§24). Step 2. If yes, ask whether the information relates to corruption or HR. If yes, the exemption does not apply; proceed as normal. Step 3. If not a §24 body, assess §8(1)(h) — specific impedance? Step 4. Apply temporal test — is the investigation live, closed, or filed in court? Step 5. Apply §10 severability — redact witness identities, source pointers, investigative methods. Step 6. Issue §11 notice to any identifiable third party (accused, victim, witness) where appropriate. Step 7. Speaking reply with Bhagat Singh citation if declining. Template — §8(1)(h) refusal [sample application] Template — §24 proviso disclosure (CBI-type) [sample"},{"s":"pio-land-housing-rti","t":"Land, Housing, and Infrastructure RTIs — A PIO Playbook","d":"How PIOs handle land, housing, and infrastructure RTIs — DDA/PMAY/mutation/RERA — with beneficiary-list disclosure under §4(1","u":"/pio-land-housing-rti","x":"Land, Housing, and Infrastructure RTIs — A PIO Playbook Scope. RTIs on land records (mutation, ROR, khasra), housing schemes (PMAY-U / PMAY-G, DDA), urban-land authorities, RERA, and compensation under land acquisition. Heavy on §4 proactive disclosure and §8(1)(j) third-party land-owner privacy. Legal framework §4(1)(b)(xii) — beneficiaries of subsidy programmes must be proactively published. §8(1)(j) — personal data of land-owners / allottees. §8(1)(d) — commercial confidence for builder / developer files. §10 — severability, essential in mixed records. §11 — third-party notice to allottees / co-owners. Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Act, 2013 — substantive scheme; RTI complements. RERA Act, 2016 — developer filings are public; complements RTI. Decision matrix Element Default ROR / 7/12 / khatauni for own plot Disclose to self ROR for a third-party plot Partial — aggregate / post §11 Mutation register (village level) Disclose; redact third-party PAN/Aadhaar Patwari visit register Disclose PMAY-G/U beneficiary list (ward / village) Disclose under §4(1)(b)(xii) PMAY sanctioned-beneficiary PAN/bank Redact under §10 + §8(1)(j) DDA allotment list Disclose — institutional DDA allotment allottee PAN/bank Redact Land-acquisition Section 11 Award Disclose post-notification Compensation calculation for a named khatedar Disclose to the khatedar; third-party needs §11 RERA developer registration file Disclose — public RERA project financial audit Disclose — public accountability Developer's internal financial statements Partial — §8(1)(d) on proprietary trade data Tehsildar inspection report for a plot Disclose to owner; third-party via §11 Encumbrance certificate Issued via Sub-Registrar; but RTI to verify index Decision framework Step 1. Identify the custodian — Tehsildar, DC, DDA, PMAY State Agency, RERA, Sub-Registrar. Step 2. Own data or third-party? Step 3. Proactive-disclosure check — many records ought to be online under §4(1)(b)(xii). If so, direct or provide URL. Step 4. Redact personal identifiers (PAN, Aadhaar, bank, phone, addresses). Step 5. §11 notice to allottees / co-owners / developers where confidentiality is implicated. Step 6. Speaking reply with institutional disclosure + §10 redactions. Template — PMAY beneficiary list disclosure [sample application] Template — Mutation file disclosure [sample application] Subject-wise examples Own plot's mutation status. Disclose. Land acquisition award for a specific village. Disclose post-§11 notification; compensation formula disclosable. DDA allotment list for a specific scheme. Disclose institutionally; allottee-level data with §10 redaction. RERA developer's project file. Disclose (RERA-registered); bank-account details redacted. Co-owner's signature on a mutation. Third-party; §11 notice required. Cantonment board property records. §2(h) — public authority; disclose. Case law Delhi HC on"},{"s":"pio-policy-file-noting-rti","t":"Policy and File-Noting RTIs — A PIO Playbook","d":"How PIOs handle RTIs on policy files and file notings — post-decisional disclosability, the //R.K. Jain// framework, pre-decisional protection, and drafting templates.","u":"/pio-policy-file-noting-rti","x":"Policy and File-Noting RTIs — A PIO Playbook Core rule. Under R.K. Jain v. UoI (2013) 14 SCC 1, file notings are \"information\" under Section 2(f) and disclosable subject to Section 8. The practical question is the temporal one — pre-decisional or post-decisional — and the application of Section 8(1)(i) and (j) to specific notings. Legal framework Section 2(f) — definition of \"information\" includes notings, opinions, advices. Section 8(1)(i) — cabinet papers and Council deliberations; disclosable after the decision has been taken and the matter is complete or over. Section 8(1)(j) — personal information exempt. Section 8(1)(d) — commercial confidence (e.g., consultation with industry). Section 10 — severability; apply to personal/commercial portions. Key principles File notings are information. R.K. Jain settled this. No class exclusion. Temporal test controls. Pre-decisional protection is about preserving the integrity of deliberation; post-decisional, the protection largely lapses. Section 8(1)(i) release proviso. Decisions + reasons + underlying material must be made public after completion. Note-by-note analysis. A 50-noting file may have 5 exempt and 45 disclosable notes. Public interest override (§8(2)) still applies. Decision framework Step 1. Is the decision complete (notified, implemented, closed)? Step 2. If yes, proceed to note-by-note §8 analysis — disclose most; exempt what triggers (a), (d), (h), (j). Step 3. If no (pre-decisional), §8(1)(i) + (d) protection likely holds; however, underlying data / expert reports may be severed and released. Step 4. Apply §10 — redact personal identifiers (PAN, phone, home addresses of consultants, signatures where sensitive). Step 5. §11 notice to any identifiable private party whose submissions are on file. Step 6. Speaking reply with R.K. Jain citation; for pre-decisional, cite §8(1)(i) temporal rule. Template — post-decisional release [sample application] Template — pre-decisional refusal [sample application] Subject-wise examples Notification issued; applicant seeks the file. Post-decisional; disclose (with §10 redactions). Industrial policy stakeholder consultation. Pre-decisional submissions exempt; post-decision, disclosable with §8(1)(d) carve-outs for proprietary data. Legal opinion obtained. Mostly exempt during pendency; may be disclosed post-decision. Minister's approval note. Disclosable post-decision. GoM (Group of Ministers) file. §8(1)(i) applies; same temporal rule. Case law R.K. Jain v. UoI (2013) 14 SCC 1 — file notings are information. CIC orders on PMO files (multiple) — blanket refusals by PMO struck down. Subhash Chandra Agarwal v. CBI — post-decisional release of 2G, coal-allocation files. Common mistakes Treating file notings as a blanket class exemption. Refusing post-decisional material citing §8(1)(i) without checking the proviso. Ignoring"},{"s":"pio-political-party-rti","t":"Political Party and Election-related RTIs — A PIO Playbook","d":"How PIOs at the Election Commission and related bodies handle political-party and election RTIs — CIC 2013 Full Bench, Electoral Bonds (2024","u":"/pio-political-party-rti","x":"Political Party and Election-related RTIs — A PIO Playbook Scope. RTIs at the Election Commission of India, State CEO offices, ERO / AERO / BLO offices, and — by way of CIC's 2013 Full Bench — the six national political parties held to be \"public authorities\" (INC, BJP, CPI, CPI(M), NCP, BSP). Heavy intersection with §8(1)(j), §4 proactive disclosure, and Article 19(1)(a) jurisprudence. Legal framework §2(h) — public authority. CIC Full Bench (3 June 2013) held six national parties are public authorities via substantial indirect financing. §4(1)(b) — proactive disclosure of organisational structure, budgets, beneficiary lists. §8(1)(j) — voter / donor personal data. §8(1)(a) — election-security aspects. Article 19(1)(a) — voter's right to information ( ADR line, culminating in Electoral Bonds 2024). Representation of People Act, 1951 + 1950 — statutory regime on affidavits and rolls. Who is covered — the CIC 2013 Full Bench On 3 June 2013 (CIC/SM/C/2011/001386 and connected), a Full Bench held the following national political parties to be public authorities: Indian National Congress (INC) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Communist Party of India (CPI) Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) — status evolved post-split Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Parties have not uniformly complied with PIO appointment. Applicants file RTIs citing the 2013 order; most end up at CIC Second Appeal. The order remains citable; compliance is a continuing litigation question. Decision matrix — at the Election Commission Element Default Voter-roll of an AC (aggregate, category-wise) Disclose Individual voter record (name / address) Exempt — §8(1)(j) Own voter-ID application status Disclose to self Form 6 / 7 / 8 status Disclose to self Candidate affidavit Disclose — public document Constituency-level expense ceiling compliance Disclose EVM-unit serial numbers of a constituency Disclose — institutional EVM-unit internal security protocols Exempt — §8(1)(a) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) basis documents Disclose post-notification Political party's donations report Disclose under PIO duty (if applicable party) BLO inspection register Disclose Candidate's criminal affidavit Disclose — public Decision framework Step 1. Identify the public authority — EC of India, State CEO, District Election Officer, ERO, or a political party (CIC 2013 list). Step 2. Classify the information — voter-level personal, institutional, or candidate-level (public). Step 3. Check §4 proactive-disclosure obligation — many EC records are online via ''voters.eci.gov.in''. Step 4. §8(1)(j) for individual-voter data; §8(1)(a) for security; §8(2) balancing for politically-sensitive records. Step 5. For political-party RTI, cite CIC 2013 order;"},{"s":"pio-recruitment-rti-playbook","t":"PIO Playbook — Recruitment and Examination RTI Applications","d":"The PIO playbook for recruitment and exam RTIs — answer sheet inspection, cut-offs, examiner identity, moderation formulas, reservation roster queries. Seven templates and three Supreme Court anchors.","u":"/pio-recruitment-rti-playbook","x":"PIO Playbook — Recruitment and Examination RTI Applications Who this is for. PIOs at CBSE, UPSC, SSC, IBPS, NTA, RRB, state boards, universities, and any public authority conducting recruitment or examinations. Also for FAAs reviewing such denials. What this article gives you. The recruitment / exam RTI decision matrix. Five categories of requests and their treatment. Seven ready-to-use templates. The three Supreme Court anchors — Aditya Bandopadhyay , ICAI v. Shaunak Satya , Kerala PSC line. Common appeal-level mistakes and how to avoid them. Did you know? Since CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay, (2011) 8 SCC 497 , every student or candidate has a statutory right to inspect their evaluated answer script. Refusing disclosure of a candidate's own answer sheet is one of the most reliably over-turned denials across both CIC and High Court jurisprudence. Introduction — the decision dilemma Your examining body receives RTI applications asking, among other things: \"Provide a copy of my evaluated answer sheet.\" \"Provide the cut-off list for the main examination.\" \"Provide the name, designation, and evaluation history of the examiner who marked my paper.\" \"Provide the moderation scheme applied to Paper II.\" \"Provide the reservation roster, category-wise, for the last three recruitment cycles.\" Each carries a different legal character. Some must be disclosed; some can be partially disclosed; some are legitimately exempt. A single blanket \"examination secrecy\" refusal is legally infirm and exposes the PIO to Section 20 penalty. This playbook tells you, category by category, what to do. Legal framework Section 8(1)(e) — fiduciary relationship The examining body and the examiner are in a fiduciary relationship. Information whose disclosure would compromise this relationship — examiner identity, marking scheme during evaluation, model answer key while scripts are being evaluated — may be protected. Post Jayantilal Mistry , the exemption is read narrowly. Mere reference to \"examination integrity\" is not enough; the PIO must show how disclosure compromises a current or future examination cycle. Section 8(1)(d) — commercial confidence Rarely applicable in pure government examinations. May apply where a private-sector examiner (for example, a vendor conducting CBT for a government body) has supplied proprietary content under a confidentiality agreement. Section 8(1)(g) — endangerment of person Examiner identity may be protected where disclosure would expose the examiner to threat, coercion, or retaliation. This is the strongest basis for protecting examiner identity; a speaking order must link it to a reasonable apprehension of harm. Section 8(1)(j) — personal"},{"s":"pio-rti-reply-guide","t":"How Public Information Officers Should Evaluate and Respond to RTI Applications: Legal Grounds, Drafting Templates, and Landmark Judgments","d":"How a Public Information Officer should evaluate and answer an RTI application: the Section 8 grid, severability and third-party notice procedures, nine copy-ready reply templates, and the landmark ju","u":"/pio-rti-reply-guide","x":"How Public Information Officers Should Evaluate and Respond to RTI Applications: Legal Grounds, Drafting Templates, and Landmark Judgments In one line. Under the RTI Act, 2005, disclosure is the rule and denial is the narrow exception. A legally sustainable PIO reply is reasoned, statute-specific, severable where possible, and mindful of the 30-day clock. This guide sets out the framework, the templates, and the case law. Who this guide is for. Public Information Officers at central and state levels drafting replies under Section 7. First Appellate Authorities reviewing PIO decisions. Citizens and activists who want to understand the legal grammar of a denial and whether it survives appeal. Did you know? Under Section 20 of the RTI Act, 2005, a PIO who refuses information without reasonable cause, or does so maliciously, or gives incorrect / incomplete / misleading information, can be personally penalised up to Rs. 25,000 at the rate of Rs. 250 per day of delay. The Commission can also recommend disciplinary action under service rules. Positioning — the spirit of the Act The preamble of the RTI Act, 2005 is clear: the law's purpose is \"to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority\". The approach, therefore, is: Disclosure is the rule. Information held by a public authority is presumed disclosable. Exemption is the exception. It must be specifically invoked, with reasons, under a precise clause of Section 8, Section 9, or Section 24. Exemption is not total. Section 8 ends with a public interest override (Section 8(2)) and Section 10 mandates severability wherever possible. The burden of proof lies on the PIO. Section 19(5) places the onus of showing a denial is justified on the authority that denied it. A PIO who internalises this grammar produces replies that survive First Appeal and Second Appeal. Legal grounds for denial under the RTI Act Section 8 — the nine statutory exemptions Section 8(1)(a) — sovereignty and integrity of India, security, strategic / scientific / economic interests, relations with a foreign state, or incitement of an offence. Section 8(1)(b) — information expressly forbidden to be published by any court or tribunal, or where disclosure would constitute contempt of court. Section 8(1)(c) — information that would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or a State Legislature. Section 8(1)(d) — commercial confidence, trade secrets, intellectual property — unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants disclosure."},{"s":"pio-section-7-9-alternative-form","t":"Section 7(9) — Alternative Form for Voluminous RTIs","d":"Section 7(9","u":"/pio-section-7-9-alternative-form","x":"Section 7(9) — Alternative Form for Voluminous RTIs Core rule. Section 7(9) is not a refusal ground. It permits a PIO to propose an alternative form of providing the information where the requested form would disproportionately divert the authority's resources or cause harm to safety / preservation of records. The burden is on the PIO to (a) justify the diversion, (b) propose a reasonable alternative, and (c) obtain the applicant's concurrence. Legal framework Section 7(9) — \"An information shall ordinarily be provided in the form in which it is sought unless it would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority or would be detrimental to the safety or preservation of the record in question.\" Not an exemption. Section 7(9) does not bar disclosure; it modifies the form of disclosure. Linked provisions. Section 7(1) — 30-day reply deadline. Section 8/9 — substantive exemptions that may co-apply. Section 10 — severability. Section 4(1)(b) — proactive disclosure may pre-empt voluminous requests. Key principles Disproportion, not inconvenience. Ordinary office-effort is not disproportionate. Alternative form must be meaningful. \"Inspect at our office\" without a date is not a real alternative. Applicant's concurrence needed. If the applicant insists on the original form, the PIO must either provide it or justify denial through Section 7(9) + appellate route. Safety / preservation. Fragile records (old paper, microfilm) may justify photocopy-only access. Volume itself is not enough. A 500-page file is not voluminous in law; a 50,000-page multi-year dataset might be. Decision framework Step 1. Estimate effort in person-hours to produce the information in the form requested. Step 2. Compare against the authority's routine workload; check DoPT / state guidance on \"disproportionate\". Step 3. If disproportionate, draft an alternative proposal — e.g., a sample year, a consolidated summary, a digital file, inspection during office hours. Step 4. Communicate the proposal to the applicant within 30 days; request concurrence. Step 5. On concurrence, supply in the alternative form within 30 days from concurrence. Step 6. On non-concurrence, decide whether to proceed with original form (cost-recovery via fee) or refer the matter for FAA guidance. Template — Section 7(9) alternative-form proposal [sample application] Common mistakes Refusing outright — Section 7(9) is not a refusal clause. No alternative proposed — the section requires an alternative. Undated inspection offer — a vague \"visit our office\" is not reasonable. Ignoring Section 4 proactive-disclosure — if the data should already be online, request is"},{"s":"pio-section-8-1-j-framework","t":"Section 8(1)(j) after DPDP 2025 — A Decision Framework for Public Information Officers","d":"Deep framework for PIOs applying Section 8(1","u":"/pio-section-8-1-j-framework","x":"Section 8(1)(j) after DPDP 2025 — A Decision Framework for Public Information Officers Who this is for. Central and State PIOs faced with RTI applications seeking service records, disciplinary proceedings, attendance, APAR grading, medical leave, family-member details, or other third-party personal data — especially after the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the DPDP Rules, 2025 came into force. What this article gives you. The three-question test for applying Section 8(1)(j). A complete public-interest-override framework. Three authoritative case-law anchors (Deshpande, Aditya Bandopadhyay, Subhash Chandra Agarwal). A speaking-rejection template that survives First Appeal and Second Appeal. Subject-wise illustrations — salary, APAR, leave, disciplinary, medical. Did you know? Section 8(2) expressly permits a PIO to disclose information otherwise exempt under Section 8(1) if \"public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to protected interests\". This is not a rhetorical clause. It is a statutory duty to balance that must be recorded in writing on the file. Introduction — the decision dilemma The PIO receives an RTI asking: > \"Kindly provide the attendance record, disciplinary proceedings, APAR grading, and sanctioned leaves of Shri [X], [designation], for the last five years.\" You face three competing pulls: Privacy. Shri X is a named third party. His attendance and performance record is, at first glance, personal. Public function. Shri X is a public servant drawing salary from the exchequer. Aspects of his service are inherently public. Public interest. The applicant may be a vigilance petitioner, a concerned citizen, or an estranged spouse — the test cannot turn on who asks. A generic refusal (\"Section 8(1)(j) applies\") is routinely struck down at First Appeal. A generic disclosure is equally risky. This framework tells you what to release, what to withhold, and how to document the balancing. Legal framework The statutory text Section 8(1)(j), RTI Act, 2005 — exempts from disclosure: > \"…information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such information.\" The section contains three gates : The information must be personal . It must have no relationship to public activity or interest OR disclosure must cause unwarranted invasion of privacy. Even"},{"s":"pio-service-records-rti","t":"Service Records RTIs — A PIO Playbook","d":"How PIOs handle RTIs on service records — pay, APAR, leave, disciplinary proceedings — after //Girish Deshpande//, with templates and subject-wise matrix.","u":"/pio-service-records-rti","x":"Service Records RTIs — A PIO Playbook Scope. This playbook covers RTIs seeking service records of a named government officer or employee — pay drawn, APAR/ACR grading, leave records, disciplinary proceedings, transfers, promotions, vigilance clearance. Governed by Section 8(1)(j) as interpreted in Girish Deshpande . Legal framework Section 8(1)(j) — personal information exempt unless larger public interest. Section 8(2) — override. Section 10 — severability. Section 11 — third-party notice (officer is third party; always applicable). DPDP Rules, 2025 — strengthened privacy baseline. Decision matrix — what's disclosable Data element Default Reasoning Name, designation, posting Disclose Section 4(1)(b)(ix) proactive Pay scale + allowance structure Disclose Public pay scales are notified Actual salary drawn (month-by-month) Partial Structure disclosable; bank/PAN redacted under §10 APAR / ACR grading Exempt Deshpande Medical leave details Exempt Deshpande + medical confidentiality Casual leave aggregate (per year) Borderline Balanced under §8(2) Disciplinary — final order Disclose Post-decisional Disciplinary — pre-decisional Exempt Pre-decisional + §8(1)(j) Vigilance clearance Exempt Deshpande Transfer / posting orders Mostly disclose Institutional records Promotion — DPC minutes Exempt Internal deliberation Promotion — final order Disclose Post-decisional Decision framework Step 1. Is the RTI about the applicant's own service record? If yes, disclose ( Aditya Bandopadhyay self-data principle). Step 2. If third-party, classify the request per the matrix above. Step 3. Issue Section 11 notice to the officer concerned — always applicable here. Step 4. Consider public-interest override under §8(2). Genuine cases: vigilance petitioner, documented impropriety, misuse-of-position claim, public-servant-conduct concern. Step 5. Apply §10 severability — redact PAN, Aadhaar, bank, phone, home address even in disclosable elements. Step 6. Draft speaking reply with Deshpande citation if declining. Template — service-record denial under §8(1)(j) [sample application] Subject-wise examples RTI for officer's travel bills. Disclosable — TA/DA is government spending. Redact PAN. RTI for officer's spouse's job status. Rarely disclosable — personal / family data unrelated to public function. RTI for officer's Property Returns. Section 8(1)(j) applies; CIC orders have held that officer's own disclosure obligations don't auto-translate to public access. RTI for pattern of transfers. Aggregate patterns disclosable; named-individual history case-by-case. RTI for disciplinary inquiry report. Pre-decisional — exempt. Final order — disclose. Case law Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. CIC (2013) 1 SCC 212 — core SC anchor. CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011) 8 SCC 497 — own data to self principle. CPIO, SC v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal (2020) 5 SCC 481 — proportionality for public"},{"s":"pio-speaking-replies","t":"Drafting Speaking PIO Replies — A Practical Guide","d":"How PIOs draft speaking replies under Section 7(8","u":"/pio-speaking-replies","x":"Drafting Speaking PIO Replies — A Practical Guide Why this matters. A non-speaking PIO reply — one that invokes Section 8 without reasoning — is the single most cited ground at First Appeal. Section 7(8)(i) requires reasons in writing. This guide shows the anatomy and the traps. Legal framework Section 7(8)(i) — when the PIO rejects a request, the communication must include the reasons for rejection, the provisions of the Act on which rejection is based, and the name and designation of the appellate authority. Section 7(1) — 30-day deadline (48 hours for life/liberty). Section 19(5) — burden of proving justified denial rests with the PIO. Section 4 — proactive-disclosure obligations that may pre-empt the RTI. Key principles Reasoned, not mechanical. Each question gets its own reasoning; don't bundle. Sub-clause specific. \"Section 8\" alone is not a reason; \"Section 8(1)(j)\" + explanation is. Section 8(2) balancing. Record the public-interest balancing on the file, even if the conclusion is refusal. Section 10 severability. Always consider partial disclosure before refusing. Address each question. If 7 questions were asked, 7 answers are required. Appealable outcome. The FAA's name + address must appear in the reply. The anatomy of a speaking reply Reference block — RTI number, date of receipt, applicant's name, public authority, list of questions. Decision on each question — answered / partially answered / declined, with the specific sub-clause where declined. Reasoning — for each decline: why the sub-clause applies; the Section 8(2) public-interest balancing performed; the Section 10 severability consideration. Enclosures — certified copies or schedules. Fee note — Rs. 2/page for copies; calculation stated. Appeal rights — FAA's name, designation, office, 30-day window under Section 19(1). PIO signature block — name, designation, office stamp, date. Template — Speaking reply skeleton [sample application] Common mistakes Bundled refusals. \"All questions rejected under Section 8\" — struck down at appeal. Missing sub-clause. Bare \"Section 8\" without (a)/(d)/(e)/(h)/(i)/(j) identification. No Section 8(2) balancing. The proviso is not optional. No Section 10 severability analysis. Especially for mixed records. No FAA contact — procedural non-compliance. Late reply without deemed-refusal acknowledgement — compounds the breach. Cryptic one-liner. \"Matter in process\" is not a reply. Refusing to accept applications. Section 6(1) requires acceptance; Speed Post is valid filing. Pro tips Pre-decisional note on file. Write the Section 8(2) balancing note BEFORE drafting the reply; attach as the internal file-note. Template library. Keep sub-clause-specific templates (we have 9"},{"s":"pio-supreme-court-rulings","t":"10 Landmark Supreme Court Rulings Every PIO Must Know","d":"Ten landmark Supreme Court rulings on the RTI Act, 2005 that every PIO and FAA must know — with facts, holdings, and practical takeaways.","u":"/pio-supreme-court-rulings","x":"10 Landmark Supreme Court Rulings Every PIO Must Know Why this matters. The Supreme Court's RTI jurisprudence is compact but decisive. Ten rulings between 2010 and 2024 cover nearly every major interpretive question a PIO or FAA encounters. A reply that cites the right ruling is rarely overturned. 1. Central Board of Secondary Education v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011) 8 SCC 497 Facts. Class-12 student sought copy of his own evaluated answer script. CBSE refused, citing \"examination secrecy\". Holding. Evaluated answer sheets are \"information\" under Section 2(f); disclosable to the candidate. \"Information\" includes all records held by a public authority; exemptions must be narrowly construed. Takeaway. Own-data is disclosable to self. Use Section 10 redaction for examiner identity. No blanket \"secrecy\" claim survives §2(f). 2. Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. CIC (2013) 1 SCC 212 Facts. Applicant sought service records, APAR grading, vigilance clearance of a named officer. Holding. Service records, APAR/ACR, disciplinary proceedings, transfers, promotions — all personal information under Section 8(1)(j). Disclosable only if larger public interest is demonstrated under Section 8(2). Takeaway. The single most-cited SC anchor for service-record denials. Always pair with Section 8(2) balancing on the file. 3. R.K. Jain v. Union of India (2013) 14 SCC 1 Facts. Applicant sought file notings on a service-related decision. Holding. File notings are \"information\" under Section 2(f). No blanket exclusion. Exemptions under Section 8 apply note-by-note, not to notings as a class. Takeaway. Do not reject file-noting RTIs as a category. Each note is tested against Section 8. 4. Reserve Bank of India v. Jayantilal N. Mistry (2016) 3 SCC 525 Facts. Multiple applicants sought bank inspection reports, willful-defaulter lists, risk-assessment notes from RBI. RBI invoked Section 8(1)(e) fiduciary. Holding. The regulator-regulated relationship is not fiduciary. Inspection reports and related materials are disclosable. \"Economic interests of the State\" exemption is narrow. Takeaway. Section 8(1)(e) must meet the four-factor fiduciary test from Aditya Bandopadhyay . Regulatory supervision is not fiduciary trust. 5. CPIO, Supreme Court of India v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal (2020) 5 SCC 481 Facts. RTI sought judges' asset declarations; Supreme Court CPIO refused. Holding. The Office of the Chief Justice of India is a \"public authority\" under Section 2(h). Judges' asset declarations are \"information\" held by the authority. Section 8(1)(j) balancing applies — privacy and judicial independence do not create blanket secrecy. Takeaway. Constitutional offices are not beyond RTI. The proportionality test from Puttaswamy applies. Record balancing in"},{"s":"pio-tender-contract-rti","t":"Tender, Contract, and Procurement RTIs — A PIO Playbook","d":"How PIOs handle tender, contract, and procurement RTIs — §8(1","u":"/pio-tender-contract-rti","x":"Tender, Contract, and Procurement RTIs — A PIO Playbook Core rule. §8(1)(d) commercial confidence is narrow and temporal . During a live bid, bid-specific material is protected. Once the tender is awarded, NIT + comparative statement + L1-selection justification + signed contract + BoQs are largely disclosable. Customer/bidder PII and genuine trade secrets remain protected. Legal framework §8(1)(d) — commercial confidence, trade secrets, intellectual property, unless larger public interest. §8(1)(j) — personal data of bidders/employees. §4(1)(b)(xi) — proactive disclosure of contracts entered into. §8(2) — public-interest override. §10 — severability. §11 — third-party (bidder) notice. CVC / GFR norms — transparent tendering; post-award disclosure is the default practice. Decision matrix Element Default Notes NIT (Notice Inviting Tender) Disclose Public document Bid documents during live bid Exempt §8(1)(d) Bid documents post-award (non-winning) Partial Commercial-confidence elements redacted Comparative statement Disclose (post-award) Institutional L1-award justification memo Disclose (post-award) Institutional Signed contract Disclose Public; §4(1)(b)(xi) Bill of Quantities (BoQ) Disclose (post-award) Core transparency Schedule of Rates Disclose Usually notified Running-account bills Disclose Public spending Measurement Book entries Disclose Public spending Performance Bank Guarantee Institutional data disclose; financial details redact §10 Consortium financial statements Redact financial details §8(1)(d) Blacklisting files Disclose post-decision §8(1)(i) temporal Contractor's PAN/GST Partial Disclose GST (public); redact PAN Employee roster of contractor Exempt §8(1)(j) Decision framework Step 1. Is the tender live or awarded? Temporal test drives most outcomes. Step 2. For live-bid requests, deny under §8(1)(d) with specific bid-reference; consider limited procedural disclosure (NIT, eligibility criteria). Step 3. Post-award, default to disclosure with §10 redactions for PII and genuine trade secrets. Step 4. §11 notice to the bidder(s) whose commercial data is implicated. Step 5. §8(2) balancing — public spending is a high-weight public interest. Step 6. Draft speaking reply with clear temporal reference. Template — post-award disclosure with severability [sample application] Template — live-bid refusal [sample application] Subject-wise examples Running-bill register for a completed road. Disclose; classic transparency. Bank-guarantee details for a PBG invoked. Institutional portion disclosable; financial details may be partially redacted. List of bidders who participated. Disclose post-award; during bid, §8(1)(d). Contractor blacklisting file. Disclose post-decision; redact personal correspondence. Consultancy contract with a private firm. Disclose; public money. Defence-procurement tender. §8(1)(a) security overlay — case-by-case. Case law CIC orders on CVC-compliant post-award disclosure — consistent line. Delhi HC on PBG and running bills — disclosable as public-spending records. Bhagat Singh v. CIC (2008) — speaking order required"},{"s":"press:media-kit","t":"Media Kit","d":"Press and media kit for RTI Wiki. Site description, logo, editor bio, citation guidelines, and reuse licence for academics, NGOs, and journalists.","u":"/press/media-kit","x":"Press and media kit Last reviewed: 20 April 2026 This page is for academics (.ac.in, .edu), non-governmental organisations, journalists, and public-interest researchers who cite or link to RTI Wiki. Everything on this page is free to use under the licensing terms set out below. One-line description > RTI Wiki is the working reference for India's Right to Information Act, 2005. Current, sourced, usable. Longer description > RTI Wiki is an open, practitioner-ready reference on the Right to Information Act, 2005 of India. The site carries the full current text of the Act with amendment overlays, the Central and State Rules, the major Supreme Court and High Court judgments, Central Information Commission practice, drafting templates, sample RTI applications for common subjects, and editorial notes on legislative changes. The site is maintained in the register of a Department of Personnel and Training or Central Information Commission bench-book. Every page carries a \"Last reviewed on\" line and a citation for every factual claim. Editor Shrawan , editor, RTI Wiki. See About the editor for credentials and editorial focus. Logo — full-colour, 995 × 995 px, PNG with transparency. Download for print, web, or email. Please do not recolour or crop the logo when using it in attribution contexts. Social card 1200 × 630 PNG, designed for Open Graph and Twitter Card use. Drops the RTI Wiki logo on a cream disk on the left, tagline and URL on the right. Citation guidelines Short form (web). > RTI Wiki, \" \", {URL}, last reviewed {date}. Long form (academic, law review). > Shrawan (ed.), RTI Wiki , \" \", , {URL} (last reviewed {date}, accessed {date}). For a snapshot. Use the Internet Archive Wayback Machine to capture the exact version you cite. RTI Wiki pages carry \"Last reviewed on\" dates that allow readers to verify the version you relied on. Licence Content on RTI Wiki is published under GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 unless otherwise marked. Under this licence, you may: Copy, redistribute, and modify the text. Use excerpts for academic, journalistic, and public-interest purposes without a fee. You must: Attribute RTI Wiki and keep the attribution on any derivative. License any derivative under GFDL 1.3 or a compatible licence. Preserve the licence notice. Images. Images on the site carry their own attribution where applicable. Logos are used under a limited reuse licence for citation and attribution contexts only. Contact For corrections, collaboration, or"},{"s":"privacy-policy","t":"Privacy Policy","d":"Privacy policy for righttoinformation.wiki — compliant with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, DPDP Rules 2025, GDPR, CCPA and Google AdSense publisher requirements.","u":"/privacy-policy","x":"Privacy Policy Last updated: 21 April 2026 · Version: 3.0 One-line summary. This policy explains what data righttoinformation.wiki collects from visitors, why, how we protect it, and the rights you have under Indian law (Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the DPDP Rules, 2025), the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and the UK Data Protection Act, 2018. If you have questions about your data, email admin@bighelpers.in . 1. Who we are The Site is owned and operated by BigHelpers Software & Solutions Private Limited (the \"Publisher\", \"we\", \"us\", \"our\"), a company incorporated in India. Registered office: India (address available on request to the Grievance Officer). Grievance Officer and Data Protection contact: admin@bighelpers.in DPDP Consent Manager notice: This Site does not use a third-party Consent Manager. Consent is obtained and recorded directly on-site; see Section 6. Under the DPDP Act, 2023 , the Publisher acts as a Data Fiduciary . Under the GDPR , the Publisher acts as a Data Controller for the limited personal data described in this policy. 2. Scope This policy covers personal data processed via: The website at ''https: righttoinformation.wiki'' and its sub-paths. The site's feedback, subscription, save-article, and RTI-drafting features. Emails sent by you to ''admin@bighelpers.in'' or any other staff address. It does not cover third-party websites you may visit by clicking external links. Each third-party site has its own privacy policy. See the Disclaimer. 3. What personal data we collect We deliberately collect the minimum personal data needed to operate the Site. Categories: 3.1 Data you provide Newsletter subscription : your email address, if you subscribe to the monthly RTI digest. Feedback / correction forms : content you type, and optionally an email for follow-up. RTI drafting tool input : the free-text you paste or type into the drafter. Email to admin@bighelpers.in : whatever you include in your message. 3.2 Data collected automatically Technical log data : IP address, user-agent string, HTTP referrer, timestamp — held in standard web-server logs. Anonymised engagement counters : page views, \"like\", \"love\", \"save\", \"subscribe\" clicks. These are stored as aggregate counts per page and do not identify individual users. Locally-stored data (your browser only) : Save article , My Learnings dashboard state, reading-streak counters, theme preference (dark / light), font-size setting. This data lives in your browser's localStorage and never leaves your device unless you choose to share it. 3.3 Data"},{"s":"privacy-policy-app","t":"Privacy Policy — RTI Wiki Android and iOS app","d":"Privacy Policy for the RTI Wiki mobile app, published by %%BigHelpers%% Software & Solutions Pvt Ltd. No personal data collection, no analytics, no advertising identifiers.","u":"/privacy-policy-app","x":"Privacy Policy — RTI Wiki Android and iOS app Effective date: 19 April 2026 This policy governs the RTI Wiki companion mobile application for Android and iOS, published by %%BigHelpers%% Software & Solutions Pvt Ltd. It does not replace the general RTI Wiki website terms. 1. What we collect Nothing personal. The app does not collect, store, or transmit any personally identifiable information. Specifically: No account is required. There is no sign-up or sign-in. No analytics are integrated. No Google Analytics, no Firebase, no Mixpanel, no Amplitude, no other telemetry platform. No advertising identifier is read. The app does not access the Android Advertising ID, the iOS IDFA, or any fingerprinting signal. No location is requested or recorded. The app does not ask for GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular, or IP-based location. No contacts, photos, microphone, camera, calendar, or SMS are accessed. 2. What stays on your device Two pieces of data are saved only on your phone's local storage , never transmitted: Your selected role (Citizen, PIO, First Appellate Authority, or Researcher). Your bookmarks — the articles you have saved for later. Uninstalling the app removes both immediately. 3. Network requests the app makes The app makes three kinds of outbound network requests, all over HTTPS: (a) Article content When you open an article, the app fetches the rendered page from righttoinformation.wiki . The request contains only the path of the page, no user identifier. The wiki server's webserver logs the request (IP address, timestamp, user agent) as part of ordinary server logging, same as any website visit. Logs are rotated and not shared with third parties. (b) Blog RSS feed The Blog tab fetches the wiki's public RSS feed at /feed.php?mode list&ns blog . Same logging behaviour as (a). No identifiers are added. (c) AI Mentor tips When you open an article, the app may request a short mentor tip from a proxy endpoint at https: righttoinformation.wiki/ai-proxy.php . The proxy forwards a minimal request to Anthropic's API containing only: Your currently selected role (four possible values). The title of the article you are reading. No personal information, no identifiers, no tracking tokens are sent. The proxy does not log the forwarded request beyond standard webserver access logs. If the AI service is unavailable, the app falls back to a small set of locally bundled tips. 4. Third-party services ^ Service ^ Purpose ^ Data shared ^ righttoinformation.wiki Source of all"},{"s":"rti-fees-by-state","t":"RTI Fees by State and Online Portal Directory (2026)","d":"The 2026 state-by-state RTI fee and online portal directory for India. Every state and UT's fee amount, payment mode, direct filing link, and status.","u":"/rti-fees-by-state","x":"RTI Fees by State and Online Portal Directory (2026) In one line: The Central Government fee is Rs 10 via rtionline.gov.in. Most States charge Rs 10 (a few charge Rs 50 ). BPL applicants pay nothing under Section 7(5) of the RTI Act, 2005. Of 28 States and 8 UTs, 10 have a reliable online portal ; the rest are postal-only or unreliable . The authoritative direct-filing link for each appears in the table below. Did you know? Every State Government frames its own RTI fee and format rules under Section 27 of the Act. A fee higher than Rs 10 can be charged only if supported by an existing State notification. If a department asks for more than Rs 10 without basis, that is a Section 19 appealable ground. See our 6 rejection reasons and fixes page. Central Government ^ Item ^ Fee ^ Mode of payment ^ Direct filing link ^ Central RTI (Ministries, Departments, PSUs, Union-list subjects) Rs 10 (BPL: nil) UPI, card, net banking, IPO, DD, Banker's Cheque rtionline.gov.in RTI Rules - - All RTI rules on this site Additional-information copies Rs 2 per A4 page Online / DD / cash on collection - Diskette or CD Rs 50 - - Inspection first hour Free - - Inspection subsequent hour Rs 5 per hour - Inspection guide State Governments ^ State ^ Fee ^ Online portal (direct filing) ^ Status April 2026 ^ Detail on this site ^ Andhra Pradesh Rs 10 rti.ap.gov.in Working (slow replies) Andhra Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh Rs 10 Postal only Post only Arunachal Pradesh Assam Rs 10 Postal only Post only Assam Bihar Rs 10 birtips.bihar.gov.in Partial (few depts onboarded) Bihar Chhattisgarh Rs 10 Postal only Post only Chhattisgarh Delhi Rs 10 rtionline.delhi.gov.in Working Delhi Goa Rs 10 Postal only Post only Goa Gujarat Rs 20 rti.gujarat.gov.in Working Gujarat Haryana Rs 50 cmoffice.haryana.gov.in/rti Partial (CM's office route) Haryana Himachal Pradesh Rs 10 admis.hp.nic.in/himrti Working Himachal Pradesh Jammu and Kashmir Rs 10 Postal only Post only Jammu and Kashmir Jharkhand Rs 10 Postal only Post only Jharkhand Karnataka Rs 10 rtionline.karnataka.gov.in Working (UPI) Karnataka Kerala Rs 10 keralartionline.gov.in Working (SMS alerts) Kerala Ladakh Rs 10 Postal only Post only Ladakh Madhya Pradesh Rs 10 rtionline.mp.gov.in Intermittent Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra Rs 10 rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in Working Maharashtra Manipur Rs 10 Postal only Post only Manipur Meghalaya Rs 10 Postal only Post only Meghalaya Mizoram Rs 10"},{"s":"rti-for-aadhaar-not-generated","t":"Aadhaar Not Downloading or Generated? How to File RTI to Get Status, Errors & Officer Details","d":"Aadhaar not downloading or still pending? File an RTI to UIDAI and get file status, officer name and delay reason in 30 days. Ready-to-copy application and step-by-step online + offline process.","u":"/rti-for-aadhaar-not-generated","x":"Aadhaar Not Downloading or Generated? How to File RTI to Get Status, Errors & Officer Details In one line. If your Aadhaar is stuck in \"Under Process\" for weeks, or the download link never appears, an RTI filed with UIDAI forces the Unique Identification Authority to put your enrolment file status, the handling officer's name, and the exact delay reason in writing — within 30 days, for Rs. 10. What that means in practice. You stop chasing 1947 call-centre agents who only read back \"still in process\". UIDAI answers on paper, and that paper is admissible evidence before any appellate authority or High Court. In most cases the file gets cleared before the 30-day reply deadline — officers prefer to dispatch your Aadhaar rather than record a refusal in writing. Did you know? UIDAI is a statutory authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005. It cannot refuse an RTI asking for your own enrolment status by citing \"privacy\" — that exemption in Section 8(1)(j) does not apply when the applicant is the data principal. Why Aadhaar gets stuck — the six common reasons Before you file the RTI, identify which of these six buckets your case falls under. Your RTI questions will be sharper when you know the likely failure point. Biometric mismatch. Your fingerprints or iris did not clear quality thresholds. Enrolment shows \"Rejected — biometric quality low\" or no status at all. Demographic clash. Name, father's name, or date of birth does not match the supporting document. File goes to \"Hold\" for supervisor review. Duplicate detection. UIDAI's de-duplication engine flagged a possible match with an existing Aadhaar. Case sent to manual adjudication — this is the single largest cause of 60-to-180-day delays. Document quality. Scanned POI/POA (Proof of Identity / Proof of Address) was unreadable. Rejection notice may not have reached you. Operator error. The enrolment operator entered wrong details. File is rejected silently. Backend queue backlog. Rare, but during quarter-ends UIDAI regional centres accumulate unresolved cases. An RTI is the one mechanism that tells you exactly which of these six has hit your file . When to escalate to RTI — the decision tree Day 1–15 after enrolment. Check status at ''myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in'' using your 14-digit Enrolment ID (EID) and timestamp. Normal turnaround is 7–10 days. Day 15–30. Call UIDAI on 1947. File a complaint at ''resident.uidai.gov.in/file-complaint''. Keep complaint reference number. Day 30+, no Aadhaar and"},{"s":"rti-for-aadhaar-update-rejected","t":"Aadhaar Update Stuck or Rejected? Use RTI to Find Exact Reason & Fix It Fast","d":"Aadhaar update rejected or stuck for weeks? File an RTI to UIDAI and uncover the exact rejection reason, officer name, and next step — in 30 days with Rs. 10. Copy-ready application inside.","u":"/rti-for-aadhaar-update-rejected","x":"Aadhaar Update Stuck or Rejected? Use RTI to Find Exact Reason & Fix It Fast In one line. When UIDAI rejects your Aadhaar update — name, address, date of birth, mobile, photo, or biometrics — and the rejection message is vague or absent, a targeted RTI forces UIDAI to reveal the precise documentary deficiency, the officer who reviewed it, and the remedy available. What that means in practice. You stop paying Rs. 50 again and again for repeated update attempts that keep getting rejected. UIDAI hands you, in writing, the exact document clause that failed. In most cases you walk into your next enrolment centre visit with the fix already in hand. Did you know? In 2025 UIDAI rejected roughly 11% of all online update requests — mostly for non-matching proof documents. Most residents never learn the actual reason because UIDAI's self-service portal only shows \"Rejected\" without specifics. Common Aadhaar update problems Name update rejected. Document does not carry the name in the exact spelling the resident wants. Old marksheets with father-initial format often fail here. Date of birth update rejected. Only one DOB update is allowed in a lifetime, and the supporting document must be on UIDAI's accepted list. Affidavits no longer work since the May 2023 amendment. Address update rejected. Electricity bill older than three months, gas connection in another family member's name, or rent agreement not notarised — all common failures. Mobile / email update stuck. Biometric mismatch at the enrolment centre; Aadhaar lock in force; OTP not delivered. Photo / biometric update. Thresholds raised after UIDAI's 2024 quality audit — up to 22% of biometric updates now fail on first attempt. Gender update rejected. Requires special RPO-level approval and is the slowest category — medians of 45 days. Why updates get rejected — the five documented causes Document not on UIDAI's list of 35 PoI/PoA/DoB documents (Annexure II, UIDAI Update Regulations 2016, as amended 2025). Mismatch between document data and requested change — even a single character difference in the name. Document quality too poor to OCR — faint scans, water marks, bent corners. Adjudicator decision — cases flagged by the duplicate-detection engine are manually reviewed by a UIDAI officer; their ground for rejection is recorded in the file but never exposed to the resident. Internal block on the Aadhaar number — rare, but when enforcement authorities flag a number for investigation, all updates are frozen."},{"s":"rti-for-answer-sheet-inspection","t":"Get Your Answer Sheet under RTI — the Aditya Bandopadhyay Right","d":"Get a certified copy of your evaluated answer sheet under RTI — after //CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay// (2011","u":"/rti-for-answer-sheet-inspection","x":"Get Your Answer Sheet under RTI — the Aditya Bandopadhyay Right Core right. Under CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011) 8 SCC 497, every student has the statutory right to inspect or obtain a certified copy of their evaluated answer sheet under the RTI Act. The fee is Rs. 2 per page. Any examining body that is a \"public authority\" is bound. Part of Pillar 3 — RTI for Students & Youth . Related: general RTI for students. What is the problem Board refusing inspection citing secrecy. Overpricing inspection — some boards charge Rs. 500-750; statutory cap is Rs. 2/page. \"Return-to-examiner\" within 30 days — deadline for retrieval is administrative. Re-evaluation vs RTI inspection — some boards force you into paid re-evaluation instead of free-of-additional-charge RTI inspection. When to use RTI You believe a question / sub-question was not evaluated. You want to understand moderation / grace / scaling applied. You are appealing re-totalling / re-evaluation. You are preparing for re-exam attempt. You need evidence for a court challenge on scoring. What you can ask Certified copy / high-resolution scan of the evaluated answer sheet. Marks awarded per question / sub-question. Moderation / grace / scaling applied with the rule under which applied. If any question was dropped post-exam, the official notification. Evaluator's marks separate from moderator's. Re-evaluation / re-totalling procedure and fee. Step-by-step RTI filing File within 30 days of result for fastest retrieval (some boards return scripts to examiners beyond this). CBSE / CISCE / UPSC / SSC → ''rtionline.gov.in''. State boards → state RTI portal. Universities → CPIO of university (Registrar). Rs. 10 filing fee + Rs. 2/page for certified copy. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Answer-sheet certified copy. Marks per question / sub-question. Moderation / grace rule. Dropped-question notification. Evaluator vs moderator marking. Re-evaluation procedure. Re-totalling fee. Script-retention deadline. FAA contact. Aditya Bandopadhyay compliance confirmation. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed; Board retrieves script from custodian. Day 10–25 Script scanned / photocopied; certified copy prepared. Day 30 Delivered. Common mistakes Filing after the 30-day result window — script may have been returned to examiner. Paying non-statutory fees (Rs. 500+) — Rs. 2/page is the ceiling. Asking to see another student's answer sheet — §8(1)(j), rejected. Confusing RTI inspection with board's paid re-evaluation. Pro tips File within 7 days of result — fastest retrieval window. Request inspection slot if the Board allows it —"},{"s":"rti-for-ayushman-bharat-claim","t":"Ayushman Bharat Claim Denied? RTI to NHA / State Health Agency","d":"Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY claim denied or empanelment delayed? File RTI to the National Health Authority / State Health Agency to unlock claim-adjudication record and officer name.","u":"/rti-for-ayushman-bharat-claim","x":"Ayushman Bharat Claim Denied? RTI to NHA / State Health Agency In one line. PM-JAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) under Ayushman Bharat covers ~55 crore beneficiaries. Claims are adjudicated by the State Health Agency (SHA) with NHA oversight. When claims are rejected or stuck, RTI extracts the claim-trail, officer, and exact ground. Part of Pillar 4 — RTI for Money & Schemes . Related: RTI for government hospitals. What is the problem Claims stall on: Pre-authorisation (preauth) denial — hospital's preauth rejected pre-treatment. Post-treatment claim rejection on medical / billing grounds. Query raised by SHA that hospital didn't address within 15 days. Treatment-package mismatch (wrong HBP code). Eligibility flagged during claim. Empanelled-hospital payment pending beyond 30 days. When to use RTI Preauth denied without specific reason. Post-claim reject SMS received; hospital silent. Hospital demanding cash despite PM-JAY card. Empanelled hospital claim pending > 45 days. Beneficiary-eligibility dispute. What you can ask Claim ID status in BIS / TMS portal. Preauth request date + adjudication date + decision. Reason recorded for rejection, with the specific clause of PM-JAY guidelines. Medical-officer / claim-adjudicator name. Hospital's preauth response / query-reply record. Treatment-package (HBP) code used + correct code per procedure. Payment status to hospital. Beneficiary-eligibility verification log. Grievance officer at SHA + NHA. Step-by-step RTI filing State Health Agency (SHA) → state RTI portal → Health & Family Welfare. NHA (central) → ''rtionline.gov.in'' → Ministry of Health & Family Welfare → National Health Authority. Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions BIS/TMS portal status. Preauth timeline. Rejection-memo copy. Adjudicator name. Hospital preauth record. HBP code used. Payment to hospital status. Eligibility verification. Appeal procedure. Grievance / FAA. What happens next Day 0–15 RTI routed; SHA claims cell pulls record. Day 15–25 Many claims reassessed during this window; hospitals pressured to reply. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Common mistakes Writing full HH ID — only last 4 digits. Not citing Preauth ID. Filing at hospital — hospital is not a public authority for RTI (unless government). Skipping HBP-code question — often the exact dispute. Pro tips Parallel grievance at ''pmjay.gov.in'' grievance portal. For empanelled private hospital refusing cashless — NHA grievance + SHA RTI. Medical-record RTI to hospital (if government) — see hospital RTI guide. FAQs Q1. Is PM-JAY cashless? \\\\ Yes, at empanelled hospitals for listed procedures. Q2. Can I appeal rejection? \\\\ Yes. Appeal to the"},{"s":"rti-for-beginners","t":"RTI for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know Before Filing Your First Application","d":"Never filed an RTI before? Start here. This beginner's guide walks you through the Right to Information Act, 2005 — what it is, what it covers, what it doesn't, and how to write your very first applic","u":"/rti-for-beginners","x":"RTI for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know Before Filing Your First Application In one line. The Right to Information Act, 2005, allows every citizen of India to ask a public authority for records, documents, and reasons for decisions — and to receive a written reply in 30 days, for Rs. 10. This page teaches you the whole thing, gently. What that means in practice. You do not need a lawyer. You do not need to know the law. You need one sheet of paper, Rs. 10, and 20 minutes. Did you know? The RTI Act came into effect on 12 October 2005. It replaced a colonial-era culture of secrecy under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, with a default of disclosure subject to limited exemptions . Over 20 years, this single law has processed close to 8 crore citizen queries. What is RTI, in one minute The Right to Information Act, 2005: Gives every Indian citizen the right to ask for information held by a public authority . Requires the authority to reply within 30 days (48 hours for life-and-liberty matters). Charges Rs. 10 as fee (BPL free). Applies to Central, State, and local governments, and to private bodies substantially financed by public funds. Has a First Appeal (to a senior officer in the same office) and a Second Appeal (to the Information Commission). Penalises officers who default — Rs. 250 per day, up to Rs. 25,000. Six concepts to know 1. Public authority Any body of the Central, State, Local government, or substantially funded by them. Includes ministries, CBSE, UPSC, UIDAI, EPFO, RBI, SEBI, NHAI, universities, panchayats, municipalities, public banks, PSUs. 2. Information Records, documents, emails, memos, advices, opinions, logs, samples, reports, data — held by a public authority in any form. File notings are covered. 3. PIO / CPIO Public Information Officer (state) / Central Public Information Officer. Each authority designates one. He / she receives and replies to RTIs. 4. First Appellate Authority (FAA) An officer senior to the PIO in the same authority. Hears the First Appeal against the PIO's reply (or non-reply). 5. Information Commission Central Information Commission (for central bodies) and State Information Commission (for state bodies). Hears Second Appeal. Quasi-judicial. 6. Exemptions Section 8 of the Act lists nine heads of exempt information — security, commercial confidence, legal privilege, personal information, etc. These are narrow; the rule is disclosure. What can you ask"},{"s":"rti-for-beginners-hindi","t":"आरटीआई के लिए शुरुआती गाइड — पहली बार आवेदन कैसे लिखें (हिन्दी)","d":"पहली बार आरटीआई लिखने वालों के लिए — शुरुआत से अंत तक मार्गदर्शन हिन्दी में। 10 रुपये, 30 दिन, तैयार प्रारूप।","u":"/rti-for-beginners-hindi","x":"आरटीआई के लिए शुरुआती गाइड — पहली बार आवेदन कैसे लिखें (हिन्दी) यह पृष्ठ आपके लिए है अगर: आपने आरटीआई के बारे में सुना है लेकिन कभी भरा नहीं; या आपने भरा पर कोई जवाब नहीं आया; या कोई सरकारी काम अटका है और आप उसे हिलाना चाहते हैं। 10 रुपये, 30 दिन, एक पन्ने का आवेदन — बस इतना चाहिए। यह पृष्ठ सबसे पहले हिन्दी में लिखा गया है। अंग्रेज़ी गाइड के लिए How to File RTI Online in India देखें। आरटीआई है क्या? सूचना का अधिकार अधिनियम, 2005 भारत के प्रत्येक नागरिक को यह अधिकार देता है कि वह किसी भी सार्वजनिक प्राधिकरण — मंत्रालय, विभाग, नगर निगम, पुलिस, स्कूल, अस्पताल, बिजली बोर्ड — से उसके पास उपलब्ध अभिलेख (records) की प्रति माँग सके। यह क़ानून कहता है: हर नागरिक पूछ सकता है। कोई कारण बताना आवश्यक नहीं। सरकार जवाब देगी। 30 दिन में — अनिवार्य रूप से। बहुत सस्ता है। केवल ₹10 का शुल्क (BPL के लिए मुफ़्त)। इनकार केवल विशिष्ट आधार पर। धारा 8(1) के 10 आधारों में से एक के अलावा कोई इनकार मान्य नहीं। आरटीआई से क्या नहीं मिलेगा \"क्यों\" जैसे प्रश्न। आरटीआई अभिलेख देता है — राय नहीं, स्पष्टीकरण नहीं। भविष्य की योजनाएँ / अनुमान। केवल वह जो फ़ाइल में अभी दर्ज है। निजी कंपनियों से सूचना। केवल सरकार / सरकारी-नियंत्रित निकाय। 5 चरणों में पहला आरटीआई भरें चरण 1: तय कीजिए कि आपको क्या चाहिए एक पंक्ति में लिखिए। उदाहरण: \"मेरी राशन-कार्ड फ़ाइल दिनांक 15-01-2026 की वर्तमान स्थिति।\" \"मेरे पीएम-किसान खाता संख्या ________ की पिछली 3 क़िस्तों की UTR।\" \"मेरे बेटे के एफ़आईआर नं. ________ की प्रगति रिपोर्ट।\" चरण 2: सही कार्यालय पहचानिए अपनी समस्या से संबंधित जन सूचना अधिकारी (PIO) का नाम व पता खोजिए: पंचायत / ग्राम स्तर — Block Development Officer (BDO) ज़िले का विषय — ज़िला कलेक्टर कार्यालय / जिले का SP राज्य का विषय — राज्य विभाग (Department) का PIO केंद्र का विषय — संबंधित मंत्रालय का CPIO; rtionline.gov.in से ऑनलाइन चरण 3: आवेदन लिखिए नीचे दिए नमूने का इस्तेमाल कीजिए। A4 काग़ज़ पर, साफ़ लिखावट में। [sample application] चरण 4: ₹10 का शुल्क जोड़िए तीन तरीक़ों में से कोई एक: भारतीय डाक आदेश (IPO) — डाकघर से खरीदें, \"Accounts Officer, [विभाग का नाम]\" के नाम। कोर्ट फ़ी स्टाम्प — आवेदन पर चिपकाएँ। ऑनलाइन — राज्य के RTI पोर्टल या rtionline.gov.in पर। चरण 5: Speed Post से भेजिए Speed Post Acknowledgement Due (AD) सबसे विश्वसनीय। रसीद सँभाल"},{"s":"rti-for-birth-certificate","t":"Birth Certificate Delayed or Rejected? File RTI to Get Registrar's Record","d":"Birth certificate stuck, delayed or rejected by the Registrar? File an RTI to the Municipal Corporation / Panchayat Registrar to unlock status, officer, and next step — in 30 days, Rs. 10.","u":"/rti-for-birth-certificate","x":"Birth Certificate Delayed or Rejected? File RTI to Get Registrar's Record In one line. Every birth in India is, by statute, to be registered within 21 days under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. When the certificate is delayed, rejected, or issued with errors, an RTI to the Registrar extracts the registration-entry status, officer name, and correction path. What that means. You get a written answer on exactly what is missing. The Municipal Corporation / Panchayat Registrar has a statutory duty to record. Most corrections and issuances get done within the 30-day RTI window. Did you know? The Registrar-General of India operates the Civil Registration System (CRS) centrally, but actual registration is done by the local Registrar — Municipal Corporation, Cantonment Board, or Gram Panchayat. The RTI goes to the local Registrar, not to the centre. Part of Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems . See also RTI for death certificate for the companion procedure. What is the problem A birth certificate is needed for school admission, Aadhaar, passport, inheritance, government scheme enrolment, and driving-licence age proof. Delays and errors come from several sources: Late registration — after 21 days, the registrar requires additional procedure (affidavit + DM approval after 30 days from birth; court order if beyond 1 year). Hospital non-transmission — the hospital failed to file Form 1 with the Registrar. Spelling errors — child's name, parent's name, or address. Incorrect DOB entry — manual transcription errors. Caste / religion field — some forms omit or mis-capture. Linked Aadhaar enrolment — updated records take a separate cycle. Why it happens The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 + state-specific rules govern the process. Timelines depend on when the registration was initiated, not when you apply for the certificate. RTI helps identify where in the chain your case sits. When to use RTI Certificate not issued 30 days after you submitted Form 1. Hospital said it filed the registration but the certificate shows \"not found\". Online portal shows \"under process\" beyond 45 days. Correction (name / DOB / parent name) application stuck beyond 30 days. Delayed registration (>1 year after birth) stuck at DM approval. Registrar refused to accept the application. What information you can ask Current status of your birth-registration record in the CRS / state portal. Date on which Form 1 was received by the Registrar. Name, designation, and contact of the"},{"s":"rti-for-campus-placement-data","t":"Campus Placement Data Suspicious? RTI for Company-wise Offer Record","d":"Suspicious about your college's placement claims? File RTI to a public-funded institution (IIT/NIT/Central University/AICTE","u":"/rti-for-campus-placement-data","x":"Campus Placement Data Suspicious? RTI for Company-wise Offer Record In one line. Public-funded institutions (IITs, NITs, IIMs, IIITs, Central Universities) and AICTE-approved colleges that are public authorities maintain placement registers that are disclosable under Section 4 of the RTI Act. Aspirants and accreditation bodies routinely extract company-wise, year-wise offer data through RTI. Part of Pillar 3 — RTI for Students & Youth . What is the problem Placement brochure claims 100% placement; reality differs. Highest / average package numbers look inflated. PPO (Pre-Placement Offer) counts unverified. Unplaced students not reflected in published reports. Internship-to-PPO conversion rate not disclosed. When to use RTI Admission decision pending — verifying college's claims. Accreditation challenge (NAAC, NBA) — need placement record. Alumni audit of placement trends. RTI to hold the TPO (Training & Placement Officer) accountable. What you can ask Branch-wise registered, placed, and unplaced student counts. Company-wise offers with CTC and roles. Internship-to-PPO conversion rate. Median / mean / mode CTC — not just highest. Dream offer, on-campus vs off-campus splits. TPO budget and activity calendar. NIRF / NBA data submission with placement fields. Step-by-step RTI filing IITs / NITs / Central Universities / IIMs / IIITs / AIIMS → their CPIO via ''rtionline.gov.in'' or institute RTI portal. Private AICTE-approved colleges → not public authorities; RTI routes via AICTE for the data submitted to it. State universities → state RTI portal. Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Branch-wise placed / unplaced counts. Company-wise offers + CTC. PPO conversion. Median / mean / mode CTC. Dream / second offers. TPO budget. NIRF / NBA placement data. Placement Policy. Company-renege action. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed to TPO / Registrar's office. Day 10–25 Placement register compiled. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal; NIRF / NAAC for data mismatch. Common mistakes Asking for individual student names — third-party; denied under §8(1)(j). Filing to a private college's TPO directly — they are not public authorities. Not distinguishing offer from joined — ask for both. Missing the internship-to-PPO metric — most ranking bodies ask for it. Pro tips Company-level data is not third-party when the company is identified publicly in offer letters / press releases. CTC bands (e.g., 10-15 LPA, 15-25 LPA) sidestep §8(1)(d) objections. Parallel NIRF / NAAC filing at ''nirfindia.org'' strengthens the record. For off-campus , ask the institute to cite the verification"},{"s":"rti-for-caste-certificate","t":"Caste Certificate Stuck or Rejected? RTI to Get the Tehsildar's Record","d":"SC / ST / OBC / EWS caste certificate stuck, rejected, or held up for validation? File an RTI to the Tehsildar / Social Welfare Department for file status, officer name, and restoration path.","u":"/rti-for-caste-certificate","x":"Caste Certificate Stuck or Rejected? RTI to Get the Tehsildar's Record In one line. Caste certificates (SC / ST / OBC / EWS) are issued by the District Magistrate's revenue wing, typically the Tehsildar. When an application is stuck, rejected, or held up for scrutiny, RTI extracts the file note, the objecting officer, and the path to restoration. What makes this urgent. Caste certificates feed directly into recruitment, scholarship, educational admission, and political candidature. Every week of delay compounds. Did you know? The Scrutiny Committee constituted under the Government of Maharashtra's (and similar state's) Reservation Rules often performs a second-level validation after a certificate is issued. A rejection at the Scrutiny stage is distinct from rejection at issuance. RTI at both stages is legitimate. Part of Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems . See domicile certificate RTI for the companion procedure. What is the problem Delays and rejections in caste-certificate processing come from: Family-tree discrepancy. Grandfather's record / ancestral village name / caste entry variant. Proof-document shortfall. Old school leaving certificate, voter list, revenue records — any mismatch triggers a hold. Third-party complaint. Someone alleged your caste claim is incorrect. Scrutiny Committee reference. Post-issuance validation; can take months. Creamy-layer declaration (OBC). Annual income threshold verification. Backward Class Commission referral. State-specific procedure for contested cases. Why it happens Caste certification combines revenue, social-welfare, and scrutiny-committee verification. Each step has its own timeline; a break in any step stalls the whole. RTI identifies the specific break. When to use RTI Application filed 30+ days ago; online portal still shows \"under process\". Rejection letter received but no specific ground cited. Scrutiny Committee has been considering the case for 3+ months. Creamy-layer assessment delayed / over-valued. Mismatch in family-tree record; tehsildar's notes unclear. Third-party complaint suspected but not communicated. What information you can ask Current status of application in the state's e-certification portal. Name, designation, posting of the Tehsildar / Naib-Tehsildar / Sub-divisional Officer (SDO) handling the case. Copy of the scrutiny note / objection memo. Copy of any third-party complaint on file. If rejected, the exact clause of the state Reservation Rules relied on. For OBC creamy-layer, the income-assessment worksheet. Scrutiny Committee reference number and current status. Family-tree verification report + discrepancies flagged. Restoration / re-application procedure. Grievance officer / First Appellate Authority. Step-by-step RTI filing Option A — State RTI portal State portal → Revenue Department or Social Justice Department"},{"s":"rti-for-college-admission-rejection","t":"College Admission Rejected? RTI for Merit-List and Seat-Matrix","d":"College admission rejected or lower rank allotted than expected? File RTI to the university / institute to extract merit-list, seat-matrix, counselling record, and reservation-roster.","u":"/rti-for-college-admission-rejection","x":"College Admission Rejected? RTI for Merit-List and Seat-Matrix In one line. Admission to public-funded universities and AICTE/UGC-recognised institutions is governed by published regulations. Merit lists, seat matrices, counselling logs, and reservation rosters are disclosable under Section 4 of the RTI Act. Part of Pillar 3 — RTI for Students & Youth . What is the problem Lower rank allotted to you than the last-allotted rank in your category. Seat matrix changed mid-counselling. Special category / supernumerary seat claim denied. Document verification rejected without specific reason. EWS / OBC-NCL / SC / ST certificate disputed. Lateral entry / transfer application ignored. When to use RTI Published cut-off does not match your allotment. Seat-matrix variance between prospectus and allotment. Category claim dismissed — no written reason. Counselling fee paid; refund stuck after withdrawal. What you can ask Merit-list with rank range (not names) for your category. Category-wise seat matrix as per UGC / state reservation policy. Last-allotted rank in each round / category. Counselling round-wise allotment log. Rejection ground in your case — in writing. Supernumerary / sports / PwBD quota usage. Fee refund mechanism (if applicable). Step-by-step RTI filing Central universities / IITs / NITs / IIIITs → CPIO via ''rtionline.gov.in''. State universities / colleges → state RTI portal → Registrar / Admission Cell. Deemed-to-be universities (funded) → institute CPIO. UGC / AICTE → for policy overlay. Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Category-wise seat matrix. Round-wise last-allotted rank. Supernumerary seat usage. Rejection ground at DV. Counselling log entry. Grievance action-taken. Upgradation policy. Fee refund mechanism. Regulator compliance. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 Admission Cell + DV officer records pulled. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal + parallel complaint to UGC / AICTE / state regulator. Common mistakes Asking for named merit-list — third-party; use rank range . Missing the last-allotted rank data point; it's the most persuasive number. Ignoring the counselling-portal grievance ID. Filing after the rejoinder window has closed (usually 15 days). Case law anchors Institute of Chartered Accountants v. Shaunak Satya (2011) 8 SCC 781 — examiner confidentiality; does not cover rank/cut-off data. CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011) 8 SCC 497 — scores and rank-data disclosable. UGC v. Neha Anil Bobde (2013) 10 SCC 519 — admission regulations are enforceable. Pro tips File within the counselling window — timing matters. Regulators act fast"},{"s":"rti-for-community","t":"Pillar 2 — RTI for Community & Society","d":"Pillar hub — RTI, 2005 for community and society. Track public spending, improve civic infrastructure, monitor schools and hospitals, and know your environment. Ten guides with copy-ready applications","u":"/rti-for-community","x":"Pillar 2 — RTI for Community & Society In one line. When citizens ask the right questions, good governance is not a miracle — it is a habit. This pillar is for the resident welfare association, the gram sabha member, the parent, the patient, the volunteer — anyone whose RTI is for the neighbourhood, not only for themselves. What you'll find. Public spending — track every rupee of government money in your ward. Civic infrastructure — roads, drains, lights, parks, water. Schools, hospitals — quality of public services. Environment — air, water, pollution, clearances. Projects — highway to canal to metro station. Policy — the files behind decisions. Did you know? Every ward / village in India has a statutory Ward Committee or Gram Sabha . Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act requires the public authority to proactively publish budgets, beneficiary lists, and project sanctions. When that duty is not met, RTI is the legal cure. Start here How to track government money in your area — budgets, tenders, contractors. Improve roads, parks, and civic facilities — ward-level RTI. Public services Improve government schools — teacher attendance, MDM, SMC minutes. Services in government hospitals — duty rosters, stock, equipment. Pollution, water quality, and environmental actions — SPCB, CPCB, clearances. Projects and policy Track public projects in your area — highways, housing, canals, metros. Understand government policies and decisions — read the file. Real-life RTI success stories — what worked and why. How to use this pillar — step by step Pick one issue. A road, a chimney, an empty PHC. One issue per application. Identify the authority. Municipal, panchayat, PWD, SPCB, school, hospital. Write the RTI. Use the template on the relevant sub-article. File online or by post. Use ''rtionline.gov.in'' for central, state portals for state. Wait 30 days. Share the reply. Gram sabha, RWA, PTA, WhatsApp group, press. Appeal if needed. First Appeal → Second Appeal. The tone of community RTI Constructive, not combative. Officers respond to polite specifics, not rhetoric. Systemic, not personal. Ask about institutional gaps, not individual careers. Documentary, not anecdotal. Photographs, tender tiles, receipts. Collective, not solo. Three citizens filing three sharp RTIs move more than one person filing thirty. Shared templates For a spending audit : Sample RTI — spending audit.\\\\ For a civic complaint file : Sample RTI — civic.\\\\ For an environmental data request : Sample RTI — environment. How this pillar"},{"s":"rti-for-consumer-complaint","t":"Consumer Complaint Ignored? RTI to Accelerate Resolution","d":"Consumer complaint ignored by the seller or stuck at the Consumer Commission? File RTI to the Department of Consumer Affairs or Commission Registry to extract the action-taken record.","u":"/rti-for-consumer-complaint","x":"Consumer Complaint Ignored? RTI to Accelerate Resolution In one line. Consumer complaints flow through the National Consumer Helpline (NCH, 1915), e-Daakhil, or the District / State / National Consumer Commissions under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. When a complaint stalls, RTI extracts the action-taken record and next-step officer. Part of Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems . See also general RTI for ignored complaints. What is the problem Seller refuses to honour warranty / replacement / refund. NCH complaint logged at ''consumerhelpline.gov.in'' → \"resolved\" status without action. e-Daakhil case admitted at District Commission but hearing dates not scheduled. State Commission appeal pending indefinitely. Advocacy / mediation offered but terms not communicated. When to use RTI NCH complaint number older than 30 days without substantive response. District Commission case admitted but no hearing date in 60 days. Consumer Commission order not implemented by the seller. Mediation cell silent after referral. You suspect the complaint was closed without your consent. What you can ask NCH complaint reference: action-taken record, escalation to regulator. District Commission: case number, next hearing date, counsel representation. Commission Registry: cause list, stay / interim orders, respondent's appearance. Mediation cell: assignment of mediator, current stage. Execution of orders: recovery-certificate status. Grievance officer / Appeal route. Step-by-step RTI filing Where to file NCH grievance → CPIO, Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, via ''rtionline.gov.in''. District / State Commission → CPIO of the Commission Registry (state RTI portal). National Commission → CPIO, NCDRC, New Delhi via ''rtionline.gov.in''. Fees Rs. 10; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Complaint/case status. Action Taken Report. Seller response. Mediator assignment. Next hearing date. Enforcement of order. Grounds if closed. Escalation procedure. FAA contact. Average disposal time. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 Department pulls complaint file; many NCH cases revive during this window. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal + escalation to sector regulator (BIS, IRDAI, TRAI, RBI-IS) where applicable. Common mistakes Filing at NCDRC for a District Commission case. Not citing the NCH docket. Asking the seller directly via RTI — private sellers are not public authorities. Ignoring parallel regulator-grievance channels. Pro tips Parallel complaints : sector regulator (TRAI / IRDAI / RBI-IS / BIS) + NCH + District Commission — pick your strongest venue. For e-commerce disputes , capture screenshots of order + communication; attach to the RTI. For Commission orders"},{"s":"rti-for-daily-life","t":"Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems","d":"Pillar hub — every Right to Information Act, 2005 use case for day-to-day citizen problems. Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, PF, pension, licence, scheme benefit, complaint — each with a full guide.","u":"/rti-for-daily-life","x":"Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems In one line. Every Indian, at some point, runs into a stuck file — Aadhaar not generated, passport delayed, voter ID missing, pension halted, licence pending. This pillar brings together every RTI guide for those day-to-day walls, each with a copy-ready application and a 30-day escalation path. What you'll find. Identity documents — Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, driving licence. Money flows — EPFO, pension, scheme benefits, refund. Records — land, property, complaint, grievance. Did you know? In 2025, the Central Public Information Officers across India received more than 3.1 lakh RTIs per month on personal files — passport, Aadhaar, licence, PF, pension. More than half were resolved substantively during the RTI window itself. The Act's own process is often the solution. Read first: the hub RTI for personal problems — 5 real-life cases + templates This is the flagship article. It introduces the grammar of a good personal RTI — subject line, file reference, 10 crisp questions. Identity documents Aadhaar not downloading or generated — when UIDAI shows \"Under Process\" beyond 30 days. Aadhaar update stuck or rejected — name, DoB, address, biometrics, mobile. Voter ID not received or rejected — Form 6 / 8 stuck; name dropped from rolls. Passport delayed — police verification, RPO sign-off, printing. Passport rejected — Section 6(2), adverse PV, pending case. Driving licence not issued or renewed — test re-scheduled, card not printed. Money flows PF withdrawal or pension delayed — EPFO claim stuck. Scheme benefits not received — PM-KISAN, PMAY, scholarships, MNREGA wages. Records and grievances Land / property records unclear — mutation, 7/12, patta, EC. Ration card cancelled — RTI to restore under NFSA. Birth certificate delayed — RTI to the Registrar. Death certificate stuck — RTI to the Registrar. Caste certificate rejected — RTI to the Tehsildar. Marriage registration delayed — RTI to the Sub-Registrar. Domicile certificate stuck — RTI to the Tehsildar/SDM. Complaint not acted upon — force a written response on grievances. How this pillar fits with the others For public spending or a project near you , see Pillar 2 — RTI for Community & Society. For students, scholarships, answer sheets , see Pillar 3 — RTI for Students & Youth. For schemes, subsidies, pensions as a system , see Pillar 4 — RTI for Money & Schemes. To learn the Act , see Pillar 5 — RTI Mastery. A"},{"s":"rti-for-daily-life-bengali","t":"দৈনন্দিন জীবনের সমস্যার জন্য তথ্য জানার অধিকার — Pillar 1 (বাংলা)","d":"দৈনন্দিন সমস্যার জন্য তথ্য জানার অধিকার — রেশন কার্ড, FIR, পেনশন, বিদ্যুৎ বিল, জলের গুণমান — এক পৃষ্ঠায়। ২০২৬ সংস্করণ।","u":"/rti-for-daily-life-bengali","x":"দৈনন্দিন জীবনের সমস্যার জন্য তথ্য জানার অধিকার — Pillar 1 (বাংলা) এক লাইনে। রেশন কার্ড আটকে আছে? পেনশন আসেনি? FIR জমা নেওয়া হয়নি? পানি নোংরা? বিদ্যুতের বিল ভুল? তথ্য জানার অধিকার আইন, ২০০৫-এর ধারা ৬(১) অনুসারে একটি আবেদনই যথেষ্ট — ₹১০ ফি, ৩০ দিনে উত্তর বাধ্যতামূলক । এই পৃষ্ঠায় দৈনন্দিন সমস্যার জন্য প্রস্তুত রেসিপি আছে, বাংলায়। এই পৃষ্ঠাটি ইংরেজি Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems-এর বাংলা রূপান্তর। আপনার সমস্যা কী? সরকারি নথি রেশন কার্ড বিলম্ব জন্ম সনদপত্র মৃত্যু সনদপত্র জাতিগত সনদপত্র বিবাহ সনদপত্র বসবাসের সনদপত্র সম্পত্তি নিবন্ধন অর্থ ও ফেরত GST ফেরত আয়কর ফেরত পিএম-কিষাণ কিস্তি PMAY কিস্তি NSAP পেনশন MGNREGA মজুরি বৃত্তি বিলম্ব নিরাপত্তা ও আইন FIR নথিভুক্ত হয়নি — পুলিশের কাছে RTI ভোক্তা অভিযোগ দ্রুত সমাধান মৌলিক সুবিধা বিদ্যুৎ বিল বিতর্ক জলের গুণমান শব্দ দূষণ শিক্ষা পরীক্ষার ফল বিলম্ব উত্তরপত্র পরিদর্শন ডিগ্রি যাচাই পশ্চিমবঙ্গ ও কলকাতায় RTI দাখিল করা অনলাইন। ''https: rtionline.wb.gov.in'' পোস্ট। সংশ্লিষ্ট সরকারি প্রাধিকরণের PIO-কে Speed Post-এ। ফি। ₹১০ (BPL-এর জন্য বিনামূল্যে)। কমিশন। West Bengal Information Commission (WBIC), Salt Lake, Kolkata। বিস্তারিত গাইড: পশ্চিমবঙ্গে RTI দাখিল কীভাবে মূল পাঠ উত্তর নয়, নথি চান। ভুল: \"আমি কেন রেশন কার্ড পাইনি?\" সঠিক: \"আমার আবেদন নং ________-এর বর্তমান ফাইল অবস্থান এবং দায়িত্বে থাকা কর্মকর্তার নাম।\" পূর্ণ গাইড ইংরেজিতে: Ask for records, not answers। নমুনা RTI আবেদন (বাংলা) [sample application] ৩০ দিনের ঘড়ি দিন ০ — PIO আবেদন পান। দিন ০–৫ — প্রয়োজনে ধারা ৬(৩)-এর অধীনে সঠিক বিভাগে স্থানান্তর। দিন ৩০ — উত্তর বাধ্যতামূলক। নীরবতা ধারা ৭(২) অনুযায়ী অনুমিত অস্বীকার। দিন ৩১–৬০ — প্রথম আপীল ধারা ১৯(১)-এর অধীনে, FAA-এর কাছে। দিন ৭৫–১৬৫ — দ্বিতীয় আপীল WBIC-এর কাছে। সম্পর্কিত পাঠ পশ্চিমবঙ্গে RTI দাখিল ভারতে RTI অনলাইন দাখিল RTI কেন প্রত্যাখ্যান হয় প্রত্যাখ্যানের ১০টি বৈধ কারণ RTI FAQ সূত্র তথ্য জানার অধিকার আইন, ২০০৫ (সংশোধিত) West Bengal Right to Information Rules, 2006 Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 — §44(3) ---- সর্বশেষ পর্যালোচনা: ২১ এপ্রিল ২০২৬।"},{"s":"rti-for-daily-life-hindi","t":"रोज़मर्रा की समस्याओं के लिए आरटीआई — Pillar 1 (हिन्दी)","d":"रोज़मर्रा की समस्याओं के लिए आरटीआई — राशन कार्ड, जन्म-प्रमाण पत्र, पेंशन, एफआईआर, बिजली का बिल, पानी की गुणवत्ता — एक ही जगह, 2026 संस्करण।","u":"/rti-for-daily-life-hindi","x":"रोज़मर्रा की समस्याओं के लिए आरटीआई — Pillar 1 (हिन्दी) एक पंक्ति में। राशन कार्ड अटका? पेंशन नहीं आई? एफआईआर दर्ज नहीं हुई? पानी गंदा? बिजली का बिल ग़लत? सूचना का अधिकार अधिनियम, 2005 की धारा 6(1) के तहत एक आवेदन पर्याप्त है — 10 रुपये का शुल्क, 30 दिन में जवाब अनिवार्य । इस पृष्ठ पर आप पाएँगे सभी दैनिक-जीवन की समस्याओं के लिए तैयार-रेसिपी, हिन्दी में। यह पृष्ठ अंग्रेज़ी के Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems का हिन्दी रूपांतरण है। आप क्या कर सकते हैं नीचे दी गई समस्याओं में से जो आपकी है, उस पर क्लिक करें। हर रेसिपी में एक तैयार आवेदन-प्रारूप (format), किससे माँगें, क्या माँगें, और अगली कार्यवाही का क्रम दिया है। दैनिक नागरिक कार्य राशन कार्ड में देरी — RTI to खाद्य व आपूर्ति विभाग जन्म-प्रमाण पत्र — नगर निगम / पंचायत मृत्यु-प्रमाण पत्र जाति प्रमाण पत्र विवाह-प्रमाण पत्र अधिवास प्रमाण पत्र संपत्ति पंजीकरण धन व रिफंड GST रिफंड अटका — CBIC / राज्य GST आयकर रिफंड में देरी — CPC बेंगलुरु PM-किसान किस्त नहीं मिली PMAY क़िस्त NSAP पेंशन MGNREGA मज़दूरी छात्रवृत्ति नहीं आई सुरक्षा व क़ानून एफआईआर दर्ज नहीं हुई — पुलिस से Daily Diary की माँग उपभोक्ता शिकायत को तेज़ करना बुनियादी सुविधाएँ बिजली का बिल विवाद — DISCOM से meter log पानी की गुणवत्ता / आपूर्ति — नगर निगम / जल बोर्ड ध्वनि प्रदूषण — पुलिस व SPCB शिक्षा परीक्षा परिणाम में देरी उत्तर-पुस्तिका का निरीक्षण डिग्री सत्यापन बड़ी नागरिक परियोजनाएँ मेट्रो परियोजना स्मार्ट सिटी मिशन झुग्गी-बस्ती पुनर्वास आरटीआई क्या है — संक्षेप में सूचना का अधिकार अधिनियम, 2005 भारत के हर नागरिक को यह अधिकार देता है कि वह किसी भी सार्वजनिक प्राधिकरण (public authority) से उसके अधिकार में उपलब्ध अभिलेख (records) की माँग कर सके। सरकार ज़वाब देने के लिए कानूनी रूप से बाध्य है। शुल्क। केंद्रीय नियमों में ₹10; कुछ राज्यों में ₹20–₹50। जवाब की समय-सीमा। 30 दिन (जीवन या स्वतंत्रता के मामले में 48 घंटे)। कहाँ दायर करें। राज्य के RTI पोर्टल पर ऑनलाइन या संबंधित विभाग के जन सूचना अधिकारी (PIO) को डाक से। अगर जवाब न मिले। धारा 19(1) के तहत 30 दिन में पहली अपील — विभाग के प्रथम अपीलीय अधिकारी (FAA) को। उसके बाद राज्य / केंद्रीय सूचना आयोग (SIC / CIC) को दूसरी अपील। कैसे लिखें एक असरदार आरटीआई एक बात याद रखिए। उत्तर नहीं, अभिलेख माँगिए। गलत: \"मुझे राशन कार्ड क्यों नहीं मिला?\" सही: \"मेरे राशन कार्ड"},{"s":"rti-for-daily-life-kannada","t":"ದಿನನಿತ್ಯದ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಹಕ್ಕು — Pillar 1 (ಕನ್ನಡ)","d":"ದಿನನಿತ್ಯದ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಹಕ್ಕು — ಪಡಿತರ ಚೀಟಿ, FIR, ಪಿಂಚಣಿ, ವಿದ್ಯುತ್‌ ಬಿಲ್‌, ನೀರಿನ ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟ — ಒಂದೇ ಪುಟದಲ್ಲಿ।","u":"/rti-for-daily-life-kannada","x":"ದಿನನಿತ್ಯದ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಹಕ್ಕು — Pillar 1 (ಕನ್ನಡ) ಒಂದೇ ಸಾಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ. ಪಡಿತರ ಚೀಟಿ ವಿಳಂಬ? ಪಿಂಚಣಿ ಬಂದಿಲ್ಲವೇ? FIR ದಾಖಲಾಗಿಲ್ಲವೇ? ನೀರು ಕಲುಷಿತ? ವಿದ್ಯುತ್‌ ಬಿಲ್‌ ತಪ್ಪು? ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಹಕ್ಕು ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ, 2005ರ ಸೆಕ್ಷನ್‌ 6(1) ಅಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಅರ್ಜಿ ಸಾಕು — ₹10 ಶುಲ್ಕ, 30 ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಡ್ಡಾಯ ಉತ್ತರ . ಈ ಪುಟದಲ್ಲಿ ದಿನನಿತ್ಯದ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಸಿದ್ಧ ರೆಸಿಪಿಗಳಿವೆ, ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ. ಈ ಪುಟವು ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್‌ Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems ಪುಟದ ಕನ್ನಡ ರೂಪಾಂತರ. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಯಾವುದು? ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ದಾಖಲೆಗಳು ಪಡಿತರ ಚೀಟಿ ವಿಳಂಬ ಜನನ ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ಪತ್ರ ಮರಣ ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ಪತ್ರ ಜಾತಿ ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ಪತ್ರ ವಿವಾಹ ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ಪತ್ರ ವಾಸಸ್ಥಾನ ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ಪತ್ರ ಆಸ್ತಿ ನೋಂದಣಿ ಹಣ ಮತ್ತು ಮರುಪಾವತಿ GST ಮರುಪಾವತಿ ಆದಾಯ ತೆರಿಗೆ ಮರುಪಾವತಿ ಪಿಎಂ-ಕಿಸಾನ್‌ ಕಂತು PMAY ಕಂತು NSAP ಪಿಂಚಣಿ MGNREGA ವೇತನ ಶಿಷ್ಯವೇತನ ವಿಳಂಬ ಭದ್ರತೆ ಮತ್ತು ಕಾನೂನು FIR ನೋಂದಣಿ ನಿರಾಕರಣೆ — ಪೊಲೀಸರಿಗೆ RTI ಗ್ರಾಹಕ ದೂರು ಮೂಲ ಸೌಕರ್ಯಗಳು ವಿದ್ಯುತ್‌ ಬಿಲ್‌ ವಿವಾದ ನೀರಿನ ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟ ಶಬ್ದ ಮಾಲಿನ್ಯ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಪರೀಕ್ಷಾ ಫಲಿತಾಂಶ ವಿಳಂಬ ಉತ್ತರ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ ಪರಿಶೀಲನೆ ಪದವಿ ದೃಢೀಕರಣ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ RTI ದಾಖಲಿಸುವುದು ಹೇಗೆ ಆನ್‌ಲೈನ್‌. ''https: rtionline.karnataka.gov.in'' ಅಂಚೆ. ಸಂಬಂಧಿತ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಪ್ರಾಧಿಕಾರದ PIO-ಗೆ Speed Post ಮೂಲಕ. ಶುಲ್ಕ. ₹10 (BPL-ಗೆ ಉಚಿತ). ಆಯೋಗ. Karnataka State Information Commission (KSIC), Bengaluru. ವಿವರವಾದ ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶಿ: ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ RTI ದಾಖಲಿಸುವುದು ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಪಾಠ ಉತ್ತರ ಕೇಳಬೇಡಿ, ದಾಖಲೆಗಳನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿ. ತಪ್ಪು: \"ನನಗೆ ಪಡಿತರ ಚೀಟಿ ಏಕೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿಲ್ಲ?\" ಸರಿ: \"ನನ್ನ ಅರ್ಜಿ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ ________ನ ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಫೈಲ್‌ ಸ್ಥಾನ ಮತ್ತು ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿ ಹೊತ್ತ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಯ ಹೆಸರು.\" ಪೂರ್ಣ ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶಿ ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ: Ask for records, not answers. ಮಾದರಿ RTI ಅರ್ಜಿ (ಕನ್ನಡ) [sample application] 30 ದಿನಗಳ ಗಡಿಯಾರ ದಿನ 0 — PIO ಅರ್ಜಿಯನ್ನು ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ದಿನ 0–5 — ಅಗತ್ಯವಿದ್ದರೆ ಸೆಕ್ಷನ್‌ 6(3)ರ ಅಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸರಿಯಾದ ವಿಭಾಗಕ್ಕೆ ವರ್ಗಾವಣೆ. ದಿನ 30 — ಉತ್ತರ ಕಡ್ಡಾಯ. ಮೌನ ಸೆಕ್ಷನ್‌ 7(2)ರ ಅಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ deemed refusal. ದಿನ 31–60 — ಮೊದಲ ಮೇಲ್ಮನವಿ ಸೆಕ್ಷನ್‌ 19(1) ಅಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ FAA-ಗೆ. ದಿನ 75–165 — ಎರಡನೇ ಮೇಲ್ಮನವಿ KSIC-ಗೆ. ಸಂಬಂಧಿತ ಓದು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ RTI ದಾಖಲಿಸುವುದು ಭಾರತದಲ್ಲಿ RTI ಆನ್‌ಲೈನ್‌ ದಾಖಲಿಸುವುದು RTI ಏಕೆ ತಿರಸ್ಕೃತವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ ತಿರಸ್ಕಾರದ 10 ಆಧಾರಗಳು RTI FAQ ಮೂಲಗಳು ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಹಕ್ಕು ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ, 2005 (ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ) Karnataka Right to Information Rules, 2005 Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 — §44(3) ---- ಕೊನೆಯ ಪರಿಶೀಲನೆ: 21 ಏಪ್ರಿಲ್‌ 2026."},{"s":"rti-for-daily-life-marathi","t":"दैनंदिन समस्यांसाठी माहितीचा अधिकार — Pillar 1 (मराठी)","d":"रोजच्या समस्यांसाठी माहितीचा अधिकार — शिधापत्रिका, FIR, पेन्शन, वीज बिल, पाण्याची गुणवत्ता — एकाच पानावर. 2026 आवृत्ती.","u":"/rti-for-daily-life-marathi","x":"दैनंदिन समस्यांसाठी माहितीचा अधिकार — Pillar 1 (मराठी) एका ओळीत. शिधापत्रिका अडकली? पेन्शन आली नाही? FIR नोंदवली गेली नाही? पाणी दूषित? वीज बिल चुकीचे? माहितीचा अधिकार अधिनियम, 2005 च्या कलम 6(1) अंतर्गत एक अर्ज पुरेसा आहे — ₹10 शुल्क, 30 दिवसांत उत्तर अनिवार्य . या पानावर तुम्हाला तयार रेसिपी मिळतील, मराठीत. हे पान इंग्रजी Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems चे मराठी रूपांतर आहे. तुम्ही काय करू शकता तुमच्या समस्येशी संबंधित दुवा निवडा. प्रत्येक रेसिपीमध्ये तयार अर्जाचा नमुना, कोणाला द्यायचा, काय मागायचे, आणि पुढील कार्यवाही यांची माहिती आहे. सरकारी कागदपत्रे शिधापत्रिका विलंब जन्म प्रमाणपत्र मृत्यू प्रमाणपत्र जातीचे प्रमाणपत्र विवाह प्रमाणपत्र अधिवास प्रमाणपत्र मालमत्ता नोंदणी निधी व परतावा GST परतावा आयकर परतावा पीएम-किसान हप्ता PMAY हप्ता NSAP पेन्शन मनरेगा मजुरी शिष्यवृत्ती विलंब सुरक्षा व कायदा FIR नोंदणी नकार — पोलिसांकडे RTI ग्राहक तक्रार तेजी मूलभूत सुविधा वीज बिल वाद पाणी गुणवत्ता ध्वनी प्रदूषण शिक्षण परीक्षा निकाल विलंब उत्तरपत्रिका तपासणी पदवी सत्यापन महाराष्ट्रात RTI कसा दाखल करायचा ऑनलाइन. ''https: rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in'' टपाल. संबंधित सार्वजनिक प्राधिकरणाच्या PIO ला Speed Post ने. शुल्क. ₹10 (BPL साठी मोफत). आयोग. महाराष्ट्र राज्य माहिती आयोग, मुंबई (औरंगाबाद, नागपूर, नाशिक, पुणे, अमरावती, कोकण येथे खंडपीठे). तपशीलवार मार्गदर्शक: महाराष्ट्रात RTI कसा दाखल करायचा महत्त्वाचा धडा उत्तर मागू नका, नोंद मागा. चूक: \"मला शिधापत्रिका का मिली नाही?\" योग्य: \"माझ्या अर्ज क्रमांक ________ ची सध्याची फाइल स्थिती आणि सध्या प्रभारी अधिकाऱ्याचे नाव.\" पूर्ण मार्गदर्शक इंग्रजीत: Ask for records, not answers. नमुना RTI अर्ज (मराठी) [sample application] 30 दिवसांचे घड्याळ दिवस 0 — PIO कडे अर्ज पोहोचतो. दिवस 0–5 — कलम 6(3) अंतर्गत योग्य विभागाकडे हस्तांतरण (आवश्यक असल्यास). दिवस 30 — उत्तर अनिवार्य. मौन कलम 7(2) अंतर्गत deemed refusal . दिवस 31 ते 60 — पहिले अपील कलम 19(1) अंतर्गत, FAA कडे. दिवस 75–165 — दुसरे अपील महाराष्ट्र SIC कडे. संबंधित वाचन महाराष्ट्रात RTI दाखल करणे भारतात RTI दाखल करणे RTI का नाकारली जाते नकाराचे 10 आधार RTI FAQ स्त्रोत माहितीचा अधिकार अधिनियम, 2005 (सुधारणांसह) Maharashtra Right to Information Rules, 2005 Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 — §44(3) ---- शेवटचे पुनरावलोकन: 21 एप्रिल 2026."},{"s":"rti-for-daily-life-tamil","t":"அன்றாட வாழ்க்கைக்கான தகவல் அறியும் உரிமை — Pillar 1 (தமிழ்)","d":"அன்றாட பிரச்சனைகளுக்கான தகவல் அறியும் உரிமை — குடும்ப அட்டை, FIR, ஓய்வூதியம், மின்சாரக் கட்டணம், தண்ணீர் தரம் — ஒரே பக்கத்தில்.","u":"/rti-for-daily-life-tamil","x":"அன்றாட வாழ்க்கைக்கான தகவல் அறியும் உரிமை — Pillar 1 (தமிழ்) ஒரே வரியில். குடும்ப அட்டை தாமதம்? ஓய்வூதியம் வரவில்லை? FIR பதிவாகவில்லை? தண்ணீர் கெட்டுப்போயிருக்கிறது? மின்சாரக் கட்டணம் தவறாக வந்திருக்கிறது? தகவல் அறியும் உரிமைச் சட்டம், 2005-இன் பிரிவு 6(1) கீழ் ஒரு விண்ணப்பம் போதும் — ₹50 கட்டணம் (தமிழ்நாடு விதிகள் படி), 30 நாட்களில் பதிலுக்கான சட்டக் கடமை . இந்தப் பக்கத்தில் பொதுவான அன்றாட பிரச்சனைகளுக்கான தயாராக இருக்கும் ரெசிப்பிகள் கிடைக்கின்றன. இந்தப் பக்கம் ஆங்கில Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems பக்கத்தின் தமிழாக்கம் ஆகும். உங்கள் பிரச்சனை எது? அரசு ஆவணங்கள் குடும்ப அட்டை தாமதம் பிறப்புச் சான்றிதழ் இறப்புச் சான்றிதழ் சாதிச் சான்றிதழ் திருமணச் சான்றிதழ் வசிப்பிடச் சான்றிதழ் சொத்துப் பதிவு திருப்பிச் செலுத்துதல் & ஓய்வூதியம் GST திரும்பப் பெறுதல் வருமான வரி திரும்பப் பெறுதல் PM-Kisan தவணை PMAY தவணை NSAP ஓய்வூதியம் MGNREGA கூலி உதவித்தொகை தாமதம் பாதுகாப்பு & சட்டம் FIR பதிவாகவில்லை — காவல்துறைக்கு RTI நுகர்வோர் புகார் தீர்வு அடிப்படை வசதிகள் மின்சாரக் கட்டண சர்ச்சை — DISCOM தண்ணீர் தரம் — நீர்வாரியம் சத்த மாசுபாடு கல்வி தேர்வு முடிவு தாமதம் விடைத்தாள் பார்வை பட்டச் சரிபார்ப்பு பெரிய திட்டங்கள் மெட்ரோ திட்டம் ஸ்மார்ட் சிட்டி குடிசை புனரமைப்பு RTI எங்கே தாக்கல் செய்வது — தமிழ்நாடு இணையம். ''https: tnsic.tn.gov.in'' தபால். சார்புடைய துறையின் PIO-க்கு Speed Post மூலம். கட்டணம். ₹50 (தமிழ்நாடு RTI விதிகளின்படி). BPL-க்கு இலவசம். ஆணையம். Tamil Nadu State Information Commission (TNSIC), Chennai. விரிவான வழிகாட்டி: தமிழ்நாட்டில் RTI தாக்கல் செய்வது எப்படி எப்படி எழுதுவது — முக்கிய பாடம் பதில் கேட்காதீர்கள், பதிவேடுகளைக் கேளுங்கள். தவறு: \"எனக்கு ஏன் குடும்ப அட்டை இல்லை?\" சரி: \"என் விண்ணப்ப எண் ________ தற்போது எந்த கோப்பில் உள்ளது என்பதன் சான்றளிக்கப்பட்ட நகல்.\" முழு வழிகாட்டி ஆங்கிலத்தில்: Ask for records, not answers. மாதிரி RTI விண்ணப்பம் (தமிழ்) [sample application] 30 நாள் கடிகாரம் நாள் 0 — PIO-விடம் உங்கள் RTI சேருகிறது. நாள் 0–5 — தேவைப்பட்டால் பிரிவு 6(3)-இன் கீழ் சரியான துறைக்கு அனுப்புதல். நாள் 30 — பதில் கட்டாயம். மௌனம் பிரிவு 7(2)-இன் கீழ் நிராகரிப்பு. நாள் 31–60 — பிரிவு 19(1) முதல் மேல்முறையீடு — FAA-விடம். நாள் 75–165 — பிரிவு 19(3) இரண்டாவது மேல்முறையீடு — TNSIC-விடம். தொடர்புடைய வாசிப்பு தமிழ்நாட்டில் RTI தாக்கல் செய்வது எப்படி English Pillar-1 hub How to file RTI online in India Why RTI gets rejected Grounds for RTI rejection RTI FAQ — 25 questions மூலங்கள் தகவல் அறியும் உரிமைச் சட்டம், 2005 (திருத்தம் உட்பட) Tamil Nadu RTI (Fees) Rules, 2005 Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 — §44(3) CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay , (2011) 8 SCC 497 ---- கடைசியாக மீளாய்வு: 21 ஏப்ரல் 2026."},{"s":"rti-for-death-certificate","t":"Death Certificate Delayed or Rejected? Use RTI to Unlock the Registrar's Record","d":"Death certificate delayed, rejected, or missing? File an RTI to the Registrar under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 to unlock status, officer, and the exact restoration or issuance pat","u":"/rti-for-death-certificate","x":"Death Certificate Delayed or Rejected? Use RTI to Unlock the Registrar's Record In one line. Every death in India is required to be registered under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. When the certificate is stuck, the Registrar holds the record; RTI extracts it — in 30 days, for Rs. 10. Why this matters. A death certificate is required for inheritance, pension transfer, insurance claims, bank-account closure, mutation of property, and ration-card correction. A delayed certificate blocks all of these. Did you know? Cause-of-death certificate (Form 4/4A issued by the treating doctor or hospital) is separate from the civil death certificate. The civil certificate is issued by the Registrar. Both flow through the CRS but come from different custodians. Part of Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems . See also RTI for birth certificate for the companion procedure. What is the problem Death registration should happen within 21 days of the event. Delays occur because: Hospital didn't transmit Form 4/4A to the Registrar. Home death — no one filed Form 2 (deaths at home require a family-member filing). Unnatural death — cross-referenced with police records; delay till FIR closure. Delayed registration (>21 days) — requires affidavit + Executive Magistrate's approval. Name / DOB / father's name errors — correction cycles not closed. Interstate death — the registration has to happen at the place of death, not at the deceased's residence. Why it happens Multiple custodians (hospital, family member, Registrar, police for unnatural cases). A stuck step anywhere blocks issuance. RTI maps the chain. When to use RTI Certificate not issued 30 days after Form 2 / Form 4 submission. Online portal shows \"under process\" beyond 45 days. Correction of name / age / DOB pending more than 30 days. Delayed-registration application stuck at Magistrate. Hospital says it transmitted Form 4; Registrar says not received. Unnatural-death certificate held up pending FIR closure. What information you can ask Current status of death-registration record in the CRS / state portal. Date of Form 2 / Form 4 submission to the Registrar. Name, designation, and contact of the Registrar / Deputy Registrar. If hospital-transmitted, the hospital code and transmission reference. If delayed-registration, the Magistrate file number and current stage. If unnatural-death, the police station's closure-report status (cross-reference). Correction procedure and approving officer. Restoration / re-issuance procedure. Estimated date of issuance. Grievance officer contact. Step-by-step RTI filing Option A — State"},{"s":"rti-for-degree-verification","t":"Degree or Mark Sheet Delayed? RTI to University Registrar","d":"University degree or mark-sheet delayed? Migration certificate stuck? File RTI to the University Registrar to unlock the record, supervisor sign-off, and convocation date.","u":"/rti-for-degree-verification","x":"Degree or Mark Sheet Delayed? RTI to University Registrar In one line. University-level documents — degree certificate, mark sheet, migration certificate, provisional certificate, convocation call — are all institutional records. When any is delayed, RTI to the Registrar extracts the specific stage + approving officer + ETA. Part of Pillar 3 — RTI for Students & Youth . What is the problem Provisional certificate issued; final degree not delivered. Convocation delayed; degree not issued. Mark sheet error — correction pending. Migration certificate for higher studies elsewhere delayed. Transcript / degree verification for foreign university / visa delayed. Name change / correction pending. Department clearance / library dues blocking issuance. When to use RTI 60+ days after graduation; no degree. Provisional issued; final pending. Correction application pending > 30 days. Migration certificate application pending > 15 days. Transcript for foreign university application stuck. What you can ask Current stage in university's degree-processing workflow. Department / Faculty clearance status. Controller of Examinations' approval. Convocation schedule + date of dispatch / availability for collection. Migration / transcript / provisional certificate status. Fee-deposit record + any pending dues. Name-correction or error-correction procedure and ETA. Registrar's office contact. Step-by-step RTI filing State RTI portal → Department of Higher Education → University. Alternative: directly to University CPIO (Registrar's office). For central universities: ''rtionline.gov.in''. Rs. 10 fee. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Workflow stage. Department clearance. Controller approval. Convocation schedule. Migration / transcript status. Fee + dues status. Correction procedure. Issuance ETA. Registrar contact. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 Registrar's office pulls the record; clearances get chased. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Common mistakes Not quoting registration number. Filing at the department instead of the Registrar. Missing the convocation question for degrees. Forgetting fee / dues verification — many universities hold degrees for unpaid dues. Pro tips Clear all dues first — library / hostel / department — otherwise degree will be held despite RTI. For foreign-university transcripts , combined transcript + attestation request is faster than separate. Name-change via gazette + affidavit is usually required for post-degree name change. Section 7(1) proviso (48 hours) can be invoked if a document is needed for an imminent visa / admission deadline. FAQs Q1. How long is universities' usual turnaround? \\\\ 30-90 days for degrees after the final exam; migration usually 15 days; transcripts 15-30 days. Q2. Can RTI compel faster"},{"s":"rti-for-disability","t":"RTI for Persons with Disabilities — Access, Rights, and Schemes","d":"RTI recipes for persons with disabilities — UDID card delay, ramp/accessibility audit, reservation & scholarships under RPwD Act 2016, Divyangjan Sashaktikaran Kendra records.","u":"/rti-for-disability","x":"RTI for Persons with Disabilities — Access, Rights, and Schemes In one line. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD) recognises 21 benchmark disabilities and entitles persons with disabilities (PwD) to reservation, accessibility, reasonable accommodation, and benefits. RTI extracts the records that close the gap between entitlement and delivery. Part of the audience pillars alongside RTI for women, RTI for senior citizens, and RTI for tribal citizens. Common problems where RTI helps UDID (Unique Disability Identity) card pending indefinitely. Disability certificate issuing-authority unresponsive. 4% reservation in government jobs under Section 34 RPwD not honoured. 5% reservation in government-funded higher education under Section 32. Accessibility audit of public buildings / transport stalled. Reasonable accommodation denied at workplace or exam centre. Aids and assistive devices (ADIP) not released. PwD pension (IGNDPS) — see NSAP pension RTI. RTI recipes for PwD UDID and certification UDID portal status — CPIO, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD). District Medical Board constitution and sitting frequency — DHS office. Backlog of pending certificates at the issuing hospital. Reservation and workplace 4% roster register under Section 34 RPwD — ministerial / department level. Special Recruitment Drive for PwD — notifications and utilisation. Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO) — every establishment with ≥20 employees must designate one; RTI extracts the notification. Equal Opportunity Policy (EOP) — mandatory for every \"establishment\" under Section 21; the policy document is disclosable. Education 5% reservation in HEIs — seat-matrix, allotment, reasonable-accommodation record. Scribe / extra-time at exams — circulars by CBSE / UPSC / SSC. Special schools / inclusive education — district-level scheme data. Scholarships for PwD — National Trust, DEPwD, state schemes. Accessibility Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) — audit report of public buildings in your city. Transport accessibility — railways (CCTV-accessible coach allocations), metro-station lifts / tactile, city bus retrofit plan. Airport accessibility — DGCA norms; RTI extracts compliance report. Website accessibility — W3C WCAG 2.1 compliance for government websites (CIC orders direct compliance). Aids and assistive devices ADIP / Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (for seniors overlap) — beneficiary list and distribution camp records. National Trust — Niramaya / Disha / Vikas — beneficiary enrolment records. Sample RTI — for delayed UDID card [sample application] Legal framework Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 — Sections 3 (non-discrimination), 21 (EOP), 23 (Maintenance of records), 32 (Higher-education reservation), 34 (Government-job reservation), 40-45 (Accessibility). RPwD Rules, 2017 — district-level implementation"},{"s":"rti-for-domicile-certificate","t":"Domicile Certificate Delayed or Rejected? Use RTI to Unlock the Tehsildar's File","d":"Domicile / residence certificate stuck or rejected? File an RTI to the Tehsildar / SDM to extract file status, verification officer, and rejection ground — in 30 days for Rs. 10.","u":"/rti-for-domicile-certificate","x":"Domicile Certificate Delayed or Rejected? Use RTI to Unlock the Tehsildar's File In one line. A domicile (or residence) certificate establishes your long-term residence in a specific state. It is required for state-government jobs, state-quota college admission, and many state-specific benefits. When delayed, RTI to the Tehsildar / SDM surfaces the file. What that means. You stop waiting and start asking. The revenue office must answer within 30 days. Did you know? Domicile requirements differ by state. Some states require 15 years of continuous residence (e.g., Jammu & Kashmir post-2019 notification), others accept 3–5 years. Every state notifies its own rules under its General Clauses Act or Domicile Rules. The local rule governs your case — RTI extracts that rule. Part of Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems . See RTI for caste certificate for the sibling revenue procedure. What is the problem Domicile-certificate delays come from: Residence-proof mismatch. Utility bill / rent agreement / voter list showing different addresses over time. Parent's domicile not on record. Most states require a parent's pre-existing domicile or long residence. School / college education records missing. Required to prove 5+ or 10+ years of residence. Tehsildar / Patwari site visit pending. Field verification cycle. Third-party objection. Rare but happens. Special state rules (J&K, Northeast). Additional verification. Why it happens The Tehsildar's office + the Patwari combine to verify claims. Each has a queue; each has discretion. RTI pulls the current step into the open. When to use RTI Application filed 30+ days ago; online portal shows \"under process\". Rejection letter received but no specific ground cited. Tehsildar is requiring documents not listed on the state's official form. Patwari has been promising a \"field visit\" for weeks. Parent's domicile is recorded in the state but your file questions it. Re-application rejected for the same unspecified reason. What information you can ask Current status of application at the Tehsildar's office. Name, designation, and posting of the Tehsildar / Naib-Tehsildar / SDM handling the file. Patwari's site-visit report (if conducted). Copy of the verification officer's endorsement. If rejected, the specific clause of the state Domicile Rules relied on. List of documents the office considers necessary for verification. Previous domicile record of parents (if on file). Average turnaround at the office for similar cases. Grievance officer / FAA contact. Re-application procedure. Step-by-step RTI filing Option A — State RTI portal State portal → Revenue Department"},{"s":"rti-for-driving-licence-delay","t":"Driving Licence Not Issued or Renewed? File RTI to Get RTO Status & Delay Reason","d":"Driving licence not issued or renewed? File an RTI to your RTO and get the file status, officer name, and exact reason for delay in 30 days. Ready-to-copy application format inside.","u":"/rti-for-driving-licence-delay","x":"Driving Licence Not Issued or Renewed? File RTI to Get RTO Status & Delay Reason In one line. When your learner's licence, permanent driving licence, or renewal application is pending at the RTO for more than 30 days — or has been rejected with no reason — an RTI addressed to the concerned Regional Transport Office extracts the file status, the Inspector's remarks, and the expected dispatch date. What that means in practice. You do not need to revisit the RTO and queue for another slot. The Assistant / Deputy RTO has to respond in writing. In most cases the licence gets printed or posted within the 30-day RTI reply window. Did you know? Under Rule 15 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, a permanent driving licence must be issued within 30 days of a successful driving test. After the expiry of that window, the applicant has a right to written reasons — precisely what an RTI triggers. RTO workflow — the six stages Application submitted via ''parivahan.gov.in'' or at the RTO counter. Document verification — Aadhaar, address proof, age proof, Form 1 medical declaration. Learner's Licence test — online computer-based test at the RTO. Permanent DL test — slot booked, driving test on RTO yard / road. Inspector sign-off — Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) recommends pass / fail. Printing and dispatch — card printed at the RTO or centralised vendor; sent by Speed Post. Delays accumulate most at stages 4 (test) and 6 (print / dispatch). Common delay points Slot unavailability — test re-scheduled repeatedly. Many residents wait 60–90 days in Tier-1 cities. MVI marked \"Re-test\". Resident not told why. Biometric capture failure — rare but under-reported. Card printer down — delays of 2–4 weeks are common in peak months. Address mismatch — Aadhaar address does not match the RTO jurisdiction. Medical certificate (Form 1A) over-age — applicants above 40 years must submit Form 1A. How to file the RTI Option A — State RTI portal RTOs are state subject , so the RTI goes to the state portal, not the central one. Maharashtra: ''rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in'' Karnataka: ''rtionline.karnataka.gov.in'' Delhi: ''rtionline.delhi.gov.in'' Tamil Nadu: TNSW portal — fee is often waived for citizens. Gujarat: ''rtionline.gujarat.gov.in''. Uttar Pradesh: ''uprtionline.up.gov.in'' Select the Transport Department as the public authority, and address your RTI to the CPIO of your RTO. Option B — By post CPIO, Office of the Regional Transport Officer, [RTO Code &"},{"s":"rti-for-electricity-bill-dispute","t":"Electricity Bill Disputed? RTI to DISCOM for Meter and Billing Records","d":"Inflated electricity bill and the DISCOM won't clarify? File RTI to the DISCOM / Electricity Regulatory Commission for meter logs, billing cycle, tariff-slab application, and CGRF record.","u":"/rti-for-electricity-bill-dispute","x":"Electricity Bill Disputed? RTI to DISCOM for Meter and Billing Records In one line. Electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs — BSES, TPDDL, MSEDCL, BESCOM, etc.) are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act. Your meter's logged readings, tariff-slab application, and CGRF (Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum) disposal are all disclosable records. Part of Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems . See also water supply quality RTI. What is the problem Sudden bill spike — 3× or 10× the usual. Average billing continued after meter replacement. Tariff slab misapplied (commercial instead of domestic). Security deposit revision dispute. Connection type (single-phase vs three-phase) wrong. Load sanctioned vs consumed mismatch. Disconnection / reconnection charge ambiguity. When to use RTI Complaint at DISCOM customer-care older than 15 days, unresolved. CGRF case older than 45 days, no order. Forum order not implemented. Bill crosses 3× neighbourhood average. What you can ask Meter-reading log (last 24 months) — opening, closing, units, multiplier. Meter testing report (if ever tested). Tariff slab applied per billing cycle. Connection-type and sanctioned load record. Security deposit ledger. Complaint-register and CGRF log. Load-flow records if a disputed high-consumption spike. Step-by-step RTI filing DISCOM CPIO → corporate office or circle-wise. State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) → for tariff / policy questions. Central Electricity Authority (CEA) → policy overlay. Ombudsman → post-CGRF escalation (separate from RTI but relevant). Rs. 10 fee (central) / Rs. 10-50 (state); BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions 24-month meter log. Meter testing report. Tariff-slab application. Connection-type + sanctioned load. Security deposit ledger. Load-flow record. CGRF log + order. Average-billing period. Spot-inspection action. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 Meter log + billing-engine records pulled; many adjustments happen here. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal; if still unresolved → Electricity Ombudsman (statutory, post-CGRF). Common mistakes Filing to SERC when the dispute is billing-cycle specific — go to DISCOM first . Missing the CA number. Asking \"why is my bill high\" — ask for the meter log and tariff slab . Ignoring the Ombudsman route post-CGRF (60-day window). Pro tips Monthly photo of the meter face independent evidence; attach. Tenant cases : the bill is in landlord's name; get landlord's authorisation, or file an RTI copy separately. Commercial-vs-domestic dispute : cite the state's tariff order clause; often the strongest ground. Load-enhancement cases : ask for the load-flow reading"},{"s":"rti-for-environment-and-pollution","t":"Using RTI to Know About Pollution, Water Quality, and Environmental Actions in Your Area","d":"Want to check air-quality reports, water-testing data, effluent discharge or environmental clearances in your area? RTI to the State Pollution Control Board and CPCB gets you the answer. Sample applic","u":"/rti-for-environment-and-pollution","x":"Using RTI to Know About Pollution, Water Quality, and Environmental Actions in Your Area In one line. Air, water, and noise are measured by the Central and State Pollution Control Boards. Environmental clearances are granted by the MoEFCC and State Environment Impact Assessment Authorities. Both hold records — and RTI gives any citizen access to those records in 30 days. What that means in practice. You get the actual AQI / PM2.5 / PM10 readings for the station near you. You get the effluent test reports for the factory upstream of your village. You get the Environmental Clearance (EC) conditions for a new project. Did you know? Under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act and the MoEFCC's own circulars, Environmental Clearances and Monitoring Reports are expected to be proactively on the public domain. An RTI is simply the legal trigger for what should already be online. Why this matters Environmental harm is usually slow and invisible. A dug-up riverbed, a chimney emitting at night, a factory discharging to a drain — the damage accumulates quietly. Data exists — regulators measure, inspectors write, laboratories report — but it does not reach the neighbourhood it affects. RTI bridges that gap. What information you can ask Ambient air-quality monitoring data for your district. Water sample test reports for a specific river / lake / borewell. Consent to Operate (CTO) and Consent to Establish (CTE) of an industry. Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) performance data. Environmental Clearance (EC) order and its 11 standard conditions. Compliance reports submitted by the project proponent. Pollution Control Board inspection reports. Show-cause notices, closure directions, and bank guarantees invoked. Solid-waste management plan of your municipality. Forest clearance and compensatory afforestation records. When to use RTI Suspected untreated discharge into a river / drain. Frequent chimney smoke at odd hours. A quarry / stone-crusher / brick kiln near a village. A construction site flouting air-pollution norms. A new project claiming \"cleared\" — you want to see the conditions. Noise from a factory during school / night hours. A water-borne illness cluster in the neighbourhood. Whom to ask Air, water, noise, and factory compliance : State Pollution Control Board (SPCB). National data, CPCB standards, inter-state rivers : Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Environmental Clearance for new projects : MoEFCC (category A) or State EIAA (category B). Forest / Wildlife : State Forest Department / MoEFCC. Municipal waste : Urban Local Body. Groundwater"},{"s":"rti-for-exam-result-delay","t":"Exam Result Delayed? RTI to the Examining Body","d":"Exam result delayed beyond the official date? File RTI to the examining body (CBSE, state board, university","u":"/rti-for-exam-result-delay","x":"Exam Result Delayed? RTI to the Examining Body In one line. When an exam result is not declared by the announced date, or your specific result shows \"pending\" while others are out, RTI to the examining body (CBSE, state board, university, UPSC/SSC) extracts the processing stage and the declaration schedule. Part of Pillar 3 — RTI for Students & Youth . Related: Answer sheet inspection RTI. What is the problem Result delays trace to: Evaluation cycle extended due to paper-handler strike / political event. Moderation decisions pending. Re-totalling / re-evaluation applications for an earlier cycle flagged. Individual withholding — discrepancy in answer script / unfair means case. Server / IT issues at the board. Pending CBI / Court reference on specific papers. When to use RTI Result not declared on the announced date; 7+ days late. Your result specifically shows \"pending\" / \"withheld\". Mass results out but category / specific batch delayed. Board has silently postponed and not communicated. What you can ask Current evaluation stage. Moderation decision date. Reason for specific \"pending\" / \"withheld\" status of your roll. If unfair-means case — copy of the show-cause notice. Re-totalling / re-evaluation queue length. Official declaration ETA. Examiner panel + evaluation supervision structure (institutional, not individual names). Controller of Examinations contact. Step-by-step RTI filing CBSE / CISCE / UPSC / SSC → ''rtionline.gov.in''. State boards → state RTI portal → Department of School Education / Higher Education. Universities → CPIO of university (Registrar's office). Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Evaluation stage. Reason for general delay. Moderation decision. Individual \"pending\" reason. Unfair-means show-cause. Re-totalling queue. Declaration ETA. Controller contact. FAA contact. Historical delay pattern. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–20 Board pulls the evaluation file; delayed results often expedited during this window. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Common mistakes Filing at state HQ when the board is central (CBSE / CISCE). Not citing the roll number. Asking \"why delay\" — ask for the record instead. Missing the Section 7(1) proviso (48-hour reply) for career-critical exams — invoke it for JEE / NEET / UPSC. Pro tips For JEE / NEET / UPSC , invoke the \"life-and-liberty\" 48-hour rule under Section 7(1) proviso where career deadlines (counselling / application) are at stake. For re-evaluation delays , request the queue position specifically. Controller of Examinations is the key decision-maker; name them in the RTI."},{"s":"rti-for-fir-status","t":"FIR Not Registered? RTI to Police for Complaint-Register Record","d":"Police refused to register your FIR or the investigation has stalled? Use RTI under Section 173 BNSS / Section 154 CrPC to extract complaint-register entries, officer name, and action taken.","u":"/rti-for-fir-status","x":"FIR Not Registered? RTI to Police for Complaint-Register Record In one line. Every written complaint received at a police station must be entered in the General Diary (also called Daily Diary / Station Diary). When the police refuse to register an FIR despite a cognizable offence, RTI extracts the diary entry and forces the SHO / senior officers to record their decision. What that means. In Lalita Kumari v. UP (2014) 2 SCC 1, the Supreme Court held that registration of FIR is mandatory when a cognizable offence is disclosed; any refusal must be in writing with reasons. RTI extracts that writing. Part of Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems . What is the problem Common obstructions: SHO refusing to register FIR citing \"civil matter\" or \"wait and see\". FIR registered but investigation not progressed. Zero FIR filed at one station; actual FIR at jurisdictional station not issued. Closure report (Final Report) under Section 173 BNSS filed without intimation. Complaint marked \"non-cognizable\" wrongly. NCR (Non-Cognizable Report) filed instead of FIR. When to use RTI Complaint submitted at the police station but no FIR or NCR given. FIR registered but investigation stalled >90 days. Zero FIR filed but jurisdictional station says \"not received\". Case closed (B-Final / A-Final) without informing the complainant. Complaint converted to NCR and you believe it is cognizable. What you can ask Daily Diary / General Diary entry number and date. Name, designation, badge number of the Duty Officer who received the complaint. Decision of the SHO on registration — in writing. FIR number (if registered) + investigating officer. Status of investigation — which witnesses examined, which sections added. If closed, the closure report + Magistrate's acceptance. Zero-FIR transmission record (if applicable). Compliance with Lalita Kumari on registration. Step-by-step RTI filing Where to file State RTI portal → Home Department / Police Department. OR postal: Public Information Officer, Office of the Commissioner of Police / Superintendent of Police, [City/District] . Copy to the jurisdictional Zonal DCP / SDPO for pressure. Fees Rs. 10 central portal; state fees vary Rs. 10–50. Free for BPL. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Daily Diary entry copy. Duty Officer identity. SHO's written decision. FIR number + IO name. Investigation status. NCR reasoning if applicable. Zero-FIR transmission. Closure report copy. Escalation procedure. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed; DCP/SP office pulls station records. Day 10–25"},{"s":"rti-for-government-hospitals","t":"How RTI Can Help You Understand Services in Government Hospitals","d":"Use RTI to ask about doctor rosters, medicine stock, ICU availability and diagnostic services at government hospitals. Copy-ready application, 10 questions, and filing process inside.","u":"/rti-for-government-hospitals","x":"How RTI Can Help You Understand Services in Government Hospitals In one line. A government hospital runs on budgets, staff rosters, drug-stock registers, equipment logs, and empanelled-scheme billing. RTI lets a patient or a citizen check each of these — respectfully, accurately, and within 30 days. What that means in practice. A patient's family finds out why the ICU was \"full\". A village finds out why the PHC has no doctor on Wednesdays. An empanelled Ayushman Bharat hospital's billing becomes verifiable. Did you know? The Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) guidelines prescribe minimum staff, infrastructure, drugs, and equipment for every level — Sub-Centre, PHC, CHC, district hospital, medical college. These standards are public . Any gap between the standard and the reality at your hospital is legitimate RTI territory. What is the problem? Health is the one area where information gaps cost lives. Delayed referrals. Out-of-stock essential medicines. Dialysis machines shown in the records but not functional. Ambulances on paper but not on the road. For the patient, each gap is catastrophic. For the system, each gap is fixable — if someone asks. RTI is that asking. When to use RTI in healthcare Medicines you are told are \"out of stock\" repeatedly. Doctor, anaesthetist, or specialist absent on fixed days. ICU always full, even when beds appear empty. Diagnostic machine \"under repair\" for months. Ayushman Bharat claim denied despite empanelment. Free-scheme benefit not extended. Referral refused without documented reason. What information can you ask under RTI? Doctor duty roster and OPD attendance register. Medicine stock register and procurement orders. Equipment register (status: functional / repair / scrapped). ICU / HDU bed occupancy register. Diagnostic service availability and average waiting time. Referral register — cases referred out of the hospital. Free-scheme billing to Ayushman Bharat / state schemes. Infection control reports. Blood bank stock. Ambulance service logs. Last three inspection reports by CMO / CDMO. Step-by-step filing Online State portal → Department of Health & Family Welfare → concerned hospital. For AIIMS, PGIMER, Safdarjung: ''rtionline.gov.in'' → Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. For Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY): National Health Authority CPIO, on ''rtionline.gov.in''. Offline Public Information Officer, [Hospital Name] / Office of the Chief Medical Officer, [District] . Rs. 10 fee (IPO); BPL free. Send by Speed Post. Sample RTI application [sample application] Ten powerful RTI questions for healthcare Duty roster and attendance. Vacancies. Drug stock register. Equipment register. ICU register. Diagnostic"},{"s":"rti-for-government-scheme-delay","t":"Government Scheme Benefits Not Received? Use RTI to Track Your Application & Payment","d":"Government scheme benefit, subsidy, pension or scholarship not received? File an RTI to track the exact department, sanctioning officer, and payment date. Copy-ready application inside — applies to PM","u":"/rti-for-government-scheme-delay","x":"Government Scheme Benefits Not Received? Use RTI to Track Your Application & Payment In one line. When a Central or State government scheme — PM-KISAN, Ayushman Bharat, PMAY, NSAP pension, scholarship, fertiliser subsidy, MNREGA wages, LPG subsidy, crop insurance — is sanctioned but not credited, or the application is \"approved\" but the money never lands in the bank, a targeted RTI to the sanctioning authority extracts the sanction order, the PFMS / DBT transfer reference, and the reason for non-credit. What that means in practice. You learn whether the hold is at the block office, the district treasury, the bank, or at PFMS (Public Financial Management System). You get the UTR number if the transfer has occurred. You get the officer name for accountability. Did you know? Since 2020, nearly all Central scheme payments route through PFMS — the Public Financial Management System of the Controller General of Accounts. Every payment has a unique identifier. RTI can extract that identifier, which makes follow-up with the bank trivially easy. Examples of delayed schemes — the typical suspects PM-KISAN — Rs. 2,000 every four months. Often stuck at \"land seeding\" or \"Aadhaar mismatch\". NSAP (National Social Assistance Programme) — old age, widow, disability pensions. State transfers usually. Scholarships — Pre-Matric, Post-Matric, Top Class, Begum Hazrat Mahal. Often stuck at institute certification. PMAY (Urban / Gramin) — installments released by stage. Delays at Assessment → Sanction → Release. LPG Subsidy — after DBTL, money is supposed to land within 48 hours of cylinder delivery. MNREGA wages — central liability; delays are often at FTO (Fund Transfer Order) level. Crop insurance (PMFBY) — delays in claim settlement by insurance companies. Ayushman Bharat — empanelled hospital not receiving reimbursement. RTI strategy — the three-layer approach A single RTI often fails because the \"right\" authority is unclear. Use this three-layer strategy: Layer 1 — Implementing Authority. Block office / tehsil / school / hospital where the application was submitted. They hold the sanction file. Layer 2 — Sanctioning Authority. District office / state department. They release the fund. Layer 3 — PFMS / Treasury / Bank. They effect the transfer. Start at Layer 1. If reply blames Layer 2, file next RTI there. If Layer 2 says transfer done, the bank has the UTR. Department identification — where to file Use this quick lookup: PM-KISAN — Dept of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi."},{"s":"rti-for-government-schools","t":"How Parents Can Use RTI to Improve Government School Facilities and Teaching Quality","d":"Parents can use RTI to monitor teacher attendance, mid-day meal quality, school funds and infrastructure in government schools. Copy-ready application and 10 sharp questions inside.","u":"/rti-for-government-schools","x":"How Parents Can Use RTI to Improve Government School Facilities and Teaching Quality In one line. A government school runs on public money and a teaching staff whose attendance and qualifications are entered in a register. Under the RTI Act, any parent — or any concerned citizen — can access those registers, the mid-day meal accounts, the SMC minutes, and the infrastructure budget. What that means in practice. The school's internal registers stop being a private world. The headmaster records his decisions knowing that parents can ask for them. The state education department takes note — and often course-corrects. Did you know? Under Section 21 of the Right to Education Act, 2009, every government school is required to constitute a School Management Committee (SMC) with at least 50% parent members. The SMC minutes are public records — disclosable under RTI within 30 days. What is the problem? Government schools in India range from excellent to neglected. The difference is rarely the children or the teachers — it is supervision . When parents are informed, when the BEO is watched, when funds are accounted for, schools thrive. When no one asks, they drift. RTI converts parental interest into documented oversight. It is a quiet, constructive tool — not a weapon, but a lamp. What information can you ask under RTI? Teacher attendance register for a specified month. List of sanctioned and vacant posts in the school. Teacher qualifications and subject allocation. Mid-day meal register and food-grain receipt. Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B) of the school. Samagra Shiksha funds released and spent. SMC / SDMC minutes. School infrastructure status — toilets, drinking water, library, labs. Textbook and uniform distribution records. Enrolment and dropout data. Last three inspection reports by the BEO / CRC. When to use RTI Teacher absenteeism is chronic. Mid-day meals are skipped, or of poor quality. Toilets are broken, water is unsafe. Textbooks are late or missing. The SMC is not meeting regularly. Funds have been released but classrooms are not whitewashed. A teacher-transfer has left your child without a subject teacher for months. Step-by-step filing Online Via your state RTI portal. Select Department of School Education → [district / block office]. For KVS, NVS, Sainik Schools — via ''rtionline.gov.in'' → Ministry of Education. Offline Address: Public Information Officer, Office of the Block Education Officer (BEO) / District Education Officer (DEO) / School Headmaster . Fee: Rs. 10"},{"s":"rti-for-gst-refund","t":"GST Refund Stuck? File RTI to Unlock Your Refund","d":"GST refund stuck beyond 60 days? File RTI to CBIC / State GST office to unlock refund status, officer name, and exact deficiency. Copy-ready template inside.","u":"/rti-for-gst-refund","x":"GST Refund Stuck? File RTI to Unlock Your Refund In one line. Under Section 54 of the CGST Act, 2017, a refund must be processed within 60 days of a complete Form GST RFD-01. When it isn't, an RTI to the jurisdictional GST office extracts the refund application status, deficiency memo, and responsible officer — in 30 days, Rs. 10. Part of Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems . See also RTI for income-tax refund delay. What is the problem GST refunds get stuck on: Deficiency memo (RFD-03) not served to the taxpayer. Provisional refund (RFD-04) granted but final adjudication pending. Zero-rated export refund held on procedural grounds. Inverted-duty refund requiring invoice re-mapping. Pre-audit / Audit (RFD-08 Show-Cause) triggered but not communicated. Interest under Section 56 not computed. When to use RTI Refund pending >60 days from complete application filing. RFD-03 deficiency memo received but no follow-up. SCN issued without specific ground. Refund sanctioned (RFD-06) but not credited to bank. What you can ask ARN (Application Reference Number) current status in GSTN. Deficiency memo details and the specific clause invoked. Officer handling the case (Superintendent / AC / JC). Pre-audit observations. SCN copy if issued. Interest calculation under Section 56. Payment-release date and bank IFSC. Step-by-step RTI filing Where to file Central GST refund → CBIC CPIO via ''rtionline.gov.in'' → Department of Revenue. State GST refund → State Commercial Taxes Department via state RTI portal. For export refunds , the Central CGST Commissionerate of the exporter's principal place of business. Fees and timeline Rs. 10 filing; BPL free. 30 days reply. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 questions that unlock the case GSTN portal status. RFD-03 deficiency memo. Officer name. Pre-audit observations. SCN copy. Sanction-order number. Payment UTR. Interest calculation under Section 56. ETA of release. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI acknowledged. Day 10–25 File pulled; often sanctioned during this window. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal. Common mistakes Filing at CBIC HQ instead of the jurisdictional Commissionerate . Not quoting the ARN. Asking \"why is refund delayed?\" — ask for the record instead. Missing Section 56 interest claim. Pro tips Section 56 interest accrues at 6% p.a. after 60 days; mention it. For export refunds , attach shipping-bill / EGM reference in the RTI. For inverted-duty claims , mention the HSN-pair; speeds up file retrieval. Parallel CPGRAMS complaint at ''cbic.gov.in'' helps escalate."},{"s":"rti-for-hostel-fees-breakdown","t":"Hostel Fees Unexplained? RTI for Line-Item Breakdown","d":"Hostel fees jumped without explanation? File RTI to your public-funded institute for line-item breakdown, mess account, caution-money refund, and governance minutes.","u":"/rti-for-hostel-fees-breakdown","x":"Hostel Fees Unexplained? RTI for Line-Item Breakdown In one line. Hostel fees at public-funded institutes (IITs, NITs, Central / state universities) flow through institute accounts under mess, utility, caution-money, and service heads. The full breakdown, Hostel Management Committee minutes, and caution-money refund records are disclosable under Section 4. Part of Pillar 3 — RTI for Students & Youth . What is the problem Fee hike announced mid-session without notice. Mess charges vary wildly; no breakup per meal / per head. Caution money not refunded after vacating. Guest fees / maintenance charges added without basis. HMC (Hostel Management Committee) minutes not shared. When to use RTI Hike >10% without published justification. Caution money refund pending >60 days after vacating. Mess discrepancy — collection vs. food served. Fee-related protest; want audit data. What you can ask Hostel-wise fee structure by head — rent, mess, utilities, caution, repair, service. HMC meeting minutes of last 2 years. Mess audit report / food-grain procurement register. Caution-money receipts and refunds register. Utility-bill payments (electricity, water, internet). Hostel maintenance budget + expenditure. Student-representative's note of dissent / approval. Step-by-step RTI filing IITs / NITs / IIMs / IIITs / Central Universities → CPIO via ''rtionline.gov.in''. State universities → state RTI portal → Dean Students Welfare / Registrar. Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Fee structure (head-wise, 3-year). HMC minutes. Mess audit report. Utility-bill summary. Maintenance budget + spend. Caution-money refund register. Guest-fee rules and receipts. Student-rep dissent notes. Audit observations. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 Dean Students Welfare / Hostel Warden pulls records. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal + Student Senate agitation / Board of Governors petition. Common mistakes Asking the Warden directly via RTI — route to the institute CPIO. Not specifying hostel block — each block has a separate HMC. Mixing academic with hostel fees — keep the query focused. Missing the audit-report ask; it's the strongest document. Pro tips Student union / Senate often holds parallel records; corroborate. HMC minutes reveal decision-makers — useful for escalation. CAG audit paragraphs on hostel operations are public; cite them. For private AICTE-approved institutes , the regulator (AICTE) holds the fee-structure data. FAQs Q1. Are mess bills individually disclosable? \\\\ Aggregate mess collection and expenditure are disclosable; individual bills are third-party. Q2. Is caution money refundable without a time limit? \\\\ Institute"},{"s":"rti-for-ignored-complaint","t":"No Action on Your Complaint? How to Use RTI to Force Government Response","d":"Complaint filed, no action taken for months? Use RTI to force a written response, extract the officer name, and escalate credibly. Copy-ready RTI to CPGRAMS, consumer, police, bank and tax authorities","u":"/rti-for-ignored-complaint","x":"No Action on Your Complaint? How to Use RTI to Force Government Response In one line. A grievance ticket that goes cold on CPGRAMS or pgportal, an FIR that the police refuse to register, a consumer complaint parked with the ombudsman, a tax grievance swallowed by the CPC — all of these can be force-answered by an RTI, because the RTI Act does what grievance portals cannot: it imposes a 30-day statutory deadline on pain of personal penalty on the officer. What that means in practice. The complaint moves from a queue to a named officer's desk. The officer answers in writing — usable before any forum. In 35–60% of cases (per CIC observations) the complaint itself is resolved during the RTI reply window. Did you know? CPGRAMS (pgportal.gov.in) is a grievance system, not a legal right. Officers can mark a grievance \"resolved\" without informing the complainant. RTI — under the Act — does not permit such abuse. A \"disposed without action\" grievance can be re-opened through an RTI that asks what specifically was done . Complaint escalation flow — the universal ladder Step 1. File grievance on the appropriate portal — CPGRAMS, Consumer Helpline, Banking Ombudsman, IRDA portal, TRAI DND, Cyber Crime portal, NPCI dispute, etc. Step 2. Wait for the portal's SLA — 30 days for CPGRAMS, 21 days for Banking Ombudsman. Step 3. If \"Closed / Resolved\" but not actually resolved, or silence beyond SLA, file RTI. Step 4. RTI reply triggers action or First Appeal. Step 5. Second Appeal to CIC / SIC if still unresolved. Step 6. Writ / consumer court / civil court if pertinent. RTI vs grievance portals — the key difference Feature CPGRAMS / Grievance RTI Statutory backing Executive-only RTI Act, 2005 Deadline 30 days advisory 30 days statutory Officer liability None Rs. 250 per day up to Rs. 25,000 Written reasons Optional Mandatory Appeal Departmental only FAA + CIC Disposal without reply Common Unlawful RTI is not a substitute for a grievance — it is the legal mechanism that forces the grievance to be answered. The universal RTI format for an ignored complaint [sample application] Three-example variations Example 1 — Police not registering FIR Address RTI to the CPIO, Office of the Commissioner / Superintendent of Police. Ask: Date of submission of my complaint at [Station Name]. Register entry number in the Daily Diary and the Officer who recorded it. Whether"},{"s":"rti-for-income-tax-refund","t":"Income-Tax Refund Delayed? File RTI to CPC Bangalore","d":"Income-tax refund delayed for months? File RTI to CPC Bangalore or your jurisdictional AO to extract processing status, adjustment notes, and release date — in 30 days for Rs. 10.","u":"/rti-for-income-tax-refund","x":"Income-Tax Refund Delayed? File RTI to CPC Bangalore In one line. Income-tax refunds are processed by the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC), Bengaluru under Section 143(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. Delays beyond the usual 45-90 days are extracted via RTI to CPC (central) or the jurisdictional Assessing Officer (state-level). Part of Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems . See GST refund RTI for the indirect-tax companion. What is the problem Refunds get stuck on: Section 143(1) intimation not yet generated. Adjustment under Section 245 against an existing demand — notice not served. Refund re-issue needed because of bank account mismatch. TDS mismatch between Form 26AS and return. PAN / Aadhaar seeding not linked. Scrutiny selection under Section 143(2) — refund held pending. When to use RTI ITR filed >90 days ago; no refund and no intimation. Intimation received but refund shows \"under process\" >45 days. Adjustment-notice (Section 245) suspected but not served. Bank-account validation bounced. Refund amount is less than claimed — reason not communicated. What you can ask Return status in the CPC system. Intimation under Section 143(1) — date and copy. Section 245 set-off record (if any). Refund-reissue status. TDS / Form 26AS reconciliation memo. Bank-account validation log. Scrutiny notice (Section 143(2)) — if issued. Expected refund-release date. Interest calculation under Section 244A. Appellate authority contact. Step-by-step RTI filing Where to file Central refund processing → CPIO, Income Tax Department, CPC, Bangalore via ''rtionline.gov.in''. Scrutiny / assessment matters → Jurisdictional Assessing Officer (local). Fees Rs. 10; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions CPC status. Section 143(1) intimation copy. Section 245 adjustment record. Re-issue cycle status. TDS reconciliation. Bank validation log. Section 143(2) scrutiny notice. Refund-release ETA. Section 244A interest. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 CPC pulls the record; often processes within this window. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal. Common mistakes Writing the full 10-digit PAN — only last 4 are safe. Not citing the acknowledgement number. Filing to CBDT HQ instead of CPC Bangalore. Asking \"why is refund not issued\" — ask for the record . Pro tips Check Form 26AS / AIS first — many \"refund-stuck\" cases are TDS mismatches. Validate your bank account on the e-filing portal before filing RTI. Section 244A interest — legitimate claim; ask for worksheet. Pair with e-filing grievance at ''incometax.gov.in'' → Grievance. FAQs Q1. Can CPC"},{"s":"rti-for-jal-jeevan-mission","t":"Jal Jeevan Mission Tap Not Installed? RTI to the State Water Mission","d":"Jal Jeevan Mission tap-water connection not installed or water not flowing? File RTI to the BDO / State Water & Sanitation Mission to extract village survey, work order, and disbursement record.","u":"/rti-for-jal-jeevan-mission","x":"Jal Jeevan Mission Tap Not Installed? RTI to the State Water Mission In one line. The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims at Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) — 55 litres per capita per day — in every rural household. When your village's scheme stalls, RTI to the Block Development Officer (BDO) and State Water & Sanitation Mission (SWSM) extracts the village survey, work order, and fund-release record. Part of Pillar 4 — RTI for Money, Schemes & Subsidies . See also water quality RTI. What is the problem Village survey done but no tap installed. Tap installed but no water / insufficient pressure. Panchayat approval taken, work order not issued. Contractor absconded with advance. Source-water quality failing BIS IS 10500 — no corrective action. When to use RTI Village declared \"Har Ghar Jal\" but your household missed. FHTC installed but dry for >30 days. Work order issued but work not started in 90 days. Village Water & Sanitation Committee (VWSC / Pani Samiti) not constituted. What you can ask Village survey / baseline data for your habitation. Detailed Project Report (DPR) sanctioned for the village. Work order, contractor name, contract value. FHTC register — household-wise connection status. Source-water test report. Third-party inspection report. VWSC meeting minutes and beneficiary contribution record. Fund-release from the SWSM. Step-by-step RTI filing Block Development Officer (BDO) — village-level implementation. District JJM Cell / Executive Engineer, PHED — engineering and work-order records. State Water & Sanitation Mission (SWSM) — fund release and DPR. Ministry of Jal Shakti (DDWS) — for policy / inter-state issues via ''rtionline.gov.in''. Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Village baseline survey. DPR copy. Work order + contractor. FHTC household register. Source-water test reports. Third-party inspection. VWSC minutes + beneficiary contribution. Fund-release utilisation. \"Har Ghar Jal\" declaration record. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 BDO pulls DPR + contractor file; many stalled works are revived. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal + parallel district-level grievance. Common mistakes Asking \"why no tap\" — ask for the DPR and FHTC register . Filing only at state level — the BDO is the operational custodian. Ignoring the VWSC — it's the statutory village committee; its minutes are public. Not checking \"Har Ghar Jal\" status on ''jaljeevanmission.gov.in'' before filing. Pro tips Group filing by the Gram Sabha signals community concern. Photograph of the"},{"s":"rti-for-land-records","t":"Land Records or Property Status Not Clear? Use RTI to Access Official Documents","d":"Need land records, mutation status, 7/12 extract, khasra-khatauni, patta or revenue file? File an RTI to the Tehsildar and get certified copies, officer name and the exact file-stage in 30 days. Ready","u":"/rti-for-land-records","x":"Land Records or Property Status Not Clear? Use RTI to Access Official Documents In one line. When a tehsildar's mutation stays pending for months, a 7/12 extract shows a stranger's name, a patta claim is held up at the Patwari, or a circle officer's report on land acquisition is not shared — an RTI to the district revenue office extracts the certified record, the file-note, and the next responsible officer. What that means in practice. You stop paying tehsil \"facilitation\" fees to unofficial brokers. Certified copies of revenue documents come to your address by post. The Patwari has to record dates in the jamabandi register, which becomes disclosable. Did you know? Under the DILRMP (Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme), most states now publish 7/12, khatauni, mutation, and bhulekh data online. But file-notings, patwari visit reports, and officer decisions are almost never online. RTI is the only way to get the signed file. Common land / property problems Mutation pending. You bought a flat or plot; your name has not been entered in the revenue record. Ownership confusion. Same plot has two names in the ROR (Record of Rights). Encroachment by government. Road / drain widening has reduced your plot without compensation. Patta (title deed) claim stuck at Tehsildar for years. Inheritance mutation after death pending. Boundary dispute with neighbour; revenue officer has not done inspection. Land acquisition notice issued; compensation calculation is opaque. Encumbrance certificate (EC) discrepancy at sub-registrar's office. RERA project claims land ownership that the records don't support. Which office holds what 7/12 extract / Jamabandi / Khasra-Khatauni / Pahani / Record of Rights (ROR). → Tehsildar / Tahsil office. Mutation register. → Tehsildar + Patwari. Circle officer's inspection notes. → Circle office. Encumbrance certificate. → Sub-Registrar's office. Building plan approvals. → Municipal / town planning department. Conversion (agri → non-agri) order. → District Collector's revenue branch. Land acquisition award. → District Land Acquisition Officer. RERA registration data. → State RERA authority. Sample RTI — mutation stuck at tehsildar [sample application] Variations Boundary dispute Ask for: Circle officer's previous inspection reports, minutes of joint inspection with neighbour, measurement map (Naksha / Tippan), survey stones record. Land acquisition compensation Ask for: Copy of the Section 11 award under Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013; valuation basis; date of issue of Section 4 and Section 6 notifications; list of affected khatedars;"},{"s":"rti-for-lpg-subsidy","t":"LPG Subsidy Not Credited? RTI to the Oil Marketing Company","d":"LPG subsidy (PAHAL/DBTL","u":"/rti-for-lpg-subsidy","x":"LPG Subsidy Not Credited? RTI to the Oil Marketing Company In one line. LPG subsidy under the PAHAL / DBTL scheme is released by the Oil Marketing Company (OMC — IndianOil, BPCL, HPCL) to the consumer's bank account linked by Aadhaar or LPG-ID seeding. When it stops crediting, RTI to the OMC Area Office and the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas extracts the transaction log. Part of Pillar 4 — RTI for Money, Schemes & Subsidies . What is the problem Subsidy amount not credited for one or more refills. Aadhaar / bank seeding dropped after KYC refresh. Dealer says \"subsidy released\"; bank says \"nothing credited\". New connection under Ujjwala — first-refill subsidy missing. Giving up subsidy : user claims they didn't opt out. When to use RTI 30 days since refill delivery; no subsidy credit. MyLPG portal shows \"subsidy paid\" but bank statement disagrees. Dealer refuses to share the transaction ID. You suspect your LPG-ID was deactivated or merged. What you can ask Connection ledger — refill dates, delivery boy, amount charged. Subsidy transaction IDs (UTR) for each refill. Aadhaar / bank-account seeding status and log. \"Giving up subsidy\" declaration — if any, when and how. Dealer audit entries. OMC Area Office grievance log. Step-by-step RTI filing Oil Marketing Company Area Office (IndianOil / BPCL / HPCL) via ''rtionline.gov.in'' → Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas . OMC Headquarters for policy-level questions. Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for cross-OMC or deactivation concerns. Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Connection ledger. Subsidy UTRs. Aadhaar/bank seeding log. Opt-out declaration. Distributor audit entries. Grievance log. Income-limit data source. Release ETA. Area Manager contact. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed to OMC CPIO. Day 10–25 Transaction log pulled; arrears often released. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal + parallel PCG / CPGRAMS complaint. Common mistakes Writing the full Aadhaar number — only seeding status is needed. Asking the dealer directly via RTI — dealers are distributors, not public authorities; route through OMC. Missing the distributor code. Filing only to the Ministry — the OMC Area Office is the operational custodian. Pro tips MyLPG statement screenshot + bank-statement screenshot strong paired evidence. 1906 toll-free grievance should be logged in parallel — the docket number is usable in the RTI. For Ujjwala consumers , the first 3-6 refills have a separate"},{"s":"rti-for-marriage-registration","t":"Marriage Registration Stuck or Rejected? RTI to the Sub-Registrar","d":"Marriage registration stuck, rejected, or delayed? File RTI to the Sub-Registrar / Marriage Officer to unlock file status, objections filed, and the exact next step — in 30 days for Rs. 10.","u":"/rti-for-marriage-registration","x":"Marriage Registration Stuck or Rejected? RTI to the Sub-Registrar In one line. Marriages in India are registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, the Special Marriage Act, 1954, or state-specific Compulsory Registration Acts. When the certificate is delayed or the registration is objected to, the Sub-Registrar / Marriage Officer holds the file. An RTI extracts it in 30 days. Why this matters. A marriage certificate is required for passport / visa spouse-linking, insurance-nominee updates, bank account joint operations, inheritance matters, and immigration documentation. A delayed certificate blocks each. Did you know? The Supreme Court in Seema v. Ashwani Kumar (2006) 2 SCC 578 directed all states to make marriage registration compulsory . Most states have now notified their rules. RTI to the Sub-Registrar is therefore grounded in a statutory duty, not a discretionary procedure. Part of Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems . See also RTI for birth certificate for the companion Registrar-level procedure. What is the problem Marriage registration has multiple tracks, each with its own delays: Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 — registration after ceremony; in many states, it's consensual and brief. Special Marriage Act, 1954 — 30-day notice period + objections + Marriage Officer's decision. State Compulsory Registration Acts — time-limits and fees vary. Inter-state / inter-faith — additional scrutiny. Notice-period objections — a family member or third party may file objection. Document mismatch — age proof, address proof, consent affidavits. Witnesses not appearing — Marriage Officer requires both witnesses. Why it happens Marriage registration has three actors: the Sub-Registrar (revenue side) OR the Marriage Officer (Special Marriage Act), the couple, and the witnesses. Stoppages at any point stall issuance. RTI maps the break. When to use RTI Application filed 30+ days ago; no certificate issued. Marriage Officer is silent on your Special Marriage Act notice. Objection has been filed; you don't know who or why. Application rejected without specific reason. Certificate issued but with spelling / DOB / address errors — correction pending. Sub-Registrar refused to accept the application. What information you can ask Current status of the registration application. Date of notice publication (Special Marriage Act — 30-day notice period). Copies of any objections filed during notice period. Copy of the Marriage Officer's decision on objections. Name, designation, and contact of the Sub-Registrar / Marriage Officer. Witness-attendance status. If rejected, the specific clause + rule of the state's Marriage Rules. Correction procedure for any"},{"s":"rti-for-metro-project","t":"Metro Construction Concerns? RTI to the Metro Corporation","d":"Metro construction delaying your area? File RTI to the metro corporation (DMRC/BMRCL/CMRL/MMRC","u":"/rti-for-metro-project","x":"Metro Construction Concerns? RTI to the Metro Corporation In one line. Metro corporations (DMRC, BMRCL, CMRL, MMRC, etc.) are public authorities under Section 2(h). Their Detailed Project Report (DPR), tender records, land-acquisition notices, environment clearance, and delay-compensation are disclosable under Section 4. Part of Pillar 2 — RTI for Community & Society . See also smart city RTI. What is the problem Construction near home — dust, vibration, traffic, parking loss. Land / property acquired — compensation disputed. Timeline slippage — project delay hurting area commerce. Environment clearance — EIA report not public. Tender irregularities — same contractor, cartels. Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R) not honoured. When to use RTI Property marked for acquisition — need notification copy. Compensation less than prevailing rate. R&R undertaking pending > 6 months. Construction nuisance complaint ignored. Alignment change rumoured; want official record. What you can ask Feasibility / Detailed Project Report (DPR). Environment clearance (EC) and Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). Land-acquisition notification under Section 11 / 19 of LARR, 2013. Tender records — technical and financial bids of awarded contractor. Payment milestones to contractor. R&R records and grievance log. Public-consultation minutes. Delay analysis and cost-revision record. Step-by-step RTI filing Metro Corporation CPIO — via ''rtionline.gov.in'' → Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. State Urban Development Department — for state-funded portions. Environment Ministry (MoEFCC) / State Environment Authority — for EC records. District Collectorate (DM / LAO) — for land acquisition. Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions DPR copy. EIA / EC record. Land-acquisition notification. Tender records + LoA. Payment milestones. R&R entitlement. Complaint action-taken. Revised completion date. Cost-revision record. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 DPR + EC records usually available; tender records may take more time. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal + NGT / High Court for alignment / environment / compensation. Common mistakes Not citing the specific line / phase / station . Asking for bidder's internal documents — §8(1)(d) commercial confidence applies. Ignoring the State EIA Authority for EC records. Missing LARR, 2013 for compensation rules. Case law anchors Namit Sharma v. Union of India (2013) 1 SCC 745 — procedural accountability of public authorities. State of Gujarat v. Mirzapur Moti Kureshi (2005) 8 SCC 534 — public interest in large infrastructure. Centre for Public Interest Litigation v. Union of India (2012) — tender disclosure. Pro"},{"s":"rti-for-mgnrega-wages","t":"MGNREGA Wages Not Credited? RTI to Block Programme Officer","d":"MGNREGA wages not credited? File RTI to the Block Programme Officer to extract muster-roll entries, FTO reference, and the exact hold on wage transfer.","u":"/rti-for-mgnrega-wages","x":"MGNREGA Wages Not Credited? RTI to Block Programme Officer In one line. MGNREGA wages must be credited within 15 days of muster-roll closure under Section 3(3) of the MGNREGA Act, 2005. When wages don't arrive, RTI to the Block Programme Officer + Gram Panchayat extracts muster-roll entry and FTO reference. Part of Pillar 4 — RTI for Money & Schemes . Related: RTI for rural citizens. What is the problem Muster roll filled but not uploaded to NREGAsoft in time. FTO (Fund Transfer Order) generated but bank-rejected due to Aadhaar / NPCI mismatch. Technical-evaluation of work delayed, holding up payment. Job card suspended — re-verification pending. Work cancelled mid-way — wages for days worked not computed. Compensation for delayed wages (Section 13, MGNREGA) not paid. When to use RTI Wages for completed days not credited within 15 days. Muster roll closed but NREGAsoft shows \"pending\". FTO \"generated\" but bank says no credit. Job card flagged — no reason communicated. Compensation under Section 13 not paid. What you can ask Muster-roll entry for specified work, by date and days worked. NREGAsoft upload status. FTO reference and date. Bank-account + Aadhaar + NPCI mapping log. Technical-evaluation status and engineer's report. Job-card status; reason for any flag. Compensation under Section 13 for delayed wages. Rozgar Sevak and Panchayat Secretary contact. Block Programme Officer contact. Step-by-step RTI filing Block Programme Officer (MGNREGA) + Panchayat Secretary / Rozgar Sevak . State RTI portal → Rural Development → District Rural Development Agency (DRDA). Rs. 10; BPL free. Language: Hindi or regional language preferred. Sample RTI application (Hindi / English mix acceptable) [sample application] 10 RTI questions Muster-roll entries. NREGAsoft upload status. FTO reference. Aadhaar / NPCI log. Technical-evaluation status. Job-card status. Section 13 compensation. Rozgar Sevak contact. BPO contact. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–20 BPO + Rozgar Sevak reconcile muster-roll; wages often credited within this window. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Common mistakes Not quoting job-card number. Missing Rozgar Sevak copy. Skipping Section 13 compensation claim. Filing in English in a Hindi-only rural block office — slower. Pro tips Social audit — pair RTI with the MGNREGA mandatory social audit Gram Sabha. Compensation under Section 13 — 0.05% of wage per day of delay; often ignored; claim it. Job-card suspension — a re-verification camp usually clears it. For bulk-village issues (e.g., entire panchayat's wages held), collective RTI via Gram Sabha strengthens"},{"s":"rti-for-money-and-schemes","t":"Pillar 4 — RTI for Money & Schemes","d":"Pillar hub — the Right to Information Act, 2005, for money and welfare schemes. PM-KISAN, PMAY, NSAP pensions, scholarships, EPFO, DBT — every sanction, every UTR, every beneficiary list, in one place","u":"/rti-for-money-and-schemes","x":"Pillar 4 — RTI for Money & Schemes In one line. When a government scheme promises money — Rs. 2,000 of PM-KISAN, Rs. 1.30 lakh of PMAY-G, Rs. 6,000 of pre-matric scholarship, Rs. 500 of widow pension — a trail of files, sanctions, PFMS transfers and beneficiary lists sits behind it. RTI gives every citizen access to that trail, in 30 days, for Rs. 10. What you'll find. Tracker for central schemes (PM-KISAN, PMAY, Ayushman Bharat, scholarship). Tracker for state schemes (widow / old-age / disability pension, Ujjwala, Jal Jeevan Mission). Tracker for PF / EPS / pension flows. Generalised guide for any scheme not covered. Did you know? Nearly 99% of central scheme payments since 2022 route through PFMS — the Public Financial Management System. Every payment has a unique UTR. A single RTI can extract that UTR, after which the bank has no way to deny the transfer. Start here Scheme benefits not received — full RTI guide. PF / EPS pension delayed — RTI to EPFO. Tracking public spending Track government spending in your area — budgets, tenders, audits. Track public projects — roads, bridges, housing, metros. Specific money trails PM-KISAN — RTI to Dept of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; state dept nodal officer. PMAY-G / PMAY-U — RTI to Ministry of Rural Development / MoHUA; district level DRDA / Urban Development Authority. NSAP (Old Age / Widow / Disability pension) — RTI to State Social Welfare Department. Ayushman Bharat — RTI to National Health Authority; State Health Agency. MGNREGA wages — RTI to Block Programme Officer (Rural Development). Ujjwala — RTI to Oil Marketing Company + Ministry of Petroleum. Scholarships (NSP / State) — RTI to Ministry of Social Justice / State Welfare Dept. Subsidies (LPG, fertiliser) — RTI to the concerned ministry / OMC. EPFO — regional-office specific RTI. Use the detailed scheme-delay guide for the exact procedure for each. The three-layer approach for money flows Layer 1. Implementing office (block, school, hospital, gram panchayat). They hold the sanction file. Layer 2. Sanctioning office (district / state department). They release the funds. Layer 3. PFMS / Treasury / Bank. They effect the transfer. Start at Layer 1; escalate only if needed. The five money-flow questions Every good money RTI includes these five: Current status and officer holding the file. Sanction order copy (signed). PFMS UTR / Fund Transfer Order number. Bank branch and IFSC —"},{"s":"rti-for-noise-pollution","t":"Noise Pollution Complaint Ignored? RTI to Police / SPCB","d":"Noise-pollution complaint ignored? File RTI to the police, State Pollution Control Board, and municipal corporation for decibel measurements and action-taken record.","u":"/rti-for-noise-pollution","x":"Noise Pollution Complaint Ignored? RTI to Police / SPCB In one line. Noise pollution is regulated by the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), local police, and municipal corporation share enforcement. When a complaint is ignored, RTI extracts the decibel measurement, complaint log, and action taken. Part of Pillar 2 — RTI for Community & Society . See also environment RTI. What is the problem Loudspeakers beyond permissible decibel / timing limits. Construction noise at night (Rule 4(3) prohibits 10 PM–6 AM noise). DJ / wedding noise. Religious / political public-address systems without permission. Industrial noise exceeding zone limits (industrial / commercial / residential / silence). Vehicle honking near hospitals / schools (silence zones). When to use RTI Police complaint at 112 / local station ignored. SPCB grievance older than 30 days. Decibel measurement promised but never shared. Chronic offender — need past-action record. What you can ask Decibel reading log at the complaint site. Permission / loudspeaker-licence records for the offender. Complaint-register entry and action-taken report. Zoning classification of the area. SPCB inspection report. Penalty notices / show-cause issued. Duty-roster of the PCR van / beat constable. Step-by-step RTI filing State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) — primary technical custodian for decibel readings. Police (Commissionerate / SP office) — complaint register and enforcement. Municipal Corporation — loudspeaker licence (in many states). District Magistrate — for public-event permissions. Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Complaint-register entry. Decibel readings. Licence / permission record. Action-taken report. Zoning classification. SPCB inspection report. Enforcement officer name. Offender's past record. Escalation procedure. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 SPCB / police pulls logs; many chronic offenders are notified. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal + National Green Tribunal (NGT) or High Court writ. Common mistakes Expecting police alone to act — most decibel enforcement is by SPCB ; combine both. Not citing Noise Rules, 2000 — the specific framework. Missing the zone-classification ask; it sets the permissible limit. Failing to note the time of the incident (silence zone hours vary). Case law anchors Church of God (Full Gospel) in India v. KKR Majestic Colony Welfare Assn. (2000) 7 SCC 282 — no religious practice exempt from noise limits. In re: Noise Pollution (2005) 5 SCC 733 — nationwide enforcement"},{"s":"rti-for-nsap-pension","t":"NSAP Pension Stopped? RTI to District Social Welfare Officer","d":"NSAP / state pension (IGNOAPS / IGNWPS / IGNDPS","u":"/rti-for-nsap-pension","x":"NSAP Pension Stopped? RTI to District Social Welfare Officer In one line. The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) — IGNOAPS (old age), IGNWPS (widow), IGNDPS (disability) — is operated by the state Social Welfare Department. When pension stops, RTI extracts the beneficiary-record status, life-certificate pending, and restoration path. Part of Pillar 4 — RTI for Money & Schemes . Related: EPFO pension RTI. What is the problem Life-certificate (Jeevan Pramaan) not submitted within the annual window. Re-verification under the state's periodic review failed. Beneficiary marked \"deceased\" wrongly by a beat-constable / ANM. Bank account dormant / closed. Aadhaar-seeding / NPCI not completed. Eligibility re-assessment (e.g., child attained majority — widow pension terminated prematurely). When to use RTI Pension stopped for 3+ consecutive months. Life certificate submitted but pension not resumed. Beneficiary re-verified but status \"pending\". Bank account changed but new account not linked. Pension amount less than notified. What you can ask Current status of the beneficiary record. Last life-certificate submission date + acceptance. Re-verification status and survey officer's name. Aadhaar + NPCI mapping log. Bank-account status; if flagged inactive, the source of that flag. PFMS / state-treasury disbursement reference for the last release. Reason for hold, with the rule / notification. Restoration procedure. Local officer contact. Step-by-step RTI filing District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) / Social Security Officer . State RTI portal → Social Welfare / Social Justice / Women & Child Development (depending on state). Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Beneficiary-record status. Life-certificate acceptance. Re-verification survey. Aadhaar/NPCI log. Bank-account status. PFMS disbursement reference. Hold reason. Restoration procedure. Local officer contact. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–15 RTI routed; DSWO pulls the record. Day 15–25 Field survey / life-certificate update; pension often restored within this window. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Common mistakes Full Aadhaar number — use only last 4. Not citing beneficiary ID. Writing in English where Hindi / regional-language form is the state's default. Skipping the life-certificate question. Pro tips Annual Jeevan Pramaan — November each year for most states; plan ahead. Bio Jeevan Pramaan at CSC / bank — cost Rs. 15. For \"deceased\" error , a Life Certificate + Sarpanch's certificate is the fastest remedy. Arrears — Section 20 RTI Act penalty may induce arrears release. FAQs Q1. IGNOAPS amount? \\\\ Rs. 200/month (60-79 yrs) and Rs. 500/month (80+) at central level; states typically top up."},{"s":"rti-for-passport-delay","t":"Passport Delayed or Stuck? File RTI to Know Police Verification & File Movement Status","d":"Passport stuck at \"Under Review\" or police verification pending for weeks? File an RTI to the RPO and get file-movement history, police verification status, and officer accountability in 30 days.","u":"/rti-for-passport-delay","x":"Passport Delayed or Stuck? File RTI to Know Police Verification & File Movement Status In one line. When your passport status shows \"Under Review\", \"Granted\" without printing, or police verification has been pending for over 21 days, an RTI filed with the concerned Regional Passport Office (RPO) forces disclosure of the file-movement history, the Passport Officer's sign-off status, and the Special Branch police report. What that means in practice. You stop refreshing the Passport Seva status page every hour. You discover whether the delay is at the RPO, at the police, or at the printing vendor. The MEA has to commit in writing to an expected dispatch date. Did you know? Under MEA's passport SLA (Service Level Agreement), a normal passport must be granted within 30 days of application and a tatkal within 7 working days. A single RTI quoting this SLA has accelerated more than 60% of delayed applications, per multiple CIC observations. Passport process — the five stages Appointment & biometric capture at the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK). Granted same day if documents are clear. Verification at the RPO — documents examined, AFRS run for duplicates, KYC checked. Police Verification (PV) — file goes to local Police Commissioner / SP → SP → DSP → Station → SI. Usually 14–21 days. PV report returns — \"Clear / Incomplete / Adverse\". RPO takes the final call. Print & dispatch — at India Security Press, Nashik, or Hyderabad. Couriered by Speed Post. Delays happen mostly at stage 3 (police) and stage 4 (RPO sign-off). Where delays typically happen SI / Beat constable delay. The station constable has not visited your address. Report gets stuck with him. Adverse PV report — resident is not told; the file simply sits. Documents under scrutiny at RPO — name inconsistencies, profession-mismatch, minor's consent forms. Tatkal declined — resident applied in tatkal expecting 7-day delivery but RPO downgraded to normal. Police Clearance Certificate pending — only for emigration-check passports. RTI benefits in passport cases Exposes which stage the file is stuck at. Forces the RPO to disclose the Passport Officer's remarks. Makes the police station PV entry a matter of public record. Creates a paper trail for any court appeal. In at least 40% of cases, the passport dispatches before the 30-day RTI reply deadline. Step-by-step: how to file RTI Option A — Online via rtionline.gov.in Go to ''rtionline.gov.in''. Select Ministry of External Affairs →"},{"s":"rti-for-passport-rejection","t":"Passport Rejected? Use RTI to Know the Exact Reason & Officer Responsibility","d":"Passport rejected and the RPO won't tell you why? File an RTI under the Passport Act and RTI Act to uncover the precise refusal ground, the Passport Officer's sign-off, and your appeal options. Copy-r","u":"/rti-for-passport-rejection","x":"Passport Rejected? Use RTI to Know the Exact Reason & Officer Responsibility In one line. A passport rejection is not final. Under Section 6 of the Passport Act, 1967, the RPO must record reasons in writing — and an RTI is the one instrument that forces those reasons into the applicant's hands within 30 days, with the officer's name attached. What that means in practice. You learn exactly which clause of Section 6 was used — Section 6(2)(a)? (b)? (c)? — not just \"rejected\". You get the signed decision of the Passport Officer. You get the facts you need for the statutory appeal under Section 11 of the Act. Did you know? Under Section 11 of the Passport Act, 1967, an aggrieved applicant has 30 days to file an appeal against a refusal — and that window runs from the date of communication of the order. If the RPO has only sent a vague \"rejected\" SMS, the 30-day clock has not begun. An RTI extracting the full order starts the clock on your terms. Reasons a passport can be refused The Passport Act, 1967, enumerates six narrow grounds in Section 6(2). An RPO cannot refuse on any other basis: Applicant is not a citizen of India . Applicant is likely to engage in activities prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India. Applicant's departure would be detrimental to India's security . Applicant's presence abroad may prejudice friendly relations with another country. Applicant has been convicted by an Indian court for an offence involving moral turpitude and sentenced to at least 2 years in the last 5 years. Criminal proceedings pending in an Indian court against the applicant. Besides these, refusal can be for procedural reasons — incomplete documents, identity mismatch, AFRS duplicate, tatkal ineligibility. These are not Section 6(2) refusals; they are \"deficiency\" returns. RTI questions that uncover the truth Your RTI must separate substantive refusal (Section 6(2)) from procedural deficiency , and extract the documentary evidence behind each. Sample RTI application — passport rejection [sample application] What the RTI reply usually reveals Rejection is almost always traceable to one of four underlying causes — and the RTI reply will show which: Adverse police verification. Often a false report by a beat officer who never visited your address. Fixable by a re-verification request. AFRS / name match. Your biometrics or name has been flagged against a watch list or a previous"},{"s":"rti-for-personal-problems","t":"How to Use RTI to Solve Personal Problems — Real-Life Cases and Templates","d":"Use RTI to solve passport delay, pension trouble, FIR refusal, property mutation, or scholarship stuck. Five real cases with ready-to-file templates and 30-day timelines.","u":"/rti-for-personal-problems","x":"How to Use RTI to Solve Personal Problems — Real-Life Cases and Templates This page is now the child article under Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems. It contains five real-life case templates; the pillar hub is the canonical entry point for daily-life RTIs. If you're browsing the site for the first time, start at the pillar. In one line. The Right to Information Act, 2005 lets any citizen force a public authority to put its records, timelines, and responsible officer on paper within 30 days. This page covers how to use RTI for personal problems in five common cases: passport delay, pension non-receipt, FIR not registered, property mutation stuck, and scholarship not credited. What that means in practice. Each case below carries a ready-to-file RTI application you can copy and adapt. Expected timeline, what to do if no reply, and the appeal escalation path are set out in plain language. The universal template at the bottom works for any grievance not covered here. Did you know? A well-drafted RTI often resolves a stuck file faster than the 30-day reply deadline itself. Officers prefer to clear the file rather than put refusal in writing. That is the quiet power of a written, time-bound question. Your problem may be one RTI away from a solution Your passport is stuck for three months. Status page says \"Under Review\". The call centre keeps repeating the same script. Your pension has not arrived for the fourth month in a row. The police station refused to register an FIR. The Tehsildar has held your mutation file since April. The state scholarship is \"approved\" but not in your bank. You do not need a lawyer for any of this. You need one sheet of paper and ten rupees. You need the Right to Information Act, 2005. This guide shows how to use RTI for personal problems in five real-life situations. Each case comes with a ready-to-copy RTI application, an expected timeline, and the exact next step if the reply does not arrive. What is RTI, in four lines The Right to Information Act, 2005 gives every citizen of India the right to ask a public authority for records, documents, file notings, and reasons for decisions. The public authority must reply within 30 days. The fee is Rs. 10 for central government offices. Refusal without a valid ground attracts a penalty on the officer. That"},{"s":"rti-for-pf-pension-delay","t":"PF Withdrawal or Pension Delayed? File RTI to Get Exact Status & Accountability","d":"PF withdrawal not credited or EPS pension delayed for weeks? File an RTI to your EPFO Regional Office and get claim status, settlement officer's decision, and payment UTR in 30 days. Ready-to-copy for","u":"/rti-for-pf-pension-delay","x":"PF Withdrawal or Pension Delayed? File RTI to Get Exact Status & Accountability In one line. When your Provident Fund (Form 19 / Form 31 / Form 10C / Form 10D) claim is \"Under Process\" beyond 10 days, or your monthly EPS pension is not credited, an RTI to the concerned EPFO Regional Office forces disclosure of the claim status, the Section Supervisor's decision, and the payment UTR. What that means in practice. You do not need to call 1800-11-8005 every day. EPFO must tell you in writing which desk your claim is at. In most cases the amount gets credited before the 30-day RTI reply deadline. Did you know? EPFO's own service charter commits to settling an online Form 19 PF withdrawal within 10 days . A claim pending beyond that becomes a formal grievance. RTI filed on Day 11 is therefore fully supported by EPFO's own charter. Common PF / EPS problems Form 19 / Form 31 claim \"Under Process\" beyond 10 days. Claim rejected with reason code like \"KYC not complete\", \"PAN not verified\", \"Aadhaar-UAN mismatch\" — without details. EPS pension (Form 10D) pending after retirement for months. Partial withdrawal disallowed for housing / medical / marriage. Transfer-in (Form 13) from previous employer's PF stuck. Higher pension option (EPS-95 higher wages) — applications filed in 2023 still pending at many ROs. Name / DoB correction rejected with generic reason. Where to file — EPFO structure EPFO operates through Regional Offices (ROs), with Sub-Regional Offices (SROs) below them. The authority holding your file is the RO/SRO linked to the establishment where the PF account was maintained, not your current residence. Find your RO at ''epfindia.gov.in'' → Contact Us. Large cities have multiple ROs — Delhi North, Delhi South, Bandra (Mumbai), Park Street (Kolkata), etc. Every RO has a CPIO listed on its notice board. Step-by-step: how to file the RTI Option A — Online via rtionline.gov.in Go to ''rtionline.gov.in''. Select Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) . Choose the specific Regional Office from the dropdown. Paste the sample application. Pay Rs. 10. Save the Registration Number. Option B — By post CPIO, Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, [Regional Office Name], [Address] Attach IPO for Rs. 10 in favour of \"Accounts Officer, EPFO\" . Send by Speed Post. Option C — At the RO RTI window Every EPFO RO has an RTI window at the public counter. Hand-deliver, pay Rs. 10"},{"s":"rti-for-pm-kisan-installment","t":"PM-KISAN Installment Not Received? RTI to Unlock the Credit","d":"PM-KISAN installment not credited? File RTI to the Department of Agriculture / district Nodal Officer to extract beneficiary-record status, Aadhaar-seeding log, and release date.","u":"/rti-for-pm-kisan-installment","x":"PM-KISAN Installment Not Received? RTI to Unlock the Credit In one line. PM-KISAN pays Rs. 2,000 every four months to eligible farmers. Installments get stuck on land seeding, Aadhaar mismatch, or eKYC. RTI to the district Nodal Officer extracts the specific hold-up and expected release. Part of Pillar 4 — RTI for Money & Schemes . Companion: generic scheme delay RTI. What is the problem Stoppages trace to: Land-seeding incomplete — revenue record not matched. Aadhaar-name mismatch — RoR name differs from Aadhaar. eKYC pending — bio / OTP / face eKYC. Bank account not NPCI-mapped for DBT. Self-declaration (income-tax assessee / pensioner / constitutional post) exclusion triggered. PFMS batch rejection — treasury-level. When to use RTI 2+ installments missed. Portal shows \"FTO generated\" but no credit. eKYC \"done\" but status shows pending. Name spelling difference flagged. What you can ask Beneficiary ID status in PM-KISAN portal. Land-seeding status and matching khasra number. Aadhaar-seeding + NPCI mapping log. eKYC completion date + method. PFMS batch / FTO reference. Reason for installment hold (exclusion rule invoked, if any). Estimated release date. Nodal Officer contact. Step-by-step RTI filing State RTI portal → Department of Agriculture → District Agriculture Officer. Copy to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare via ''rtionline.gov.in''. Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Portal status. Land-seeding + khasra match. Aadhaar + NPCI log. eKYC status. PFMS FTO reference. Hold reason. Exclusion ground (if any). Release ETA. Nodal Officer contact. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 Nodal Officer / revenue office often resolves the mismatch during this window. Day 30 Written reply. Common mistakes Using Aadhaar full number — only last 4. Not citing Beneficiary ID. Filing at state HQ instead of district Nodal Officer. Skipping land-seeding question. Pro tips Visit CSC for eKYC if online eKYC fails — cost Rs. 15. Patwari / Revenue office visit for name correction on RoR. PFMS UTR is the ultimate proof of disbursement — ask in Question 5. Parallel PM-KISAN helpline 155261 — log the complaint with reference. FAQs Q1. How many installments per year? \\\\ Three, of Rs. 2,000 each, totalling Rs. 6,000. Q2. Is land seeding one-time? \\\\ Yes, but revenue changes (mutation, subdivision) may trigger re-seeding. Q3. Exclusion list? \\\\ Income-tax assessees, institutional landowners, pensioners > Rs. 10,000/month, doctors/CAs/engineers, etc. Q4. Can NRIs get PM-KISAN? \\\\ No. Conclusion"},{"s":"rti-for-pmay-installment","t":"PMAY Installment Stuck? RTI to Block / Urban Development Agency","d":"PMAY-G / PMAY-U installment not released? File RTI to the Block / Urban Development Agency to extract sanction, geo-tag status, PFMS transfer, and release ETA.","u":"/rti-for-pmay-installment","x":"PMAY Installment Stuck? RTI to Block / Urban Development Agency In one line. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin/Urban) releases installments in 3–4 tranches tied to construction stages. When an installment doesn't arrive, RTI to the Block office (Gramin) or district Urban Development Agency extracts sanction order + PFMS UTR + geo-tag status. Part of Pillar 4 — RTI for Money & Schemes . What is the problem Sanction order issued but first installment not released. Foundation / lintel / roof-level geo-tag pending — next installment held. PFMS batch rejection for bank / Aadhaar mismatch. SECC data / AwaasPlus verification discrepancy. Beneficiary re-classification (e.g., converted from priority list). When to use RTI Sanction released but first installment not received in 60 days. Geo-tag done but next installment not received in 45 days. PMAY-U claim beyond 6 months. State MIS shows \"approved\" but no PFMS transfer. What you can ask Beneficiary record status in AwaasSoft / PMAY-U MIS. Sanction-order number + date + amount. Geo-tag verification date for each stage (foundation / lintel / roof). PFMS FTO / UTR reference for each installment released. Reason for holding the pending installment. Bank + Aadhaar + NPCI seeding log. Expected release date. Block / District PMAY officer contact. Step-by-step RTI filing PMAY-G → Block Development Officer + District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) . State RTI portal → Rural Development / Panchayati Raj. PMAY-U → City Mission Director / District Urban Development Authority . State RTI portal → Urban Development. Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions MIS status. Sanction order details. Geo-tag verification record. PFMS UTR per installment. Hold reason. Aadhaar/NPCI log. SECC/AwaasPlus verification. Release ETA. Block/UDA officer contact. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 Block / UDA pulls the file; geo-tag verification often completed during this window. Day 30 Reply. Common mistakes Filing at state HQ instead of Block / UDA. Missing sanction-order number. Not mentioning installment stage (foundation / lintel / roof). Skipping the PFMS UTR question. Pro tips AwaasSoft mobile app has built-in geo-tag; ensure photo captured at each stage. For bank mismatch , Post Office Payments Bank (IPPB) accounts work well with DBT. Block-level Coordinator often can fix mismatches on-the-spot. FAQs Q1. How many installments in PMAY-G? \\\\ Typically 3 (40% / 40% / 20%). Q2. Is Rs. 1.30 lakh the total assistance? \\\\ PMAY-G: Rs. 1.20-1.30 lakh (plain);"},{"s":"rti-for-pmfby-crop-insurance","t":"PMFBY Crop-Insurance Claim Stuck? RTI to District Agriculture Officer","d":"PMFBY crop-insurance claim delayed after loss assessment? File RTI to the District Agriculture Officer / State Nodal Agency to extract CCE data, insurance-company response, and claim status.","u":"/rti-for-pmfby-crop-insurance","x":"PMFBY Crop-Insurance Claim Stuck? RTI to District Agriculture Officer In one line. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) operates through empanelled insurance companies under a State Nodal Agency. When claim-settlement is delayed beyond the operational guidelines (typically within 2 months of Crop Cutting Experiment / yield finalisation ), RTI to the District Agriculture Officer (DAO) and State Nodal Agency extracts the CCE data, insurer response, and claim-release status. Part of Pillar 4 — RTI for Money, Schemes & Subsidies . What is the problem Premium debited from loan / bank account but claim not credited after crop loss. CCE (Crop Cutting Experiment) data disputed — shortfall not recognised. Localised calamity claim (hailstorm, inundation) filed within 72 hours but no survey. Mid-season adversity declaration awaited from state. Insurance company silent or citing \"pending yield data\". When to use RTI >60 days from season-end / CCE finalisation without settlement. Localised-calamity intimation filed, no surveyor visit in 7 days. Claim amount credited is less than expected — no calculation sheet. Policy number not traceable on ''pmfby.gov.in''. What you can ask Policy enrolment record — sum insured, premium paid, bank debit date. CCE yield data for the notified insurance unit (village / gram panchayat). Threshold yield notification for the season. Insurance company's claim-processing log. Surveyor's report for localised calamity, if filed. Claim calculation worksheet. State Nodal Agency's release order. Grievance officer / District Monitoring Committee minutes. Step-by-step RTI filing District Agriculture Officer (DAO) / District Collectorate — primary custodian for CCE and notified-unit data. State Nodal Agency for PMFBY (Department of Agriculture, State) — premium subsidy and release orders. Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India — for inter-state / policy issues, via ''rtionline.gov.in''. Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Enrolment confirmation. CCE yield data. Threshold yield notification. Insurance company processing log. Surveyor report (localised calamity). Claim calculation worksheet. State release order. Written grounds for rejection/reduction. DMC minutes. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 DAO pulls CCE + insurance-company file; many claims settle during this window. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal to Appellate Authority + grievance to State Nodal Agency. Common mistakes Filing at the insurance company — private insurers are not public authorities. File to the DAO / State Nodal Agency that holds the public file. Not quoting the insurance-unit (village / GP) — CCE"},{"s":"rti-for-property-registration","t":"Property Registration Stuck? RTI to the Sub-Registrar","d":"Property registration or encumbrance certificate stuck at the Sub-Registrar? File RTI to unlock deed status, registration number, stamp-duty issues, and EC search path.","u":"/rti-for-property-registration","x":"Property Registration Stuck? RTI to the Sub-Registrar In one line. Sale deeds, gift deeds, lease deeds, and Encumbrance Certificate (EC) searches are handled by the Sub-Registrar under the Registration Act, 1908. When your registration is delayed or the EC shows wrong entries, RTI extracts the official register's state. Part of Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems . See also RTI for land / property records for mutation-side procedure. What is the problem Deed submitted for registration not returned after adjudication period. Stamp-duty adjudication pending at the Collector of Stamps. EC search result shows an entry you don't recognise. Index-register entry missing despite registration. Refusal of registration on procedural ground without written order. Post-registration return of original documents delayed beyond 30 days. When to use RTI Deed presented for registration >30 days ago, not returned. Stamp-duty notice received but no adjudication order. EC shows a mortgage / lis pendens you're unaware of. Sub-Registrar has refused to register without a written order. Application under Section 57 of the Registration Act (search of index) pending. What you can ask Deed-register status + book number + volume + page. Sub-Registrar's adjudication note on stamp-duty. Collector of Stamps' pending assessment. Index-register search result. EC entries against your property for the specified period + source deed references. Refusal order (if any) with written grounds. Original-document return schedule. Step-by-step RTI filing Where to file Sub-Registrar's office where the deed was presented. Registrar / IG of Registration for escalation. State RTI portal → Revenue / Stamp & Registration Department. Fees Rs. 10 filing; state fee for EC separate (usually Rs. 35–200). Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Register status. Book / volume / page numbers. Stamp-duty adjudication. Collector of Stamps stage. Index-register entry. EC search results with source deeds. Refusal-order copy. Original-document return date. Re-presentation / appeal procedure. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 File pulled, often cleared during this window. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal to Registrar / IG of Registration. Common mistakes Not quoting the receipt number — deed can't be traced. Missing the survey number — EC can't be searched. Asking for the full 30-year history when only a specific period is needed — Section 7(9) can be invoked. Skipping the written refusal order request — this is key at appeal. Pro tips Photograph the original presentation receipt from the SRO — attach"},{"s":"rti-for-ration-card-cancelled","t":"Ration Card Cancelled or Rejected? Use RTI to Restore It","d":"Ration card cancelled, suspended, or rejected? File an RTI to the Food & Civil Supplies department to extract the reason, officer name, and restoration path — in 30 days for Rs. 10.","u":"/rti-for-ration-card-cancelled","x":"Ration Card Cancelled or Rejected? Use RTI to Restore It In one line. When your ration card is silently cancelled, your name dropped from an AAY / PHH list, or a fresh application rejected, an RTI to the District Supply Officer (DSO) / Food & Civil Supplies office extracts the exact ground, the officer's name, and the restoration path. What that means in practice. You stop re-applying on trust and start demanding the file. The PDS system is governed by the National Food Security Act, 2013 — every cancellation must be recorded. In most cases, a well-framed RTI triggers restoration before the 30-day reply deadline. Did you know? Under Section 4(1)(b)(xii) of the RTI Act, the list of beneficiaries of any subsidy programme is required to be proactively published by the public authority. Ration-card beneficiary lists therefore fall within mandatory disclosure, regardless of whether your card is cancelled. Part of Pillar 1 — RTI for Daily Life Problems . See the 12-step online filing guide for the portal walk-through. What is the problem A ration card is the entry pass to India's Public Distribution System (PDS). It determines monthly foodgrain entitlement, LPG subsidy routing (historically), and proof-of-residence for many government schemes. Yet thousands of cards are cancelled silently every month — for reasons like: Aadhaar seeding failure — NPCI mapping didn't complete. Annual re-validation skipped — state Food Department's electronic KYC cycle. Migration detected — you moved district; the old district auto-cancels. Duplicate detection — system flags two cards with similar identifiers. Above-limit land-holding or income — a third-party complaint has been lodged. Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealer marked \"dormant\" — you haven't drawn ration for 3+ months. Why it happens The Food & Civil Supplies Department of your state runs the ePDS workflow. At each of these decision points, a record is maintained but not routinely communicated. RTI is how you convert the internal record into a written reply. When to use RTI Your card has been cancelled without a notice. Your fresh application has been \"rejected\" with no specific reason. You were on the AAY (Antyodaya) or PHH list and got dropped silently. The FPS dealer says your card is \"deactivated\". Your Aadhaar-seeding or e-KYC has been pending for 60+ days. You suspect a third-party complaint is on your file. What information you can ask Current status of your ration-card record in the ePDS database. Specific ground of"},{"s":"rti-for-rural-citizens","t":"How RTI Empowers Rural Citizens to Access Information and Benefits","d":"Rural India deserves its share of information. RTI, 2005 enables villagers to access scheme benefits, MGNREGA work registers, panchayat accounts, and land records — in simple, step-by-step Indian-lang","u":"/rti-for-rural-citizens","x":"How RTI Empowers Rural Citizens to Access Information and Benefits In one line. In rural India, information is often held in one Patwari's register, one Gram Panchayat's chest, one Block office's cupboard. RTI opens those drawers — in the village's own language, on a Re. 10 stamp paper. What that means in practice. An MGNREGA labourer can check his own wage register. A farmer can get the Patwari's latest inspection report for his khata. A widow can check whether her pension was released and where it got stuck. A parent can ask why the anganwadi ration did not arrive. Did you know? The RTI Act allows an applicant to file in Hindi, English, or the official language of the area . An oral request to the PIO, transcribed by the PIO and read back, is also valid under Section 6(1) proviso — a provision specifically designed for illiterate citizens. Why rural RTI matters The distance between a village and a District Collectorate is not only geography. It is paperwork, language, fees, and the unwritten rule that village records are \"private\" to the Panchayat Secretary. RTI is the law that shortens each of those distances. Every rural scheme — MGNREGA, PMAY-G, PDS, Anganwadi, Old Age Pension, Widow Pension, Disability Pension, Swachh Bharat Mission, Ujjwala — works on the same grammar: sanction, release, beneficiary list, expenditure, audit. RTI reads that grammar aloud. Common rural problems RTI can help with MGNREGA wages not credited despite working days recorded. PMAY-G first installment released but second not visible. Widow / old-age pension stopped; no notice given. Anganwadi ration / supplementary nutrition irregular. PDS ration card cancelled without notice. Patta / mutation of ancestral land stuck at Patwari. Ujjwala gas connection deposit not visible. Jal Jeevan Mission tap connection promised, not delivered. Anganwadi / PHC / village school building funds not utilised. Sarpanch's fund accounts never read in gram sabha. Simple filing process for rural citizens 1. Write in your language. Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Odia, Punjabi, Assamese — every state RTI portal accepts the regional language. Paper applications in the local language are also valid. 2. Fee — Rs. 10 for most states, zero for BPL. Attach a Rs. 10 Indian Postal Order or court-fee stamp (some states accept this). BPL card holders attach a photocopy of the ration / BPL card — no fee. 3. Address to the right officer. Gram"},{"s":"rti-for-scholarship-delay","t":"Scholarship Not Credited? RTI to NSP / State Welfare","d":"Scholarship (pre-matric / post-matric / merit / minority / OBC / SC / ST","u":"/rti-for-scholarship-delay","x":"Scholarship Not Credited? RTI to NSP / State Welfare In one line. The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) + state welfare departments disburse dozens of scholarship schemes. When money doesn't arrive despite \"approved\" status, RTI extracts the institute-verification, DBT UTR, and specific hold-up. Part of Pillar 3 — RTI for Students & Youth . Related: generic scheme delay RTI. What is the problem Institute verification delay — your college hasn't endorsed your continuing-student status. PFMS batch rejection — Aadhaar / bank / NPCI mismatch. Bank account not pre-validated on NSP. Income-certificate dispute. Renewal application issues — first-year disbursed, second-year held. District Welfare Officer's sanction pending. When to use RTI NSP shows \"approved\" but money not in account for 60+ days. NSP shows \"institute verification pending\". Bank account fails pre-validation. Renewal rejected without stated reason. Institute claims NSP shows \"rejected\" — but you don't know why. What you can ask NSP application status + progress log. Institute's AISHE code + institute-verification submission date. District / State Welfare Officer's sanction status. PFMS Fund Transfer Order (FTO) reference + UTR. Bank account pre-validation result. Income certificate verification status (if applicable). If rejected, specific ground + scheme clause. Appeal procedure. Nodal officer contact. Step-by-step RTI filing Central schemes (NSP) → Ministry of Social Justice / Tribal Affairs / Minority Affairs via ''rtionline.gov.in''. State schemes → state RTI portal → Social Welfare. Institute certification → RTI to college's registrar / CPIO. Rs. 10 fee. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions NSP application status. Institute endorsement date. DSWO sanction status. PFMS FTO / UTR. Bank pre-validation. Income certificate verification. Rejection ground. Appeal procedure. Nodal officer contact. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 Institute / DSWO often resolve the stuck step during this window. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Common mistakes Full Aadhaar — use only last 4. Not citing NSP Application ID. Missing institute's AISHE code — required for institute lookup. Skipping the bank pre-validation question. Pro tips Pre-validate your bank on NSP early — IFSC + account holder name must match Aadhaar. For institute verification delays , parallel RTI to the college Registrar. Renewal year is often where things break — file RTI at the renewal stage, not retrospectively. Parallel NSP helpline 0120-6619540. FAQs Q1. Do I need to re-apply every year? \\\\ Post-matric schemes are annual renewals. Pre-matric usually yearly as well. Q2. Can CIC compel disbursement? \\\\ RTI"},{"s":"rti-for-senior-citizens","t":"RTI for Senior Citizens — Pension, Safety, and Benefits","d":"RTI recipes for senior citizens — pension delay, elder-abuse complaints, Maintenance & Welfare of Parents tribunal, Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, travel concessions, hospital entitlements.","u":"/rti-for-senior-citizens","x":"RTI for Senior Citizens — Pension, Safety, and Benefits In one line. The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (MWPSC Act) creates tribunals for elder-maintenance disputes; schemes like IGNOAPS , Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana , and PM-JAY for 70+ deliver pensions, aids, and health coverage. RTI ensures the delivery is visible. Part of the audience pillars alongside RTI for women, RTI for disability, and RTI for tribal citizens. Common problems where RTI helps Old-age pension under IGNOAPS not credited. Maintenance-and-welfare Tribunal case stalled. Elder-abuse complaint to police / Helpline 14567 ignored. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) — aids & appliances distribution camp record. Travel concessions (railway / airline / state transport) dispute. Hospital access — Ayushman Bharat Senior Citizen extension for 70+, state-specific schemes. Old-Age Home / Day-Care — capacity, waiting list, grievance log. RTI recipes for senior citizens Pension and monetary benefit IGNOAPS / widow / disability pension — NSAP; DBT record. State-government pensions for senior citizens — state social welfare department. Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS) — EPFO CPIO for EPS-95 / higher-pension disputes. MWPSC Tribunal and elder law Tribunal constitution, sitting days, cause-list, disposal register — SDM or designated Presiding Officer. Maintenance order execution status — revenue-recovery route. Transfer of property by senior citizen — annulment under Section 23 of the Act. Safety and elder abuse Helpline 14567 (Elder Line) — call log, referral actions, closure reasoning. Police senior-citizen cell — registered-senior database, periodic welfare visits. FIR under Section 24 MWPSC for abandonment. Welfare schemes Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana — camp schedule, beneficiary list (anonymised), aids distributed. Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana / Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) — LIC scheme records (substantially financed). Ayushman Bharat for 70+ (state extensions) — empanelled hospitals, claims processed. Concessions and access Railway / Air India / state transport concession rules and usage log (aggregate data). Income-tax filing — standard deduction under Section 80TTB; CPC record via RTI for IT refund. Bank — Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) at post office / PSU bank; RBI circulars. Sample RTI — for IGNOAPS pension not credited [sample application] Legal framework Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 — Tribunals, maintenance, protection of life & property, homes. National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) guidelines — IGNOAPS, IGNWPS, IGNDPS. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana guidelines, 2017. Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 — dementia / Alzheimer's care. Pro tips Section 7(1) proviso — life-and-liberty (elder-abuse, denial of"},{"s":"rti-for-slum-rehabilitation","t":"Slum Rehabilitation Dispute? RTI to the SRA / Housing Board","d":"Slum eviction notice served or rehabilitation tenement disputed? File RTI to the Slum Rehabilitation Authority / housing board for eligibility roster, tenement allotment, and R&R record.","u":"/rti-for-slum-rehabilitation","x":"Slum Rehabilitation Dispute? RTI to the SRA / Housing Board In one line. Slum rehabilitation is executed by state authorities — Maharashtra SRA, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB), etc. Eligibility rosters, biometric-survey records, tenement allotment, and Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R) entitlements are public records. Part of Pillar 2 — RTI for Community & Society . See also PMAY installment RTI. What is the problem Eligibility denied despite pre-cut-off residence. Tenement allotment deferred / changed post-survey. Cut-off date applied incorrectly. Biometric / Aadhaar mismatch blocks allotment. Eviction notice served without R&R alternative. Rent for transit accommodation not received during redevelopment. Developer defaults — work stalled mid-redevelopment. When to use RTI Eligibility decision without written grounds. Allotment letter pending >6 months after survey. Transit-rent stopped / never paid. Developer name changed without R&R amendment. What you can ask Biometric / door-to-door survey record covering your household. Cut-off date for the scheme and notification. Eligibility roster for your slum, with household reference (anonymised). Tenement allotment log (carpet area, floor, building). Developer / contractor agreement. Transit-rent schedule and disbursement history. R&R entitlement document. Grievance-log entries and action-taken. Step-by-step RTI filing Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) / State Housing Board — city-level custodian. Municipal Corporation — for slum register / census. Department of Urban Development (state) — for policy / redevelopment approvals. MoHUA — for central convergence (JNNURM / PMAY). Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Survey record. Cut-off notification. Eligibility roster. Tenement allotment log. Developer agreement. Transit-rent disbursement. R&R entitlement. Grievance action-taken. Eligibility denial ground. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 SRA / housing board pulls survey + allotment records. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal + petition to the High Court / NCSC / NHRC where applicable. Common mistakes Asking for named allotment list — third-party under §8(1)(j); use anonymised roster. Ignoring the cut-off-date notification — eligibility pivots on it. Filing to the municipality when the SRA is the custodian. Missing transit-rent records — they reveal developer compliance. Case law anchors Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation (1985) 3 SCC 545 — right to livelihood as part of Article 21; eviction requires due process. Chameli Singh v. State of UP (1996) 2 SCC 549 — shelter as part of the right to life. Sudama Singh v. Government of Delhi (Delhi HC, 2010)"},{"s":"rti-for-smart-city-mission","t":"Smart City Mission Questions? RTI to the SPV and Urban Dept","d":"Wondering where Smart City Mission funds went in your city? File RTI to the Smart City SPV / Urban Development Department for project list, utilisation certificate, and audit.","u":"/rti-for-smart-city-mission","x":"Smart City Mission Questions? RTI to the SPV and Urban Dept In one line. The Smart Cities Mission (SCM) delivers through city-level Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) — joint ventures of the Urban Local Body and the State. These SPVs are public authorities; their project list, utilisation certificates, tender records, and CAG audits are disclosable. Part of Pillar 2 — RTI for Community & Society . See also metro project RTI. What is the problem Announced projects not visible on ground. Fund utilisation not reported at city level. Area-based development (ABD) selection process opaque. Pan-city solutions (command centre, smart traffic) vendor concerns. SPV governance — board minutes, director list. Completion certificates issued; work visibly unfinished. When to use RTI Project-completion claim doesn't match reality. CAG performance-audit paragraphs surface; want SPV response. ABD selection dispute in your ward. Fund-mismatch between ministerial answers and local data. What you can ask List of approved projects — with sanction, status, cost, start-date, and expected-completion. Fund release from Centre + State + ULB + convergence. Utilisation certificates (UCs) — year-wise. Tender records for each project — LoA, evaluation minutes. Board / Project Review Committee minutes of the SPV. Completion certificates and third-party audit reports. Citizen-engagement records for ABD selection. Step-by-step RTI filing Smart City SPV — city-level CPIO. State Urban Development Department — state-level oversight. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) — for scheme-level / cross-city questions via ''rtionline.gov.in''. Urban Local Body (municipal corporation) — for ULB-contributed projects. Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Project list + status. Fund-release position. Utilisation certificates. Tender records. SPV Board minutes. Completion certificates. Citizen-engagement records. CAG observations + SPV response. SPV Director list. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 SPV pulls project register; UCs and tender records compiled. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal; follow-up via MoHUA if project-level issues. Common mistakes Asking MoHUA for city-level data — MoHUA has summary; SPV has the detail . Not specifying the project / ward. Missing the citizen-engagement records — they're the soft ground for ABD disputes. Filing multiple sub-questions as separate RTIs; bundle them unless the CPIO requests separation. Case law anchors Vishwas Bhamburkar v. PIO, DDA (CIC, 2013) — SPVs of public authorities are in RTI scope. Thalappalam Service Co-op Bank v. State of Kerala (2013) 16 SCC 82 — substantial financing test. Namit Sharma v."},{"s":"rti-for-students","t":"How Students Can Use RTI for Education, Exams, and Transparency","d":"Students can use RTI to see answer sheets, evaluated marks, scholarship sanctions, and college admission data. Copy-ready applications for CBSE, UPSC, SSC, state boards and universities inside.","u":"/rti-for-students","x":"How Students Can Use RTI for Education, Exams, and Transparency In one line. Every answer sheet, every evaluated score, every scholarship sanction, every college seat allocation is a public record under the examining body or university. RTI gives the student access — in plain, procedural Indian English. What that means in practice. You can inspect your answer sheet. You can compare cut-off claims with the actual cut-off list. You can track a scholarship that was \"approved\" but not credited. You can ask a university why your mark sheet is delayed. Did you know? The Supreme Court in CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay [(2011) 8 SCC 497] held that an evaluated answer sheet is \"information\" under Section 2(f), and that a student is entitled to inspect his or her answer sheet. This was a direct RTI victory, widely relied on even today. What problems students commonly face Exam results contested — the marks feel wrong. Answer sheet inspection denied or priced unreasonably. Scholarship approved on portal, never credited. Seat lost in counselling without clear reason. University mark sheet delayed after graduation. JRF / fellowship stipend irregular. Degree convocation delayed. OBC / SC / ST / EWS certificate validation stuck. RTI handles each of these cleanly. What information can students ask? Evaluated answer sheet (photocopy). Mark-sheet of a specific subject, with moderation applied. Cut-off list, merit list, reservation roster. Counselling and allotment logic. Scholarship beneficiary list (for your batch / category). Sanction order for your scholarship and PFMS transfer. Fellowship disbursement history. Mark-sheet / degree printing schedule. OBC validation file status. University syllabus change orders. Whom to file RTI to CBSE — PIO, Central Board of Secondary Education, via ''rtionline.gov.in''. UPSC — PIO, UPSC, Dholpur House, Delhi; available on ''rtionline.gov.in''. SSC — Staff Selection Commission. State boards — State Board of School Education via state RTI portal. Universities — PIO of the university (usually Registrar's office). Scholarships (Central) — Ministry of Social Justice, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, NSP Cell. UGC / AICTE — on ''rtionline.gov.in''. IITs / IIMs / IISc — each has its own PIO; filings on ''rtionline.gov.in''. Sample RTI — for answer sheet inspection [sample application] Sample RTI — for scholarship not credited [sample application] Ten powerful RTI questions for students Evaluated answer sheet inspection. Moderation / bonus / grace rule applied. Cut-off list and reservation roster. Counselling allotment logic. Scholarship sanction status. PFMS / UTR reference. Institute verification step. Mark"},{"s":"rti-for-students-and-youth","t":"Pillar 3 — RTI for Students & Youth","d":"Pillar hub — the Right to Information Act, 2005, for students and young citizens. Answer sheets, scholarships, college admissions, government schools, and careers — every guide in one place.","u":"/rti-for-students-and-youth","x":"Pillar 3 — RTI for Students & Youth In one line. A school mark, a university degree, a scholarship installment, a government job rank — each is a record under a public authority. RTI gives every student and every young person the right to see that record in 30 days. What you'll find. Exams — answer sheet inspection, cut-offs, moderation. Scholarships — sanction, release, bank transfer. Schools & colleges — quality, infrastructure, faculty. Jobs — result sheets, vacancies, selection process. Career — clearances, certificates, OBC / SC / ST validation. Did you know? The Supreme Court in CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay [(2011) 8 SCC 497] held that every student has the right to inspect his or her own evaluated answer sheet under the RTI Act. That single ruling has enabled lakhs of re-evaluations and fairer grades since 2011. Start here RTI for students — exams, scholarships, transparency — the flagship article. Improve government schools via RTI — for parents and SMC members. Exams and selection Answer sheet inspection — read the sample RTI on the student guide. Scholarships — sample RTI on the student guide. Landmark ruling : CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay — Supreme Court, 2011. Career documents OBC / SC / ST / EWS validation — RTI to the District Certificate-Issuing Authority. Migration / Transfer Certificate — RTI to the university. Degree / Mark Sheet delay — RTI to Registrar. Police clearance certificate (PCC) — RTI to RPO / State Police. Linked guides Aadhaar not generated — for students who face a blocked scholarship. Scheme / scholarship delay — detailed sanction-to-credit walk. Responsible use of RTI — ethics for first-time student filers. How to file — students' quick path Keep your roll number , application ID , institute AISHE/DISE code handy. Go to ''rtionline.gov.in'' (central) or your state portal. Select the examining body / ministry / university. Paste the ready-to-use application from the linked guide. Pay Rs. 10. Save Registration Number. Wait 30 days. A student-only RTI template [sample application] Ethical reminders for young RTI users Ask about your own record. Not another student's. Do not misuse RTI for social-media sensationalism. Engage the institution first — a student's emailto the Controller of Examinations often yields the answer without RTI. Share what works — you improve the right for the next batch. How this pillar fits Personal problem (passport, licence)? → Pillar 1. Community or civic issue ? → Pillar"},{"s":"rti-for-tribal-citizens","t":"RTI for Scheduled Tribe Citizens — Forest Rights, Schemes, and Governance","d":"RTI recipes for Scheduled Tribe citizens — Forest Rights Act claims, PESA, pre-matric / post-matric scholarships, TSP fund utilisation, Eklavya Model schools, MFP MSP.","u":"/rti-for-tribal-citizens","x":"RTI for Scheduled Tribe Citizens — Forest Rights, Schemes, and Governance In one line. Scheduled Tribe citizens have protections under the Constitution (Fifth / Sixth Schedules), Forest Rights Act, 2006 , PESA, 1996 , Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) allocations, and scheme-specific entitlements. RTI makes entitlement records visible at village, block, and state level. Part of the audience pillars alongside RTI for women, RTI for disability, and RTI for senior citizens. Common problems where RTI helps Individual Forest Rights (IFR) claim under FRA pending. Community Forest Rights (CFR) not recognised despite Gram Sabha resolution. PESA consent for mining / land acquisition bypassed. Pre-matric / Post-matric scholarship for ST not credited. Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) admissions / infrastructure. Minor Forest Produce (MFP) MSP not announced / not paid. TSP funds diverted from tribal purposes. Scheduled Tribe caste / validity certificate pending. RTI recipes for ST citizens Forest Rights Act (FRA, 2006) Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC) register — claims received, recommendations, pending. District Level Committee (DLC) minutes — approvals, rejections, reasoning. Gram Sabha resolutions on IFR / CFR — certified copies. Forest Department NOC or denial — with grounds. Titles issued under Section 3 — beneficiary list (anonymised). PESA, 1996 (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas) Consent letters of Gram Sabha for mining / land / other matters. Schedule-V area notification covering the panchayat. Tribe-specific reservation in Panchayat — rotation roster. Fifth Schedule governance — Tribes Advisory Council minutes. Welfare schemes Pre-matric scholarship — state welfare / MoTA record, sanction order. Post-matric scholarship — institution-level verification, DBT UTR. National Fellowship for ST — UGC CPIO. Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) — vacancy, admission merit-list, infrastructure audit. Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (TRIFED) — beneficiary SHG list, procurement records. PM-JANMAN (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) — habitation coverage, scheme convergence. Economic Minor Forest Produce MSP — state notification, procurement records, payment to primary collectors. Tribal-area developmental works (MPLADS / MLALADS) — utilisation. TSP allocation and utilisation — finance department record. Health and nutrition Sickle-cell / SCA schemes — screening-camp records. Anganwadi / ICDS in tribal blocks — SNP issuance. Mobile medical units — visit-log and medicine supply. Sample RTI — for FRA IFR pending [sample application] Legal framework Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA). Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA). Constitution of India — Fifth Schedule (central India tribes), Sixth Schedule (North-East). Tribal Sub-Plan guidelines, Ministry"},{"s":"rti-for-ujjwala-connection","t":"Ujjwala Connection Rejected? RTI to Oil Marketing Company","d":"PMUY (Ujjwala","u":"/rti-for-ujjwala-connection","x":"Ujjwala Connection Rejected? RTI to Oil Marketing Company In one line. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) gives free LPG connections to BPL / eligible women. When an application is rejected or first-refill subsidies fail, RTI to the Oil Marketing Company and the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas extracts the eligibility-check record and release order. Part of Pillar 4 — RTI for Money, Schemes & Subsidies . What is the problem Application rejected citing \"duplicate household\" or \"not BPL\". Connection released but stove / deposit not issued. First-refill subsidy not credited despite refill taken. Ujjwala 2.0 migrant worker application stuck — ration-card alternative not accepted. Distributor demanding cash for \"free\" connection. When to use RTI Rejection without written reasoning. >60 days since application, no update. First-refill subsidy missing 30+ days after delivery. Distributor misconduct (cash demands, refusal to install stove). What you can ask Application record in the Ujjwala database. SECC-2011 data used for BPL verification (or alternative proof under Ujjwala 2.0). Rejection ground, if any, with officer signature. Distributor's KYC log. Stove + first-refill issue log. First-refill subsidy transaction ID. Complaint-register entries against the distributor. Step-by-step RTI filing OMC Area Office (IndianOil / BPCL / HPCL) — connection operations. Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas via ''rtionline.gov.in'' — scheme-level. District Collectorate if a ration-card / alternative-proof case. Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Application stage-wise status. Eligibility verification record. Rejection ground in writing. Distributor KYC log. Stove + first-refill register. First-refill subsidy UTR. Complaints against distributor. 1906 grievance log. Release ETA. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 Distributor + OMC records pulled; many rejected applications are reopened. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal + district-level escalation. Common mistakes Filing only at the Ministry — operational custody is at the OMC Area Office. Not citing the application reference / distributor code. Asking rhetorical \"why rejected\" — ask for the eligibility record and the written ground . Ignoring the alternative-proof route under Ujjwala 2.0 (ration card + Aadhaar suffices for migrants). Pro tips Aanganwadi / ASHA referrals strengthen the eligibility case; cite if applicable. Parallel 1906 / MyLPG grievance generates a docket usable in RTI. For distributor misconduct , copy to the District Magistrate — OMCs act fast under DM pressure. Photograph of the stove delivery register on delivery day is the cleanest evidence. FAQs Q1."},{"s":"rti-for-upsc-ssc-recruitment","t":"UPSC / SSC Recruitment Queries? RTI for Cut-offs, Marks & Answer Keys","d":"Your UPSC / SSC result, cut-off, or selection process feels off? File RTI to extract answer-keys, scaled marks, category-wise cut-offs, and scoresheet with a copy-ready template.","u":"/rti-for-upsc-ssc-recruitment","x":"UPSC / SSC Recruitment Queries? RTI for Cut-offs, Marks & Answer Keys In one line. UPSC and SSC are public authorities under Section 2(h). While Section 8(1)(e) protects trust-based evaluation content, scored marks, answer keys, cut-offs, and category-wise breakups are disclosable — confirmed across CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011) 8 SCC 497 and multiple CIC orders. Part of Pillar 3 — RTI for Students & Youth . What is the problem Scorecard shows marks but no breakup across sections / papers. Category-wise cut-off not published. Answer key disputed — provisional vs final. Interview / Personality Test marks not explained. Scaling / normalisation used — formula not clarified. Result discrepancy between OMR response sheet and score. When to use RTI Marks or rank seem inconsistent with the answer key. Category-wise cut-off not in the official result PDF. Missed cut-off by small margin — want revaluation basis. Interview marks variance unexplained. What you can ask Final answer key for your paper / shift. Your scored marks — section-wise / paper-wise. Normalisation / scaling formula used. Category-wise cut-off (UR, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwBD). Personality Test / Interview marks breakup. Number of vacancies and reservation roster. Rank allotted at each stage. Step-by-step RTI filing UPSC → CPIO, Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, New Delhi; via ''rtionline.gov.in''. SSC → CPIO, Staff Selection Commission, CGO Complex, New Delhi; via ''rtionline.gov.in''. SSC Regional Offices → for regional exams. Rs. 10 fee; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Final answer key. Section-wise marks. Scaling formula. Category-wise cut-offs. Vacancies + reservation roster. Interview marks. Rank at each stage. Disqualification ground. OMR response sheet. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 Record pulled; many marks-discrepancy cases resolved at PIO stage. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Day 30+ First Appeal + CAT / High Court if selection process is challenged. Common mistakes Asking for \"model answers / examiner notes\" — protected under §8(1)(e) / §8(1)(g). Not citing the Aditya Bandopadhyay precedent when PIO refuses scored-marks. Applying too late — rank-list often expires in 6-12 months. Expecting to see other candidates' data — that is third-party under §11. Case law anchors CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011) 8 SCC 497 — scored marks and evaluated answer scripts are disclosable. Kerala PSC v. State Information Commission (Kerala HC, 2011) — category-wise cut-offs are public. Institute of Chartered Accountants v. Shaunak Satya (2011) 8 SCC 781"},{"s":"rti-for-voter-id-delay","t":"Voter ID Not Received or Rejected? How to File RTI to Track Application Status","d":"Voter ID (EPIC","u":"/rti-for-voter-id-delay","x":"Voter ID Not Received or Rejected? How to File RTI to Track Application Status In one line. When your EPIC (Electoral Photo Identity Card) is delayed beyond 30 days, your Form 6 application shows \"Under BLO Verification\" for months, or your name is missing from the electoral roll a month before polling, an RTI filed with the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of your constituency extracts the file status, the Booth Level Officer's (BLO) report, and the exact reason for non-issuance. What that means in practice. You stop trying to guess what is blocking your application. The Election Commission must put in writing where your file is and why it has not moved. BLO visits are logged in a register — RTI can force that register into the open. Did you know? Every BLO (Booth Level Officer) is required to maintain a house-visit register under ECI's Handbook for BLO, 2023. The register is a public record . An RTI asking for entries specific to your house address is disclosable under Section 8 exceptions — and it is the single fastest way to catch a BLO who filed a false \"address not found\" report. Common voter ID issues Form 6 submitted, EPIC never received. Most common. File gets stuck at BLO verification, AERO sign-off, or at the EPIC-printing vendor. Application marked \"Rejected\" — reason not specified. NVSP / Voter Helpline app just shows \"Rejected\". Name dropped from electoral roll. Happens silently during annual summary revisions or SIR (Special Intensive Revision). The resident realises only during elections. Address / photo / DoB correction (Form 8) pending. BLOs sometimes treat Form 8 as low priority. Duplicate detection. Application flagged because the system matched a similar EPIC in another AC. Objection under Form 7. A neighbour or political party worker has filed an objection against your inclusion. Role of the Election Commission and ERO Unlike UIDAI, the Election Commission of India (ECI) does not process voter IDs centrally. Each Assembly Constituency (AC) has an Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) , usually the SDM or Tehsildar. Below him are AEROs (Assistant EROs), and below them are BLOs — typically government school teachers or anganwadi workers, one per ~1,000 electors. Your RTI must therefore go to the ERO of your AC — not to ECI in Delhi, which will only redirect the request and lose 10 days. Find your AC and ERO at ''voters.eci.gov.in'' → Know Your ERO."},{"s":"rti-for-water-supply-quality","t":"Water Supply Quality Concerns? RTI to Municipal Water Board","d":"Concerned about drinking-water quality or supply in your area? File RTI to the Water Board / Municipal Corporation to obtain test reports, source data, and officer accountability.","u":"/rti-for-water-supply-quality","x":"Water Supply Quality Concerns? RTI to Municipal Water Board In one line. Municipal water supply and water-quality testing records are public authority records under Section 4 of the RTI Act. RTI surfaces the source-test reports, distribution-system integrity, and corrective action on complaints. Part of Pillar 2 — RTI for Community & Society . Related: Environment & pollution RTI. What is the problem Visibly contaminated water — silt, colour, smell. Supply cut-off / low pressure for extended period. Suspected bacterial contamination — diarrhoea cluster in area. Chlorine / TDS / pH parameters outside BIS IS 10500 standards. Pipeline leakage / sewage cross-contamination. Water-tanker billing disputes. When to use RTI Water colour / odour repeatedly bad. Health issues clustered in neighbourhood. Board has not responded to complaints via 24x7 helpline. You want to know the source-quality test results. What you can ask Source-water test reports (river / reservoir / borewell) for last 12 months. Distribution-network test reports for your ward. BIS IS 10500 parameter compliance. Chlorination schedule + logs. Complaint register entries for your locality. Officer responsible for water-quality monitoring in your ward. Corrective actions taken on past contamination events. Inspection reports by the State Pollution Control Board (for source water). Step-by-step RTI filing Municipal Corporation → Water Board / Water Supply Department via state RTI portal. Jal Board (Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai) → their dedicated RTI portal. Village water supply (Jal Jeevan Mission) → BDO + State Water Mission. Rs. 10 fee. Sample RTI application [sample application] 10 RTI questions Source-water test reports. Distribution-network tests. Chlorination log. Complaint register entries. Ward-level officer contact. Action against treatment plant. Pollution Board inspection. Policy-compliance report. Emergency response invocation. FAA contact. What happens next Day 0–10 RTI routed. Day 10–25 Water Board pulls test reports; corrective action often accelerated. Day 30 Reply mandatory. Common mistakes Generic \"why is water bad?\" — ask for the test reports. Not citing ward / zone. Filing at state HQ when municipality is custodian. Skipping Pollution Board cross-reference. Pro tips Group filing — 5 RWA-members filing simultaneously signals area concern. Time-stamped water samples (with independent lab test if possible) strengthen the case. For outbreak clusters , copy to the CMO + state Health Department. For tanker disputes , ask for billing-audit trails. FAQs Q1. What is BIS IS 10500? \\\\ The Indian Standard for Drinking Water Quality. Parameters: TDS, pH, turbidity, chloride, coliform, etc. Mandatory for public water supply. Q2. Can"},{"s":"rti-for-women","t":"RTI for Women — Safety, Schemes, and Rights","d":"RTI recipes for women — safety, domestic violence, FIR escalation, Sakhi / One Stop Centre, scholarships, Beti Bachao schemes, and workplace harassment. Starter templates and pillar links inside.","u":"/rti-for-women","x":"RTI for Women — Safety, Schemes, and Rights In one line. Women's safety, welfare, and dignity are backed by multiple statutes — PWDV Act 2005, Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2013, Dowry Prohibition Act 1961, plus schemes like Sakhi (One Stop Centre) , Mahila Shakti Kendra , Beti Bachao Beti Padhao . When frontline systems stall, RTI extracts the records that make the remedy visible. Part of the audience pillars alongside RTI for disability, RTI for senior citizens, and RTI for tribal citizens. Common problems where RTI helps FIR under Section 498A / 354 / 376 BNS not registered — file RTI to the police for Daily Diary and SHO's written decision. Protection Officer under PWDV Act not appointed / inaccessible. Sakhi / One Stop Centre (OSC) at district level — services, staffing, grievance log. Women's helpline (181) call-log and referral actions. Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under POSH 2013 — constitution and disposal record. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao fund utilisation and convergence records. Ujjwala / SHG / Mahila E-Haat — scheme-specific escalation. RTI recipes for women Police and criminal-justice track FIR not registered — Daily Diary copy + SHO's written reasoning per Lalita Kumari . Charge-sheet / Final-report status under Section 173 BNSS — ask the CPIO, Office of the Commissioner of Police. Pink PCR / All-women police-station staffing — public authority record. Protection Officer and Sakhi PWDV Act Protection Officer — posting notifications, residential addresses (district-level), complaint log. Sakhi One Stop Centre — monthly Management Information System (MIS), case-status log, counsellor / police / medical / legal assistance entries. Workplace harassment (POSH 2013) ICC constitution — members, external expert, employer notification. Annual ICC Report — mandatory under Section 21; disclosable for public-sector and substantial-financed private employers. Local Committee (LC) at district level — disposal log and Action Taken Report. Welfare schemes PM-KISAN and PMAY for women beneficiaries. Ujjwala (PMUY) — connection and subsidy record. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao — district action plan, fund release, convergence. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana — account-opening record at post office / bank. Janani Suraksha Yojana / Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana — maternity-benefit release. Education and scholarships Scholarship not credited — NSP / state welfare department. Girls hostels — fee breakdown and safety records. Sample RTI — for an ignored domestic-violence complaint [sample application] Legal framework Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 — Protection Officers, Service Providers, DIR. Sexual Harassment of"},{"s":"rti-mastery","t":"Pillar 5 — RTI Mastery (Legal + Process)","d":"Pillar hub — master the Right to Information Act, 2005. From the Act's text to appeal strategy, from drafting etiquette to exemptions — the definitive reading map for serious RTI users.","u":"/rti-mastery","x":"Pillar 5 — RTI Mastery (Legal + Process) In one line. This is the long-form reading list for the citizen, the activist, the journalist, the researcher who wants to move from occasional filer to serious practitioner — the Act, the Rules, the exemptions, the drafting, the appeals, the case law. What you'll find. The Act — full text with section-wise notes. The process — filing, replying, appealing. The exemptions — Section 8, Section 9, Section 24. The Commissions — CIC, SICs, their orders. The etiquette — responsible use, drafting discipline. Did you know? The RTI Act is a compact law — only 31 sections. The first 6 set up rights; the next 15 set up procedures; the last 10 set up the Commissions. Mastering 31 sections takes a weekend; applying them takes a lifetime. Start here RTI for beginners — everything before your first application. File RTI online — 12-step walk-through. Read the Act The Act — full text. Summary and notes. §1 — Short title. §2 — Definitions — \"information\", \"public authority\", \"record\". §4 — Obligations of public authorities — proactive disclosure. §6 — Request for information. §7 — Disposal of request — the 30-day rule. §8 — Exemptions from disclosure. §11 — Third-party information. §19 — Appeals. §20 — Penalties. All 31 sections are linked on the Act page. Rules RTI Rules, central and state. RTI fees by state. State RTI portals directory. Process and drafting For applicants — drafting primer. Templates library. Sample applications. AI to draft your RTI. RTI query builder. Appeals First Appeal under Section 19(1). Second Appeal before the Information Commission. Central Information Commission. Track your appeal via AI. Exemptions and limits Grounds of rejection under Section 8. Section 8(1)(j) — personal info. DPDP Rules, 2025 — Section 8(1)(j) amendment. PIO reply guide — post DPDP 2025. PIO-side Guidelines for PIOs. Guidelines for FAAs. Guidelines for public authorities. Case law Case law library. High Court decisions. CIC orders. Landmark rulings 2021–2026. CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay. Girish Deshpande v. CIC. K.S. Puttaswamy v. UoI — privacy. Electoral Bonds, ADR 2024. Etiquette Responsible use of RTI. RTI vs grievance portals. RTI vs complaint — which to file. Editorial and developments Blog. Live tracker. Decade of change, 2015–2025. A learning path — six weekends W1 — Read the Act. Full text. W2 — File one practice RTI on a known personal file (your own PF, passport). Observe"},{"s":"rti-query-builder","t":"RTI Query Builder — drafting templates for common subjects","d":"Copy-paste RTI query templates for the most-asked subjects — service records, tenders, file notings, vigilance complaints, policy files. Tuned for the post-14 November 2025 DPDP framework.","u":"/rti-query-builder","x":"RTI Query Builder — drafting templates for common subjects Did you know? The single biggest cause of RTI rejections is vague drafting , not statutory bars. The query patterns below are phrased the way Public Information Officers cannot easily refuse — specific record, named file, fixed period, one request per sub-paragraph. In one line. Pick a category, copy the query, paste it into the online filing portal or the first-RTI template. Replace bracketed placeholders with your specifics. What that means in practice. Ask for documents , not explanations. Name the file number , the date , and the period . One request per sub-paragraph . Number them 1, 2, 3. For personal-data matters post-14 November 2025, frame around your own record or plead Section 8(2) public interest up front. Copy-paste drafting templates for the twelve most-filed RTI subjects. Tuned for the current post-14 November 2025 DPDP Rules, 2025 landscape. Each template is written to survive the usual Section 8(1)(j), 8(1)(h), and 7(9) objections. Paste into the Central portal at rtionline.gov.in or into the first-RTI template for an offline filing. How to use this page Find your subject in the categories below. Copy the numbered query block as-is. Replace anything in [square brackets] with your actual details (file number, date, etc.). Paste into the portal's application text box or the printable first-RTI template. File and wait thirty days. If a category is missing, read Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for the drafting rules that apply to any subject. Service records and personnel 1. Your own service record [sample application] 2. Disciplinary proceeding against you [sample application] Tenders, contracts, and procurement 3. A specific tender [sample application] 4. Payment records under a specific contract [sample application] File notings and policy files 5. File noting on your own matter [sample application] 6. Policy file on a specific decision [sample application] Vigilance and complaints 7. Your own vigilance complaint [sample application] 8. Aggregate vigilance data (no individual names) [sample application] Public works and local bodies 9. A specific public works project [sample application] 10. Local-body works in your area [sample application] Passport, EPF, ration card, pension 11. Your own Central-government claim [sample application] 12. Status and ageing of pending claims [sample application] Formatting checklist Before filing, verify: One request per sub-paragraph , numbered 1, 2, 3. Period confined — no \"last few years\"; use exact dates. Named file , not generic \"all files\". Documents"},{"s":"rti-responsible-use","t":"How to Use RTI Responsibly: A Citizen's Guide to Ethical Information Seeking","d":"The Right to Information Act is a citizen's right, not a weapon. Learn to file RTIs that improve governance without harassment — the etiquette, the ethics, and the balance between disclosure and priva","u":"/rti-responsible-use","x":"How to Use RTI Responsibly: A Citizen's Guide to Ethical Information Seeking In one line. The Right to Information Act, 2005, is a tool of democracy. Like every democratic tool, it works best when used with intent, precision, and civility — and with an awareness of the competing rights (privacy, security, commercial confidence) that the same Act carefully balances. What that means in practice. You ask for what you need, not for what you can. You read what you receive, rather than publish it unread. You respect the officer whose name appears on the file. You pursue systemic change, not personal grievance. Did you know? The RTI Act recognises its own limits. Section 7(9) limits what can be asked (disproportionate diversion of resources), Section 8 carves nine exemptions, and Section 11 protects third-party interests. Responsible use starts with reading these provisions. Why responsibility matters A right exercised thoughtlessly weakens itself. The Central and State Information Commissions routinely observe that a small fraction of applicants file bulk, vague, harassing RTIs — which then slows down genuine applications. A responsible citizen: Makes sharper RTIs. Gets faster, fuller replies. Builds long-term trust with the department. Strengthens the right for others. The five pillars of responsible RTI 1. Clarity of purpose Know why you are filing. A grievance? A policy question? Research? A civic audit? The right purpose leads to the right questions. 2. Specificity of asks One subject per RTI. A focused, numbered list of questions. Dates, reference numbers, locations. 3. Respect for privacy Do not ask for the personal details of third parties unless there is an overriding public interest. Section 8(1)(j), strengthened by the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, now explicitly protects third-party personal data. 4. Engagement before escalation Read the first reply carefully. Give the PIO a chance to correct errors. First Appeal is free — use it before going to the press. 5. Sharing of outcomes Share what you learn — with the community, the ward, the RWA, the gram sabha. Transparency travels. What responsible RTI looks like — a quick checklist Yes, ask for : budget, tender, contractor, measurement, completion certificate, duty roster, inspection, audit, beneficiary list (aggregated), policy file. Ask with restraint : individual pay slips, performance appraisals, promotion disputes. Do not ask for : third-party personal data (address, Aadhaar, phone, medical records), ongoing criminal investigation material, pre-decisional cabinet notes. Five behaviours to cultivate Draft, don't"},{"s":"rti-state-wise-analysis-2026","t":"RTI in India 2026: State-wise Data on Applications, Rejections, Speed & Appeals","d":"Flagship state-wise analysis of RTI in India 2026: which state files most applications, which SIC is fastest or slowest, rejection trends, appeals and the 4.05-lakh-case backlog. Based on CIC and SNS ","u":"/rti-state-wise-analysis-2026","x":"RTI in India 2026: State-wise Data on Applications, Rejections, Speed & Appeals In one line. The Right to Information Act, 2005, is the most federal of India's transparency laws — every state runs its own Information Commission, its own filing portal, and its own pendency. This flagship analysis maps the state-level picture in 2026: who files, who rejects, who is fastest, and where 4.05 lakh appeals lie pending. Principal data sources. Central Information Commission (CIC) Annual Reports, 2021–22 and 2024–25. Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS) Report Card on the Performance of Information Commissions in India — 2022–23 and 2023–24 editions. Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) independent analyses. Mainstream media reports citing CIC / SIC primary data. Readers are advised to consult the SNS Report Card PDF and each SIC's annual report for the primary source. Did you know? India has 29 Information Commissions — one Central (CIC) and 28 state-level (SICs). As of 30 June 2024, 4,05,509 RTI appeals and complaints were pending across the 29 Commissions combined — up from 3.21 lakh a year earlier, a 26% year-on-year rise. Introduction The RTI Act, 2005 is a single statute — but its implementation is 29 systems, one Central and 28 state. Each system receives applications, denies some, resolves others, and accumulates its own backlog. The quality of citizen experience varies sharply between states. State-level analysis matters to three audiences: Citizens — know where your RTI is most likely to get a timely answer and what the expected wait is. Activists and researchers — identify which states need structural reform. Policymakers — use the gaps as a roadmap. This article pulls together the most recent verified data to answer the core questions: which state files most, which is fastest, which rejects most, where appeals pile up, and where the backlog has reached crisis proportions. Key highlights — executive summary Highest RTI volume state (registered appeals + complaints, 2023–24): Maharashtra — 57,754 . Fastest SIC (southern states, latest available 2022 data): Andhra Pradesh — 4 months to dispose. Slowest SIC (projected disposal time, 2023–24): West Bengal — 24 years 1 month . State with highest backlog (June 2024): Maharashtra — ~1,10,000 appeals . Largest penalty imposed (2023–24): Uttar Pradesh — Rs. 4.85 crore . Currently defunct SICs (as of 2024): Jharkhand, Telangana, Goa, Tripura. SICs without a Chief (as of 2024): Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Odisha. National rejection rate at central level (2024–25):"},{"s":"rti-success-stories","t":"How RTI Has Helped Improve Society: Real-Life Success Stories from India","d":"From the Commonwealth Games to village pensions — real RTI success stories that changed Indian lives. Ten case studies with what they asked, what they found and what it teaches every citizen.","u":"/rti-success-stories","x":"How RTI Has Helped Improve Society: Real-Life Success Stories from India In one line. Since the Right to Information Act came into force on 12 October 2005, millions of RTIs have been filed — and hundreds of these have produced visible public good: recovered pensions, clean canals, verified beneficiary lists, exposed over-invoicing, corrected records. A small selection is told below. What that means in practice. Each story shows the grammar of good RTI use. Each story ends with a practical takeaway for you. None of these citizens were lawyers. They were ordinary people, patient and polite. Did you know? India has the world's most accessed right-to-information system. The RTI portal at ''rtionline.gov.in'' alone processes more than 45 lakh applications a year — Rs. 4.5 crore in fees, 30-day replies, and 1.4 crore pages produced annually. Every major scheme scandal since 2006 was initially surfaced by an RTI application. Story 1 — Pension restored to a 78-year-old widow, Jharkhand A retired school-teacher's widow in Palamu district stopped receiving her family pension. The treasury said \"records transferred\", the block office said \"not received\". For eight months she made round trips without a rupee. Her grandson, 22, filed one RTI to the District Treasury Officer asking for the PPO number, the sanction order, and the reason for non-disbursement. The reply came on Day 26: the Beneficiary Identification Number had a typographical error. Corrected in three days. Arrears of Rs. 48,000 released the same week. Takeaway. Always quote the PPO number and the bank account (last 4 digits). Story 2 — School toilets built in 120 villages, Bihar A young engineer in Muzaffarpur used Section 4(1)(b) to request the Samagra Shiksha fund release for 120 government primary schools in his block. Reply revealed 42 schools had received the toilet grant but not built. He tabled the RTI reply at the Gram Sabhas. Within six months 38 of 42 toilets were built, with photographs displayed on the school notice board. Takeaway. RTI replies are most powerful when read in public — Gram Sabha, RWA, PTA. Story 3 — Road resurfaced after 14 months, Pune A citizen used the tender tile photograph as the anchor of an RTI on an abandoned road contract. The municipal corporation's CPIO replied with the running-bill history. The contractor had been paid 80% but done 40%. A First Appeal plus press cutting later, the commissioner ordered penalty invocation. The contractor resumed,"},{"s":"rti-to-improve-local-infrastructure","t":"How RTI Can Help Improve Roads, Parks, and Civic Facilities in Your Area","d":"Broken roads, dead streetlights, silted drains? Use RTI to the municipal body or panchayat to get action on your ward's infrastructure. Step-by-step process and copy-ready application inside.","u":"/rti-to-improve-local-infrastructure","x":"How RTI Can Help Improve Roads, Parks, and Civic Facilities in Your Area In one line. When a road goes unrepaired for a year, a park lies abandoned, a streetlight stays dark, a drain chokes every monsoon — a well-drafted RTI converts a casual complaint into a dated, numbered file with an officer's name on it, and things start to move. What that means in practice. You skip the WhatsApp channels and get a signed reply from the municipal engineer. The officer knows his response is on file, under the RTI Act. The complaint is no longer anonymous — it is a statutory request you can escalate. Did you know? Municipal corporations, municipalities, Nagar Panchayats, Gram Panchayats, and district development authorities are all \"public authorities\" under Section 2(h)(d) of the RTI Act. Their engineers, contractors, and budgets are all on record — and that record is your right. What is the problem? Civic infrastructure touches your life more directly than any other wing of government. A pothole-free road, a functioning streetlight, a green park, a stormwater drain that does not overflow — these small facilities decide whether the neighbourhood is a good place to live. And yet, day-to-day complaints go unanswered. The reason is simple: grievance systems have no legal teeth . Nobody loses anything if your complaint is parked. RTI changes that calculus. When should you use RTI for civic issues? A road promised by the ward councillor has not been built six months after the sanction. Streetlights on a stretch have been dead for more than 30 days. A drain chokes every monsoon; the municipality keeps desilting \"on paper\". A park sanctioned five years ago is still a vacant plot. A water supply line was laid but water never came. Garbage collection skips your street every week. A slum improvement fund was released but the ward never saw the work. A speed breaker / footpath / zebra crossing was proposed and forgotten. What information can you ask under RTI? List of sanctioned works in your ward during a given financial year. Contractor and tender ID for each work. Running bills released with dates. Maintenance contract for streetlights / garbage / water. Ward committee minutes and the last three meetings' agendas. Engineer-in-charge's name, posting, and mobile number. Number of complaints received on the citizen portal / grievance register and their disposal. Penalty for non-performance invoked on any contractor in"},{"s":"rti-to-track-government-spending","t":"How to Use RTI to Track How Government Money is Spent in Your Area","d":"Find out exactly how public money is spent in your ward, village or town. This guide shows — step by step — how to use RTI, 2005 to track budgets, contractors and completion of government works.","u":"/rti-to-track-government-spending","x":"How to Use RTI to Track How Government Money is Spent in Your Area In one line. Every rupee of public money has a paper trail — a sanction, a tender, a contractor, a bill, an inspection report. The Right to Information Act, 2005, is the one tool that lets an ordinary citizen pull that trail out of the government's file and into the public domain, for Rs. 10 in 30 days. What that means in practice. You see what was sanctioned, what was actually spent, and what was completed. You get the contractor's name, the tender ID, and the measurement book entries. Your village or ward gets a written, signed record — admissible before any audit, gram sabha, or court. Did you know? Under Section 4(1)(b)(xi) and 4(1)(b)(xii) of the RTI Act, every public authority must proactively publish its budget, project sanctions, and list of beneficiaries. If the information is already supposed to be published, your RTI simply asks for what the authority owed you in the first place. Why transparency in public spending matters A village road, a park bench, a school classroom, a streetlight pole — each is paid for by money collected from taxes, cesses, and Central / State transfers. When that money is spent well, the community grows. When it leaks, the community is poorer — quietly, invisibly. Transparency of spending does three things at once: Aligns intent and outcome. The same scheme on paper and on the ground. Rewards good officers. An honest PWD engineer can point to an RTI reply and say \"here is proof of delivery\". Lowers the cost of good governance. Audits become cheaper; Comptroller & Auditor General needs less to chase. RTI is not an attack on government. It is the quiet contract between citizen and state. What information you can ask under RTI — about public spending Sanctions: the administrative approval order, the technical sanction, the financial sanction, and the release of funds. Tenders: the NIT (notice inviting tenders), the estimated cost, the bidders, the L1 evaluation, the letter of award. Contracts: the signed agreement, the bill of quantities (BoQ), the schedule of rates. Execution: measurement book (MB) entries, running bills (RA bills), muster rolls (labour register), inspection reports. Completion: final bill, completion certificate, defects liability period. Third-party reports: quality tests by the state technical university, engineer-in-chief's audit. Beneficiary lists: for PMAY, MNREGA, scholarship, subsidy — under Section 4(1)(b)(xii)."},{"s":"rti-to-track-public-projects","t":"How to Use RTI to Track Progress of Government Projects in Your Area","d":"Track roads, bridges, metro, housing or irrigation projects in your area via RTI. Get tender details, contractor accountability, completion status and inspection reports in 30 days.","u":"/rti-to-track-public-projects","x":"How to Use RTI to Track Progress of Government Projects in Your Area In one line. Every public project — a national highway, a bypass, a metro line, a housing colony, an irrigation canal — has a sanction, a contract, a timeline, and an inspection regime. RTI makes each visible to the citizen, in 30 days, for Rs. 10. What that means in practice. A road that was supposed to open last year: you find out where it is actually stuck. A housing project: you confirm allotments matched the original list. An irrigation canal: you get the test reports for the earthwork quality. Did you know? The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) runs a Central Monitoring System called Online Computerised Monitoring System (OCMS) for every project costing over Rs. 150 crore. Its quarterly reports are public — RTI extracts the monthly working detail behind the quarterly summary. Why project tracking matters Public projects have a peculiar rhythm. They are announced at budget time, sanctioned six months later, tendered another six months later, and executed over two to five years. Between announcement and ribbon cutting, much can change — scope creep, cost overruns, design changes, contractor defaults. When nobody watches, small delays become big ones. When citizens watch, departments adjust. RTI gives the citizen a proper lens. What projects can be tracked National / state highway, bypass, flyover, underpass. Metro rail, suburban rail, station modernisation. Airport terminal expansion, port, inland waterway. PMAY-Urban / PMAY-Gramin housing projects. Irrigation canal, dam, minor irrigation tank. Smart City mission works. AMRUT water & sewerage works. Rural water supply (Jal Jeevan Mission). Electricity sub-station, transmission line. What information can you ask? Detailed Project Report (DPR). Administrative approval and financial sanction. Tender / NIT / bid documents. Contract agreement, BoQ, schedule of rates. Programme of Works / Milestones. Monthly progress reports. Measurement book extracts. Quality-assurance reports. Payment history (running bills). Penalty clauses invoked. Extension of time orders. Safety audit reports. Step-by-step filing Online NHAI, MoRTH, Metro (DMRC / BMRCL etc.), Ministry of Housing: ''rtionline.gov.in''. State PWD, State Housing Board, MPPHED, MPHB, KPWD, UPPWD: state RTI portal. Panchayat-level projects: state Panchayati Raj / Rural Development portal. Offline Address: PIO, Office of the [Chief Engineer / Project Director / Member-Technical] , [Division / Circle / Zone]. Rs. 10 IPO; BPL free. Sample RTI application [sample application] Ten powerful project-tracking RTI questions DPR executive summary. Administrative / technical"},{"s":"rti-to-understand-government-decisions","t":"How RTI Helps Citizens Understand Government Policies and Decisions","d":"Every government decision has a file, a note, and a decision-maker. RTI, 2005 lets an Indian citizen read those files — policy decisions, circulars, and reasoned orders. A thought-leadership guide to ","u":"/rti-to-understand-government-decisions","x":"How RTI Helps Citizens Understand Government Policies and Decisions In one line. Every policy — an income-tax notification, a subsidy withdrawn, a highway diverted, a syllabus changed — is preceded by a file. The file carries opinions, draft notes, the finance ministry's concurrence, and the final decision. RTI lets an Indian citizen read that file, with rare exceptions. What that means in practice. You stop reading a policy second-hand. You read the file that produced it. You understand the trade-offs the government weighed. You become an informed citizen — neither cynical nor blindly trusting. Did you know? The landmark judgment in Central Board of Secondary Education v. Aditya Bandopadhyay [(2011) 8 SCC 497] held that file notings and inter-departmental correspondence are \"information\" under Section 2(f) of the Act. They are disclosable — with limited exceptions under Section 8. Why policy transparency matters A democracy is not just a vote on polling day. Between one election and the next, thousands of decisions shape lives — petrol prices, import duties, school-book lists, railway fare revisions, city master plans. For every such decision, there is a paper trail. Reading that trail: Reduces polarisation. You see the data, not just the tweet. Makes you a better voter. Makes you a better civil society participant. Builds trust between government and governed. RTI is the tool for that reading. What kind of decisions can RTI illuminate? Policy decisions — a new subsidy scheme, a discontinued scholarship, a GST-rate change. Regulatory decisions — a new BIS standard, a pharmacy pricing order. Administrative decisions — a transfer of officers, a creation of a new wing. Planning decisions — a master plan, a zoning change. Clearance decisions — an Environmental Clearance, a Telecom spectrum allocation. What information can be asked under RTI The entire file that led to a decision. File notings — the chain of opinions recorded by joint secretary, director, under secretary, section officer. Draft notes prepared by the concerned wing. Consultation notes with other departments / ministries. Legal opinions obtained, unless privileged. Stakeholder feedback received during public consultation. Cabinet Note — but with Section 8(1)(i) restriction; only post-decisional disclosable. Implementation reports and monitoring data. When to use RTI for policy information A policy changed and you want to know the evidence base. A scheme was withdrawn and you want the stated reasons. A committee report was commissioned and never published. A consultation was announced and the"},{"s":"rti-vs-complaint","t":"RTI vs Complaint: When to Use RTI and When Not To","d":"When to file an RTI in India and when to file a complaint instead. Real scenarios, a decision table, and the one test that saves months of wasted effort.","u":"/rti-vs-complaint","x":"RTI vs Complaint: When to Use RTI and When Not To Did you know? An RTI application is not a grievance. It does not order action. It only asks for information already on record. The Central Information Commission dismissed thousands of RTIs in 2024 because applicants used them to complain about potholes, pension delays, or electricity bills, instead of requesting the file notings and documents that would prove the failure. In one line: File an RTI when you need a document or record. File a complaint when you need action. An RTI will not fix a problem. It will only tell you what the government has already decided, written, or recorded about your problem. The one test that decides Ask yourself one question before drafting. > Am I asking for a document, or am I asking for action? If the answer is a document (file noting, order, inspection report, complaint status, list, budget), use RTI under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005. If the answer is action (repair a road, sanction a pension, transfer an officer, pay arrears), file a complaint through the department, the public-grievance portal, or the ombudsman for that sector. Using the wrong tool wastes 30 days under the RTI Act and another 45 days on first appeal. That is 75 days lost before the real work begins. Decision table: RTI or complaint? ^ Your problem ^ Tool ^ Where to send it ^ You want the inspection report of a school RTI School's Central or State Public Information Officer The road outside your house has potholes Complaint Municipal corporation helpline or CPGRAMS You want the file noting behind a tender award RTI PIO of the awarding authority Your pension has been stopped Complaint first CPAO, or PF office, or the pensioner's bank You want to know why your pension was stopped (the reason) RTI PIO of the pension-sanctioning authority An officer asked for a bribe Complaint CVC, state anti-corruption bureau, or the police You want the number of bribery complaints received last year RTI PIO of the CVC or the department Your EPF claim is delayed Complaint first EPFiGMS grievance portal You want the status of your EPF claim file RTI PIO of the EPFO regional office Your MP or MLA has not answered your letter Reminder, not RTI Write again to the office You want to know how many letters your MLA"},{"s":"rti-vs-grievance-portals","t":"RTI vs शिकायत पोर्टल: When Should You Use Which?","d":"CPGRAMS, consumer helplines, banking ombudsman, IRDA, cyber-crime portals — each has its niche. So does RTI. This guide walks through when to file RTI and when to file a grievance — side by side.","u":"/rti-vs-grievance-portals","x":"RTI vs शिकायत पोर्टल: When Should You Use Which? In one line. A grievance portal is a complaint mechanism . RTI is a statutory information right . They are complementary, not substitutes. The wise citizen knows when to file which — and often, both. What that means in practice. A simple service failure → grievance portal first. A grievance ignored, or a systemic pattern → RTI. A policy question → RTI, always. An emergency (life / liberty) → RTI under the 48-hour proviso. Did you know? CPGRAMS (''pgportal.gov.in'') processes nearly 1.5 crore grievances a year , but it has no statutory backing — only Cabinet Secretariat guidelines. RTI processes a third as many applications but carries a 30-day statutory deadline and personal penalty on the officer for default. The landscape — grievance portals in India CPGRAMS — central + state grievances; ''pgportal.gov.in''. Consumer Helpline — 1915; ''consumerhelpline.gov.in''. Banking Ombudsman / RBI-IS — ''cms.rbi.org.in''. IRDAI Bima Bharosa — for insurance; ''bimabharosa.irdai.gov.in''. SEBI SCORES — capital markets; ''scores.sebi.gov.in''. TRAI DND / Complaint — telecom; ''consumers.trai.gov.in''. Cyber Crime Portal — ''cybercrime.gov.in''. CPC (Income Tax) — refund & demand grievances; ''incometax.gov.in''. e-Shram & Labour — ''eshram.gov.in'' / labour commissioner. National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission — ''ncdrc.nic.in''. Side-by-side comparison Feature Grievance portal RTI Statutory backing Executive / guidelines RTI Act, 2005 (law) Deadline Advisory (30 days typical) 30 days statutory Officer penalty for default None Rs. 250 / day up to Rs. 25,000 Reply format No fixed format Written reply mandatory Appeal Internal department FAA + CIC / SIC Cost Free Rs. 10 (BPL free) Purpose Fix a specific service failure Get information on record Acceptable language Mostly English / Hindi Official language of area Ideal for A missed cylinder, bad food A systemic gap, policy question When to file a grievance (not RTI) Your cylinder was not delivered. Your KYC re-verification blocked your bank account. Insurance claim was unfairly reduced. Mobile number ported without consent. Ration quota was short this month. Train refund not received. IRCTC booking failure without refund. OTT-payment charged without consent (RBI). These are service failures with clear remedies. The relevant portal is quicker. When to file RTI (not grievance) You want the policy document , not just the service fix. You want the file-notings behind a decision. You want the officer name accountable for a failure. You want the grievance resolution history of an office. You want the tender /"},{"s":"rtionline-gov-in","t":"rtionline.gov.in — the Central Government's RTI portal","d":"A screen-by-screen guide to rtionline.gov.in, the Central Government's official RTI portal. Registration, application, payment, status tracking, and first-appeal filing.","u":"/rtionline-gov-in","x":"rtionline.gov.in — the Central Government's RTI portal Did you know? The Central portal issues a registration number in the format DOPTR/E/2026/XXXXX . Save it — it is the only key the portal accepts for status checks, appeals, and complaints. A plain-language, screen-by-screen walk-through of rtionline.gov.in , the Central Government's Right to Information portal maintained by the Department of Personnel and Training (%%DoPT%%) through the National Informatics Centre. Use this page when you want to understand the portal itself. For the broader filing process, fees, drafting, and Hindi templates, see How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 Step-by-Step. In one line. rtionline.gov.in is the Central Government's official RTI portal for filing applications to Ministries and Departments of the Union Government. Rs 10 fee, 30-day reply, online appeals, free registration. What that means in practice. Works only for Central Government public authorities — not State Governments or local bodies. Fee is paid online via UPI, card, or netbanking . You get a registration number that tracks the application through the PIO, the First Appellate Authority, and if needed the Central Information Commission. Each State has its own portal (or requires offline filing); see State RTI vs Central RTI. New to RTI? Start with the three most-used guides on this site: How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 Step-by-Step Guide. Why RTI Applications Get Rejected — and How to Avoid It. FAQ — twenty-five most-asked RTI questions. What the portal covers The portal is the front door to the Central Government under the Right to Information Act, 2005. That includes: Ministries (Home, Finance, External Affairs, Education, Defence, etc.). Central Government departments and attached/subordinate offices. Central Public Sector Enterprises that are public authorities under Section 2(h). The President's Secretariat, Vice-President's Secretariat, Prime Minister's Office. Central Information Commission (for its own records). It does not cover: State Governments, including State Secretariats, district collectors, State PSUs. File directly with the State public authority or use the State's RTI portal where one exists. Local bodies (municipal corporations, panchayats, local authorities). File at the local office. The Supreme Court and High Courts. Each court has its own registry-level procedure under rules framed by the Chief Justice. The Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies. Each House has its own PIO notification. Before you start Identify the correct Ministry or Department . If unsure, pick the most proximate one; the Officer transfers under Section 6(3) within five"},{"s":"rules:andhrapradesh","t":"Andhra Pradesh","d":"Andhra Pradesh. Part of the RTI Wiki reference for India's Right to Information Act, 2005.","u":"/rules/andhrapradesh","x":"Andhra Pradesh ---- Currency caveat Rules listed below link to the material currently held on this site. The text may be dated. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or notice are advised to confirm the current rules against the relevant State Government notification on the official Government Gazette portal of the State, or against the Commission's published regulations, as the case may be. Last reviewed on 19 April 2026"},{"s":"rules:andhrapradesh:assembly","t":"Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Rules","d":"Andhra Pradesh. Bihar Legislative Assembly Rules. Andhra Pradesh High Court RTI Rules. Andhra Pradesh RTI Rules.","u":"/rules/andhrapradesh/assembly","x":"Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Rules Related Andhra Pradesh. Bihar Legislative Assembly Rules. Andhra Pradesh High Court RTI Rules. Andhra Pradesh RTI Rules. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 These Rules may be called the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Secretariat Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and cost) Rules, 2006. Application Fees Application fees for providing information Application fee of rupees ten by way of cash against proper receipt or by Demand Draft or Banker's Cheque payable to the Drawing and Disbursing Officer, Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Secretariat. For providing information, fee shall be charged at the following rates \\\\ (a) rupees two for each page (in A-4 or A-3 size paper) created or copied, \\\\ (b) actual charge or cost price of a copy in larger size paper, \\\\ (c ) actual cost or price for samples or models, and \\\\ (d) for inspection of records, no fee for the first hour, and a fee of rupees five for each subsequent hour (or fraction thereof). Where access to information is to be provided in printed or electronic format, the fee shall be charged at the following rates:- \\\\ (a) for information provided in diskette or floppy, rupees fifty per diskette or floppy, and \\\\ (b) for information provided in printed form at the price fixed for such publication or rupees two per page of photocopy for extracts from the publication. Sample RTI Application Fee to be charged for providing Information For providing information under Sub-Section (1) of Section 7, the fee shall be charged by way of cash against proper receipt or by Demand or Banker's Cheque payable to he Drawing and Disbursing Officer, Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Secretariat, at the following rates :- A) Priced Material: Publications, printed matter, text, maps, plans, floppies, CDs samples, models or material in any other form, which are priced, the sale price thereof. B) Other than priced material: Material in printed or text form (in A4 or A3 size paper) rupees two per each page per copy; Material in printed or text form in larger than A4 or A3 size, cost of the paper thereof; Maps and Plans - actual cost thereof; Information in Electronic format viz., Floppy, CD, or DVD: rupees fifty for Floppy of 1.44 MB; rupees one Hundred for CD of 700 MB; and rupees Two Hundred for CD (DVD). Samples and models- actual cost thereof; Material to be sent"},{"s":"rules:andhrapradesh:court","t":"Andhra Pradesh High Court RTI Rules","d":"Andhra Pradesh RTI Rules. Andhra Pradesh. Patna High Court RTI Rules. Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Rules.","u":"/rules/andhrapradesh/court","x":"Andhra Pradesh High Court RTI Rules Related Andhra Pradesh RTI Rules. Andhra Pradesh. Patna High Court RTI Rules. Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Rules. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Andhra Pradesh High Court Right to Information Rules, 2005. Rules framed by the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad for the State of Telangana and the State of Andhra Pradesh under the Right to Information Act, 2005 Public Information Officer and First Appellate Authority Public Information Officer Registrar (Judicial), High Court of Andhra Pradesh as the State Public Information Officer Assistant Public Information Officer The Administrative Officers of the Principal District Courts except for the district of Hyderabad, The Administrative Officers of the City Civil Court, the City Small Causes Court and the Metropolitan oSessions Court at Hyderabad, the Chief Ministerial Officers of the Courts presided over by the senior most Judicial Officer at the stations having more than one Court other than the District Head-quaters and the Chief Ministerial Officers of the Courts where there is only one Court at the Station, are designated as State Assistant Public Information Officers. First Appellate Authority The Registrar General, High Court of Andhra Pradesh Application Fees Application fees for providing information Any request for obtaining of information shall be accompanied with a fee of Rs 25/- (Rupees Twenty Five only) paid by way of adhesive Court fee stamps, demand draft, Pay Order or Postal Order ((Inserted vide amendment dated 06th July 2013, )) Fee to be charged for providing Information (i) Fee Payable for providing of information except by way of inspection of document or records shall be Rs. 5/- per each page of information (Foolscap Size), or as prescribed by the competent authority from time to time and such fee shall be paid by way of adhesive court fee stamps. (ii) The fee for inspection of documents or records shall be Rs 15/- for each hour or part of an hour and shall be paid by way of adhesive court fee stamp. Procedure regarding inspection of document For the purpose of inspection of documents or records, the applicant shall not cause any hinderance to the office work and shall cooperate with the staff and complete the inspection as soon as possible. The Public Information Officer concerned shall have the right to fix the time and date of the inspection according to administrate convenience and his/her decision shall be final. Information to be"},{"s":"rules:andhrapradesh:state","t":"Andhra Pradesh RTI Rules","d":"Andhra Pradesh High Court RTI Rules. Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Rules. Bihar RTI Rules.","u":"/rules/andhrapradesh/state","x":"Andhra Pradesh RTI Rules Related Andhra Pradesh High Court RTI Rules. Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Rules. Bihar RTI Rules. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Andhra Pradesh Right to Information (Regulation of fee and cost) Rules, 2005 Application Fees Application fees for providing information A request for obtaining information under sub-section (1) of section 6 shall be accompanied by an application fee by way of cash or by demand draft or by bankers’ Cheque payable to the Accounts Officer or any other duly authorized officer of the Public Authority, against proper receipt, at the following rates:- In respect of public authorities at the Village Level-no fee; In respect of public authorities at Mandal Level-Rs.5/- per application In respect of public authorities other than those covered above-Rs.10/- per application; Fee to be charged for providing Information For providing information under sub-section(1) or sub-section (5) of Section 7, a fee shall be charged, by way of cash or demand draft or bankers’ Cheque, payable to the Accounts Officer or any other duly authorized officer of the Public Authority, against proper receipt, at the following rates:- Priced Material:Publications printed matter, text, maps, plans, floppies, CDs, samples, models or material in any other form, which are priced, the sale price thereof; Other than priced material: Material in printed or text form (in A4 or A3 size paper) Rs.2/- per each page per copy; Material in printed or text form in larger than A4 and A3 size paper-actual cost thereof; Maps and Plans-actual cost thereof; Information in Electronic format viz. Floppy, CD or DVD: Rupees fifty for Floppy of 1.44 MB; Rupees one hundred for CD of 700 MB; and Rupees two hundred for CD (DVD) Samples and models-actual cost thereof; for inspection of records, no fee for the first hour; and a fee of Rupees Five for each subsequent hour (or fraction thereof) (( . Read the following:- G.O.Ms.No.454, G.A(I&PR.II) Department, dated 13.10.2005.)) Material to be sent by post-the actual postal charges in addition to the charge payable as per these rules. Appeal Procedures State Information Commission (Appeal Procedure) Rules, 2006 Contents of appeal An appeal to the Commission shall contain the following information, namely:- Ordered List Itemname of the address of the appellant; name and address of the State Public Information Officer against the decision of whom the appeal is preferred. P.T.O particulars of the order including number, if any, against"},{"s":"rules:arunachal-pradesh","t":"Arunachal Pradesh — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Arunachal Pradesh — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/arunachal-pradesh","x":"Arunachal Pradesh — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Arunachal Pradesh. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Arunachal Pradesh Government Gazette or the Arunachal Pradesh State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Arunachal Pradesh State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Arunachal Pradesh. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Arunachal Pradesh. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Arunachal Pradesh. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Arunachal Pradesh has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Arunachal Pradesh are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Arunachal Pradesh Filing is largely offline. Post or hand-deliver a written application to the Public Information Officer of the concerned State department at Itanagar or the district headquarters. For Central Government offices in the State, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section"},{"s":"rules:assam","t":"Assam — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Assam — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/assam","x":"Assam — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Assam. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Assam Government Gazette or the Assam State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Assam State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Assam. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Assam. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Assam. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Assam has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Assam are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Assam State departments accept applications at the PIO's office at Dispur and at district collectorates. Some departments have started accepting applications through the State Government portal. For Central Government offices, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025 and DPDP Act vs RTI — the 2026 position."},{"s":"rules:bihar","t":"Bihar","d":"Bihar. Part of the RTI Wiki reference for India's Right to Information Act, 2005.","u":"/rules/bihar","x":"Bihar ---- Currency caveat Rules listed below link to the material currently held on this site. The text may be dated. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or notice are advised to confirm the current rules against the relevant State Government notification on the official Government Gazette portal of the State, or against the Commission's published regulations, as the case may be. Last reviewed on 19 April 2026"},{"s":"rules:bihar:assembly","t":"Bihar Legislative Assembly Rules","d":"These Rules are called as Bihar Vidhan Sabha (Right to Information","u":"/rules/bihar/assembly","x":"Bihar Legislative Assembly Rules These Rules are called as Bihar Vidhan Sabha (Right to Information) Rules-2007. Related Bihar. Patna High Court RTI Rules. Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Rules. Bihar RTI Rules. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Public Information Officer Sh. Pandav Kumar Singh \\\\ Upper Secretary and Public Information Officer\\\\ Bihar Vidhan Sabha\\\\ Patna Appellate Authority Sh. Hareram Mujhiya \\\\ Joint Secretary in-Charge,\\\\ Bihar Vidhan Sabha, Patna\\\\ Phone: 0612-221459 Procedure for obtaining information The information can be obtained in Form 'A' along with the fees either in physical or electronic form on any working day during 9.30 to 1 PM. The receipt of RTI is Form 'B'. If the information is sought through electronic form, the fees need to be deposited within 7 days of the electronic communication. Form A: Format for RTI Application Form B: receipt of RTI Applicant Form for First Appeal ---- Application Fees Important Downloads - External Links Bihar Legislative Assembly"},{"s":"rules:bihar:court","t":"Patna High Court RTI Rules","d":"Bihar. Bihar Legislative Assembly Rules. Andhra Pradesh High Court RTI Rules. Bihar RTI Rules.","u":"/rules/bihar/court","x":"Patna High Court RTI Rules Related Bihar. Bihar Legislative Assembly Rules. Andhra Pradesh High Court RTI Rules. Bihar RTI Rules. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Public Information Officer and First Appellate Authority Public Information Officer Procedure to get information Any person seeking information under the Act shall file the application between 11 A.M to 1 PM in a Court working day to the authorised person in Form A and deposit application fees as per Appendix A of the Rules with the authorised person. The Authorised person shall duly acknowledge the applicant as provided in Form B. Provided that a person who make a request through electronic form shall ensure that the requisite fee is deposited in cash with the authorised person within 7 days of his sending the request through electronic form, failing which his application shall be treated as dismissed. Transfer of application will be done in Form C Rejection of information falling under Section 8 or 9 will be done in Form D Supply of information will be in Form E Application Fees Forms Form A: Format for seeking information Form B: Acknowledgement of Application Form C: Outside the Jurisdiction of the authorised person Form D: Rejection Order Form E: Form of Supply of Information to the applicant Form F: Appeal under Section 19 of RTI Act Important Downloads - - External Links Patna High Court"},{"s":"rules:bihar:state","t":"Bihar RTI Rules","d":"Bihar. Bihar Legislative Assembly Rules. Patna High Court RTI Rules. Andhra Pradesh RTI Rules.","u":"/rules/bihar/state","x":"Bihar RTI Rules Related Bihar. Bihar Legislative Assembly Rules. Patna High Court RTI Rules. Andhra Pradesh RTI Rules. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Bihar Right to Information Rules, 2006 Bihar is one of the first states to accept this right to information applications on phone, inaugurated by the chief minister of Bihar named as ’Jankari’ call centre on 29 January 2007. The objective was to ensure transparency and to expand its reach to villages, where the literacy rate is low. It is a user friendly ICT (Information and Communications Technology) based facilitation centre to help citizens of Bihar in getting governance related information from public information officers (PIOs) under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI) within stipulated time frame RTI Application in Form A Receipt/Acknowledgement in Form B Additional Fees to be informed in Form C PIO to provide information in Form D PIO to reject request in Form F First Appeal in Form G Second Appeal in Form E Application Procedure Application Fees FEES for Public Authorities under the Bihar RTI Rules: Application Fee (Sec 6(1)) For RTI Application Rs. 10.00 For First Appeal Rs. 50.00 Fees to be paid by Cash, Bankers Cheque, Demand Draft or IPO payable to designated officer OR By affixing Non Judicial Stamp on the application OR by remittance to Head of Account: “0070 – Other Administrative Services – 60 – Other Services – 118 Receipts under RTI Act 2005 – 001 Receipt under RTI Act 2005 – Special Code R 007060118000” EDIT: Bihar recently amended its RTI Rules to specify that the application fee will be Rs. 10.00 per query and also regarding BPL applicants. Please read RTI INDIA Forum Discussions here! Further Fees (Sec 7(1), 7(3), 7(5)) Rs. 2.00 for each page created or copied (A3 or A4 size) Actual charge or cost price in larger size paper Actual cost or price for samples and models Rs. 50.00 for each Floppy or CD First hour of inspection is free and Rs. 5.00 for each subsequent hour or fraction thereof ---- Fee to be charged for providing Information Form for asking Fees for Providing information ---- RTI Application to Bihar SIC ^ Name of the Public Authority ^ Bihar State Information Commission ^ Address 4th Floor, Soochna Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna – 800 015 Telephone Numbers 0612-2215713/ 2235059/ 2200426/ 2200412/ 2215076/ 2215871/ 2215856, FAX: 0612-2235466 Office Timing 9.30 am to 6.00"},{"s":"rules:chandigarh","t":"Chandigarh (UT) — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Chandigarh (UT","u":"/rules/chandigarh","x":"Chandigarh (UT) — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Chandigarh (UT). Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Chandigarh Administration Gazette or the Central Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission Public authorities under the administration of Chandigarh (UT) are, for second-appeal purposes, within the jurisdiction of the Central Information Commission. Complaints under Section 18 and second appeals under Section 19(3) against those public authorities are filed before the CIC at New Delhi. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Chandigarh (UT). State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Chandigarh (UT) has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Chandigarh (UT) are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Chandigarh (UT) Chandigarh's Administration departments accept applications online through the Chandigarh Administration portal, and offline at the PIO's counter. For Central Government offices, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. Jurisdiction note Chandigarh is a Union Territory. Public authorities under the Chandigarh Administration are within the jurisdiction of the Central Information Commission for second-appeal purposes. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the"},{"s":"rules:chhattisgarh","t":"Chhattisgarh — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Chhattisgarh — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/chhattisgarh","x":"Chhattisgarh — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Chhattisgarh. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Chhattisgarh Government Gazette or the Chhattisgarh State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Chhattisgarh State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Chhattisgarh. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Chhattisgarh. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Chhattisgarh. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Chhattisgarh has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Chhattisgarh are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Chhattisgarh Applications to State departments are filed at Raipur or the district collectorate, either at the PIO's counter or by post. Some departments accept applications through the State Government portal. For Central Government offices in the State, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025 and DPDP"},{"s":"rules:cic","t":"Central Information Commission","d":"Central Information Commission (CIC","u":"/rules/cic","x":"Central Information Commission Notice on the 2019 amendment. Sections 13 and 16 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 were amended by the Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019, in force from 24 October 2019. The fixed term of five years or up to the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier, has been replaced. The term of office and the salary, allowances, and other conditions of service of the Chief Information Commissioner, the Information Commissioners, and their State-level counterparts are now such as may be prescribed by the Central Government. The current terms are prescribed by the Right to Information (Term of Office, Salaries, Allowances and Other Terms and Conditions of Service of Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commissioners and the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners in State Information Commission) Rules, 2019. References on this page to the earlier fixed term of five years or sixty-five years are retained for historical reference and must be read against the amendment. Central Information Commission (CIC) is the apex body under Right to Information Act. How is Central Information Commission constituted? Central Information Commission to be constituted by the Central Government through a Gazette Notification. Commission includes 1 Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and not more than 10 Information Commissioners (IC) who will be appointed by the President of India. Oath of Office will be administered by the President of India according to the form set out in the First Schedule. Commission shall have its Headquarters in Delhi. Other offices may be established in other parts of the country with the approval of the Central Government. Commission will exercise its powers without being subjected to directions by any other authority. (S.12) What is the eligibility criteria and what is the process of appointment of CIC/IC? Candidates for CIC/IC must be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance. CIC/IC shall not be a Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislature of any State or Union Territory. He shall not hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any profession. (S.12) Appointment Committee includes Prime Minister (Chair), Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and one Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister. What is the term of office and"},{"s":"rules:delhi","t":"Delhi (UT) — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Delhi (UT","u":"/rules/delhi","x":"Delhi (UT) — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Delhi (UT). Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Delhi Gazette or the Central Information Commission (for Delhi Government public authorities, the Delhi-specific bench of the CIC and the Delhi State Information Commission jurisdictionally) before filing. The Information Commission Public authorities under the administration of Delhi (UT) are, for second-appeal purposes, within the jurisdiction of the Central Information Commission (for Delhi Government public authorities, the Delhi-specific bench of the CIC and the Delhi State Information Commission jurisdictionally). Complaints under Section 18 and second appeals under Section 19(3) against those public authorities are filed before the CIC at New Delhi. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Delhi (UT). State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Delhi (UT) has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Delhi (UT) are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Delhi (UT) For Delhi Government departments, file online at the Delhi Government portal or at the department's PIO counter. For Central Government offices located in Delhi (most Ministries), use the Central online portal at rtionline.gov.in . See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. Jurisdiction note Delhi, being the National Capital Territory, is distinctive in that a large share of public authorities located here are Central Government bodies under the jurisdiction of the Central"},{"s":"rules:delhi:court","t":"Delhi District Court RTI Rules","d":"Delhi RTI Rules. Supreme Court of India RTI Rules. Allahabad High Court (Right to Information","u":"/rules/delhi/court","x":"Delhi District Court RTI Rules Related Delhi RTI Rules. Supreme Court of India RTI Rules. Allahabad High Court (Right to Information) Rules, 2006. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 ^ Sl ^ Description ^ Details ^ 1. Application Fee Rs.10/- 2. Further Fee (Document charges) Rs. 2/- for each page 3. Information on Floppy/Diskette Rs.15 per each Floppy/Diskette + Rs.2 per page scanned and stored in Floppy/diskette 4. Information in printed form Actual price fixed for such publication or Rs.2 per page or extract from publication 5. Inspection of Records No Fee for first hour. Rs.5/- for each subsequent hour or fraction thereof. 6. Mode of payment By way of cash against a proper receipt or by Bank Draft or Banker's Cheque or Indian Postal Order payable to the \"District Judge\". If applicant so desires, Fee can be deposited in advance being adjusted at the time of supply of information. 7. Time for remitting Further Fee 15 days from date of intimation (failing which the application shall be rejected) 8. Below Poverty Line applicant No Fee is chargeable from BPL applicant. He should submit some proof to establish that he belongs to BPL category. 9. Applicant seeking information under Life or Liberty clause No Fee is chargeable from applicant seeking information under Life or Liberty clause. He should submit purpose of the information with brief explanation of the same. 10. Charges for Speed Post/Regd Post Applicant should submit sufficiently pre-stamped envelopment for sending information by Speed Post / Registered post. 11. Collection of information in person Where the applicant fail to turn up for collection of information on the appointed day, it shall be kept pending for another 15 days, and thereafter information shall not be supplied unless he submits a fresh application with requisite fees. In the event applicant fail to put in fresh application or fail to pay the further charges, action shall be taken to recover the balance if any. 12. Electronic submission Digitally signed application can be submitted electronically to the designated email address of PIO and the fee shall be remitted within 7 days thereafter, else it will be treated as no application is submitted. 13. Separate applications For every information sought a separate application shall be made except where the information sought are consequential or related to one another. Application Format FORM-A Application for information under Section-6(1) of the Act Rule 4 (a) Application"},{"s":"rules:goa","t":"Goa — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Goa — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/goa","x":"Goa — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Goa. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Goa Government Gazette or the Goa State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Goa State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Goa. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Goa. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Goa. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Goa has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Goa are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Goa Goa supports online filing for most State departments and retains the offline route at the PIO's counter. For Central Government offices in the State, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025 and DPDP Act vs RTI — the 2026 position. Currency caveat Rules, fee figures,"},{"s":"rules:gujarat","t":"Gujarat — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Gujarat — the State Information Commission, applicable State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the State Gazette.","u":"/rules/gujarat","x":"Gujarat — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in the State of Gujarat. Readers relying on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the Gujarat Government Gazette or the Gujarat Information Commission website. The State Information Commission The Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) is constituted under Section 15 of the RTI Act, 2005, seated at Gandhinagar . It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 concerning public authorities under the State Government of Gujarat. Applicable rules The Gujarat Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005 — the State rules on application fees and copying costs under Section 27. The Gujarat Information Commission (Appeal Procedure) Rules, 2005 — procedure before the Commission. Official language of filing: Applications may be filed in Gujarati , Hindi , or English under Section 6(1) read with Article 350. Fee structure Application fees under the State rules are typically Rs 20 (check the current notification — Gujarat's fee has historically been slightly higher than the Central Rs 10). Copies are charged per page as prescribed. BPL applicants are exempt on producing a valid certificate. Filing an RTI in Gujarat For State departments (Revenue, Health, Home, Urban Development, Agriculture, Industries), file with the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. For Central Government bodies in Gujarat, use rtionline.gov.in . See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step. Currency caveat Gujarat's RTI Rules have been amended by notification since 2005. Fee, form, and address details may have changed. Always confirm the current text against the Gujarat Government Gazette or the State Information Commission before filing. Related pages on this site RTI Rules — Central, State, and Commission rules. The Right to Information Act, 2005 — current text. How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step. Why RTI Applications Get Rejected — and How to Avoid It. Sources The Right to Information Act, 2005 (No. 22 of 2005), Sections 15 and 27. The Gujarat Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. The Gujarat Information Commission (Appeal Procedure) Rules, 2005. Last reviewed on 19 April 2026"},{"s":"rules:haryana","t":"Haryana RTI Rules","d":"Haryana RTI Rules. Part of the RTI Wiki reference for India's Right to Information Act, 2005.","u":"/rules/haryana","x":"Haryana RTI Rules ---- Currency caveat Rules listed below link to the material currently held on this site. The text may be dated. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or notice are advised to confirm the current rules against the relevant State Government notification on the official Government Gazette portal of the State, or against the Commission's published regulations, as the case may be. Last reviewed on 19 April 2026"},{"s":"rules:haryana:state","t":"Haryana Right to Information Rules 2009 Amended 2016","d":"Haryana Govt has amended RTI rules from 18-03-2016 and revised rules are as under:","u":"/rules/haryana/state","x":"Haryana Right to Information Rules 2009 Amended 2016 Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Haryana Govt has amended RTI rules from 18-03-2016 and revised rules are as under: [2005 rules replaced by 2009 on 21-12-2009 effective from 01-01-2010] [Again amended on 18-03-2016 –filing fee reduced to Rs.10/-, CD Rs.50 and inspection first hour free and thereafter Rs.5/- per hour or part thereof beyond first hour] 1. APPLICATION: The rules provide for a format for application under RTI Act called Form-A, which is annexed herewith. 2. FEES: A. Application fee: Rs.10/- to be paid by bank’s demand draft or pay order or Indian Postal Order [IPO] or in cash against receipt or through treasury challan. Applicants holding BPL certificate need not pay any application fee. Payment by IPO should be preferred being cheap and convenient. IPO should be in favour of “Accounts Officer, [mention name of public authority i.e. govt dept/organization etc]” and should be made payable at the place where application is sent. B. Other charges: Information in A-3 or A-4 size paper….Rs.2/- per page, Large size: actual cost, publications: actual cost. CD Rs.50/- per CD. Inspection: Free for first hour and if exceeds one hour Rs.5/- for each hour or part thereof beyond first hour. 3. APPEALS: Rules do not provide for formats for first appeal, second appeal/complaint. No fees are charged for appeals. Suggested formats for appeals/complaint are annexed hereunder. 4. Address of State Information Commission, Haryana: State Information Commission, Haryana, SCO No. 70-71, Sector 8-C, Chandigarh. Telephone No. 0172-2726568, Fax No. 0172-2783834 Website: http: cicharyana.gov.in/ 5. HARYANA State Format for RTI Application: The Right to Information Act, 2005 Form A [See rule 3 (1)] To The State Public Information Officer/ State Assistant Public Information Officer, (Name of the office with address) 1. Full name of the applicant: 2. Address: 3. Particulars of information required:- (i) Subject matter of information* (ii) The period to which the information relates (iii) Description of the information required * (iv) Whether information is required by post or in person (the actual postal charges shall be included in addition to the fees.) (v) In case by post (Ordinary, Registered or Speed) 4. IPO No. ____________for Rs.10/- is enclosed. Place: Date: Signature of the Applicant Broad category of the subject to be indicated (such as Grant/Government land/ Service matters/Licenses etc.) Relevant period for which information is required to be indicated. Specific details of the"},{"s":"rules:himachal-pradesh","t":"Himachal Pradesh — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Himachal Pradesh — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/himachal-pradesh","x":"Himachal Pradesh — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Himachal Pradesh. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Himachal Pradesh Government Gazette or the Himachal Pradesh State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Himachal Pradesh State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Himachal Pradesh. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Himachal Pradesh. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Himachal Pradesh. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Himachal Pradesh has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Himachal Pradesh are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh has an online RTI portal for most State departments, with offline filing also accepted at the PIO's counter or by post. For Central Government offices in the State, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section 8(1)(j) after the"},{"s":"rules:jharkhand","t":"Jharkhand — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Jharkhand — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/jharkhand","x":"Jharkhand — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Jharkhand. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Jharkhand Government Gazette or the Jharkhand State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Jharkhand State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Jharkhand. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Jharkhand. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Jharkhand. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Jharkhand has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Jharkhand are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Jharkhand Applications to State departments are filed at Ranchi or the district collectorate, either by post or at the PIO's counter. Some departments accept applications online through the State Government portal. For Central Government offices, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025 and DPDP Act vs"},{"s":"rules:jk","t":"Jammu and Kashmir (UT) — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Jammu and Kashmir (UT","u":"/rules/jk","x":"Jammu and Kashmir (UT) — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Jammu and Kashmir (UT). Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Gazette of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir or the Central Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission Public authorities under the administration of Jammu and Kashmir (UT) are, for second-appeal purposes, within the jurisdiction of the Central Information Commission. Complaints under Section 18 and second appeals under Section 19(3) against those public authorities are filed before the CIC at New Delhi. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Jammu and Kashmir (UT). State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Jammu and Kashmir (UT) has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Jammu and Kashmir (UT) are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Jammu and Kashmir (UT) Filing in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is generally offline, with the e-mail route used in practice by many departments. Applications are submitted at the PIO's counter at Srinagar or Jammu, or at the district headquarters. For Central Government offices, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. Jurisdiction note Since the constitutional reorganisation in 2019, the erstwhile State-specific RTI Act of Jammu and Kashmir has ceased to apply. The Right to Information Act, 2005 (the Central Act) is now"},{"s":"rules:karnataka","t":"Karnataka RTI Rules 2026: File in 10 Minutes","d":"Karnataka RTI filing: fee, State Information Commission, language options, appeal timelines, and the 2 quirks applicants miss.","u":"/rules/karnataka","x":"Karnataka RTI Rules 2026: File in 10 Minutes A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in the State of Karnataka. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, it is noted here. Readers relying on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the Karnataka Government Gazette or the Karnataka Information Commission website. The State Information Commission 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. Applicable rules The Karnataka Right to Information Rules, 2005 — covering the form, fee, and procedure for filing and disposal. The Karnataka Information Commission (Appeal Procedure) Rules — the procedure before the Commission. Official language of filing: Applications may be filed in Kannada or English under Section 6(1) read with Article 350. Fee structure Application fees under the State rules are typically Rs 10 (confirm against the latest notification). Copies are priced per page as prescribed. BPL applicants are exempt on producing a valid certificate. Accepted payment methods include Indian Postal Order, demand draft, and cash at the counter of the public authority. Filing an RTI in Karnataka For State departments (Revenue, Health & Family Welfare, Home, Urban Development, Panchayati Raj), file with the Public Information Officer of the concerned department or district office. Karnataka operates an online RTI portal ( rtionline.karnataka.gov.in ) for many State departments — check for the current scope. For Central Government bodies in Karnataka, use rtionline.gov.in . See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step. Currency caveat The Karnataka RTI Rules have been amended by State notification since 2005. Fees, forms, and procedural timelines may differ from the 2005 version. Always confirm against the Karnataka Government Gazette or the Commission's website before filing. Related pages on this site RTI Rules — Central, State, and Commission rules. The Right to Information Act, 2005 — current text. How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step. Why RTI Applications Get Rejected — and How to Avoid It. Guide for applicants. Sources The Right to Information Act, 2005 (No. 22 of 2005), Sections 15 and 27. The Karnataka Right to Information Rules, 2005, as notified under the Karnataka Government Gazette. The Karnataka Information Commission"},{"s":"rules:kerala","t":"Kerala","d":"Kerala. Part of the RTI Wiki reference for India's Right to Information Act, 2005.","u":"/rules/kerala","x":"Kerala ---- Currency caveat Rules listed below link to the material currently held on this site. The text may be dated. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or notice are advised to confirm the current rules against the relevant State Government notification on the official Government Gazette portal of the State, or against the Commission's published regulations, as the case may be. Last reviewed on 19 April 2026"},{"s":"rules:ladakh","t":"Ladakh (UT) — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Ladakh (UT","u":"/rules/ladakh","x":"Ladakh (UT) — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Ladakh (UT). Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Gazette of the Union Territory of Ladakh or the Central Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission Public authorities under the administration of Ladakh (UT) are, for second-appeal purposes, within the jurisdiction of the Central Information Commission. Complaints under Section 18 and second appeals under Section 19(3) against those public authorities are filed before the CIC at New Delhi. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Ladakh (UT). State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Ladakh (UT) has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Ladakh (UT) are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Ladakh (UT) Filing in the Union Territory of Ladakh is generally offline, with the e-mail route used in practice. Applications are submitted at the PIO's counter at Leh or Kargil, or by post. For Central Government offices, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. Jurisdiction note Ladakh, constituted as a Union Territory in 2019, is governed by the Right to Information Act, 2005 (the Central Act). Second appeals lie to the Central Information Commission . The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of"},{"s":"rules:madhya-pradesh","t":"Madhya Pradesh — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Madhya Pradesh — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/madhya-pradesh","x":"Madhya Pradesh — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Madhya Pradesh. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Madhya Pradesh Government Gazette or the Madhya Pradesh State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Madhya Pradesh State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Madhya Pradesh. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Madhya Pradesh. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Madhya Pradesh. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Madhya Pradesh has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Madhya Pradesh are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Madhya Pradesh Applications to State departments may be filed at the PIO's counter at Bhopal, at the divisional commissioner's office, or at the district collectorate. Some departments accept applications through the State Government portal. For Central Government offices, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO"},{"s":"rules:maharashtra","t":"Maharashtra RTI Rules 2026: Fees, Forms, Appeals","d":"Maharashtra RTI explained: Rs 10 fee, application route, SIC address, appeal timeline, and the 3 differences from Central Rules.","u":"/rules/maharashtra","x":"Maharashtra RTI Rules 2026: Fees, Forms, Appeals A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in the State of Maharashtra. Where information differs from the Central rules, the State position is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Maharashtra Government Gazette or the Maharashtra State Information Commission website. The State Information Commission The Maharashtra State Information Commission (MSIC) is constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the State Government of Maharashtra. Benches sit at Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Amravati, and Nagpur , making Maharashtra one of the few States with regional benches. Applicable rules The Maharashtra Right to Information Rules, 2005 — the State Government's rules under Section 27 of the Act, covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. The Maharashtra State Information Commission (Appeal Procedure) Rules, 2005 — the procedure before the Commission for second appeals and complaints. Section 2(aa) notifications — the State has issued separate notifications designating Competent Authorities for the Legislative Assembly and for local bodies. Fee structure Under the State rules, application fees are generally Rs 10 (check the latest notification for the current figure). BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the public authority's counter, or online through the State's online RTI portal where available. Filing an RTI in Maharashtra For State Government departments (Revenue, Health, Police, Urban Development, etc.), file with the Public Information Officer of the concerned department or district office. For Central Government departments operating in Maharashtra (Passport Office, Railways, Income Tax, EPFO), use the Central online portal at rtionline.gov.in . See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central procedure. Currency caveat The Maharashtra RTI Rules have seen amendments since 2005. Fees, forms, and procedural timelines may have been revised by State notification. Always confirm the current text against the Maharashtra Government Gazette at egazette.mahaonline.gov.in or the State Information Commission's website before filing. Related pages on this site RTI Rules — Central, State, and Commission rules. The Right to Information"},{"s":"rules:manipur","t":"Manipur — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Manipur — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/manipur","x":"Manipur — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Manipur. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Manipur Government Gazette or the Manipur State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Manipur State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Manipur. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Manipur. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Manipur. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Manipur has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Manipur are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Manipur Filing in Manipur is largely offline. Post or hand-deliver a written application to the PIO of the concerned State department at Imphal or the district headquarters. For Central Government offices in the State, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025 and DPDP Act vs RTI"},{"s":"rules:meghalaya","t":"Meghalaya — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Meghalaya — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/meghalaya","x":"Meghalaya — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Meghalaya. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Meghalaya Government Gazette or the Meghalaya State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Meghalaya State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Meghalaya. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Meghalaya. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Meghalaya. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Meghalaya has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Meghalaya are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Meghalaya Filing in Meghalaya is largely offline. Applications are submitted at the PIO's counter at Shillong or the district headquarters, or by post. For Central Government offices in the State, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025 and DPDP Act vs RTI — the 2026 position."},{"s":"rules:mizoram","t":"Mizoram — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Mizoram — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/mizoram","x":"Mizoram — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Mizoram. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Mizoram Government Gazette or the Mizoram State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Mizoram State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Mizoram. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Mizoram. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Mizoram. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Mizoram has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Mizoram are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Mizoram Filing in Mizoram is largely offline, with many departments accepting applications by e-mail in practice. Applications are submitted at the PIO's counter at Aizawl or the district headquarters, or by post. For Central Government offices, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025 and DPDP Act"},{"s":"rules:nagaland","t":"Nagaland — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Nagaland — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/nagaland","x":"Nagaland — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Nagaland. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Nagaland Government Gazette or the Nagaland State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Nagaland State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Nagaland. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Nagaland. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Nagaland. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Nagaland has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Nagaland are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Nagaland Filing in Nagaland is largely offline, with the e-mail route commonly used by departments in practice. Applications are submitted at the PIO's counter at Kohima or the district headquarters, or by post. For Central Government offices, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025 and DPDP"},{"s":"rules:odisha","t":"Odisha — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Odisha — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/odisha","x":"Odisha — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Odisha. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Odisha Government Gazette or the Odisha Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Odisha Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Odisha. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Odisha. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Odisha. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Odisha has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Odisha are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Odisha Applications to State departments are filed at Bhubaneswar or the district collectorate, at the PIO's counter or by post. Many departments also accept applications through the State Government portal. For Central Government offices, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025 and DPDP Act vs RTI — the"},{"s":"rules:puducherry","t":"Puducherry (UT) — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Puducherry (UT","u":"/rules/puducherry","x":"Puducherry (UT) — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Puducherry (UT). Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Puducherry Gazette or the Puducherry State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Puducherry State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Puducherry (UT). It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Puducherry. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Puducherry (UT). State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Puducherry (UT) has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Puducherry (UT) are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Puducherry (UT) Applications are filed at Puducherry or in the Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam regions, at the PIO's counter or by post, and through the UT Government portal where available. For Central Government offices, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025"},{"s":"rules:punjab","t":"Punjab — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Punjab — the State Information Commission, applicable State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the State Gazette.","u":"/rules/punjab","x":"Punjab — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in the State of Punjab. Readers relying on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the Punjab Government Gazette or the Punjab State Information Commission website. The State Information Commission The Punjab State Information Commission (PSIC) is constituted under Section 15 of the RTI Act, 2005, seated at Chandigarh . It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 concerning State public authorities. Applicable rules The Punjab Right to Information Rules, 2005 — the State rules on the form, fee, and procedure for filing. The Punjab State Information Commission (Appeal Procedure) Rules — procedure before the Commission. Official language of filing: Applications may be filed in Punjabi , Hindi , or English under Section 6(1) read with Article 350. Fee structure Application fees under the State rules are generally Rs 10 (confirm against the current notification). Copies are priced per page as prescribed. BPL applicants produce a valid certificate for exemption. Payment methods include Indian Postal Order, demand draft, and cash at the counter. Filing an RTI in Punjab For State departments (Revenue, Home, Rural Development, Agriculture, Local Government), file with the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. For Central Government bodies operating in Punjab, use rtionline.gov.in . See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step. Currency caveat The Punjab RTI Rules have been amended since 2005 by State notification. Confirm the current text against the Punjab Government Gazette or the Commission's website before filing. Related pages on this site RTI Rules — Central, State, and Commission rules. The Right to Information Act, 2005 — current text. How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step. Why RTI Applications Get Rejected — and How to Avoid It. Sources The Right to Information Act, 2005 (No. 22 of 2005), Sections 15 and 27. The Punjab Right to Information Rules, 2005. The Punjab State Information Commission (Appeal Procedure) Rules. Last reviewed on 19 April 2026"},{"s":"rules:rajasthan","t":"Rajasthan — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Rajasthan — where the RTI movement began. The State Information Commission, applicable rules, fee structure, and how to file.","u":"/rules/rajasthan","x":"Rajasthan — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in the State of Rajasthan — the birthplace of India's RTI movement. Readers relying on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the Rajasthan Government Gazette or the Rajasthan State Information Commission website. Rajasthan's place in the RTI story Rajasthan is the origin State of India's Right to Information movement . The Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) organised public hearings ( jan sunwais ) on panchayat corruption in Bhim, Beawar, and other districts in the mid-1990s, which directly fed into the State-level Rajasthan Right to Information Act, 2000 — itself a predecessor to the Central Act of 2005. Any RTI practitioner in Rajasthan works in that lineage. The State Information Commission The Rajasthan State Information Commission (RSIC) is constituted under Section 15 of the RTI Act, 2005, seated at Jaipur . It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 concerning State Government departments, local bodies, and State-aided institutions. Applicable rules The Rajasthan Right to Information Rules, 2005 — the State rules on form, fee, and procedure. The Rajasthan State Information Commission (Appeal Procedure) Rules — procedure before the Commission. Official language of filing: Applications may be filed in Hindi (the State's official language) or English under Section 6(1). Fee structure Application fees under the State rules are typically Rs 10 (confirm against the latest notification). Copies are charged per page as prescribed. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid certificate. Payment methods include Indian Postal Order, demand draft, and cash at the counter of the public authority. Filing an RTI in Rajasthan For State departments (Revenue, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, Home, Medical & Health, Urban Development), file with the Public Information Officer of the concerned department or district office. For Central Government bodies in Rajasthan, use rtionline.gov.in . See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step. Currency caveat The Rajasthan RTI Rules have been amended by notification since 2005. Confirm the current text against the Rajasthan Government Gazette or the Commission's website before filing. Related pages on this site RTI Rules — Central, State, and Commission rules. The Right to Information Act, 2005 — current text. How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step. Why RTI Applications Get Rejected — and How to"},{"s":"rules:sc","t":"Supreme Court of India RTI Rules","d":"This Registry for the present is following the provisions of Right to Information Act, 2005 (22 of 2005","u":"/rules/sc","x":"Supreme Court of India RTI Rules Right to Information Act, 2005 This Registry for the present is following the provisions of Right to Information Act, 2005 (22 of 2005) which is also available on the website of the Supreme Court of India. Central Public Information Officer Mr. Ajay Agrawal \\\\ Additional Registrar\\\\ Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) \\\\ Supreme Court of India, New Delhi.\\\\ Tel. No.23073580/ Fax No.23384533\\\\ e-mail:mailto:supremecourt@nic.in Transparency Officer for Supreme Court Mr. Surajit Dey\\\\ Registrar\\\\ Transparency Officer \\\\ Supreme Court of India, New Delhi.\\\\ Tel. No.23385265/ Fax No.23384533\\\\ e-mail:mailto:supremecourt@nic.in First Appellate Authority Shri M.K. Hanjura\\\\ Registrar \\\\ First Appellate Authority\\\\ Supreme Court of India, New Delhi.\\\\ Tel. No.23385265/ Fax No.23384533\\\\ e-mail:mailto:supremecourt@nic.in \\\\ Fees for obtaining Information Rs.10/- either in cash or by way of Indian Postal Order or by Money Order or Demand Draft drawn in favour of Registrar/Accounts Officer, Supreme Court of India New Delhi. Note : Court fee and cheques are not acceptable as the same are not valid mode as per rules. Downloads - External Links Compliance under Section 4(1)(b) of Right to Information Act, 2005 For Search and Downloading of Judgments. For Search and Downloading of Daily Orders/Proceedings & Case Status i.e., \"COURTNIC\" PIL Guidelines. Supreme Court of India, Practice & Procedure, 'A Handbook of Information'. Supreme Court Rules, 2013. Institution, Disposal and Pendency of Cases. Analysis of Supreme Court RTI Rules and Procedure the applicant who sought this information in 2009 had to wait until 2014 just to get the Delhi High Court to rule that the SC may provide the information. Read the decision here! On 10th November 2007, Subhash Chandra Agrawal filed an RTI request with the SC asking for information concerning declaration of assets by Supreme Court Judges, among other things. The PIO denied the request, claiming he did not hold the information. Agrawal filed a first appeal asking that his application may be transferred to the Public Authority holding the information. The Registrar asked the PIO to re-consider the request, but he denied the information again. Agrawal moved the Central Information Commission (CIC) which in January 2009, asked the PIO to furnish the information [PDF].The SC challenged this order twice before the Delhi High Court (HC) even as it made some information about judges’ assets public on its website, but the HC upheld the CIC’s ruling. Read the decision here! On 20th February 2008, Satnam Singh, a prisoner"},{"s":"rules:sikkim","t":"Sikkim — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Sikkim — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/sikkim","x":"Sikkim — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Sikkim. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Sikkim Government Gazette or the Sikkim State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Sikkim State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Sikkim. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Sikkim. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Sikkim. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Sikkim has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Sikkim are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Sikkim Applications are submitted at the PIO's counter at Gangtok or the district headquarters, or by post. Some departments accept applications through the State Government portal. For Central Government offices, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025 and DPDP Act vs RTI — the 2026 position."},{"s":"rules:start","t":"RTI Rules: Central, State, UT, and DPDP 2025 — Complete Directory","d":"The complete 2026 directory of RTI rules in India: Central, Supreme Court, every State and Union Territory, plus the DPDP Rules 2025 that amended Section 8(1","u":"/rules/start","x":"RTI Rules: Central, State, UT, and DPDP 2025 — Complete Directory In one line: Rules made under Section 27 (Central and State Governments) and Section 28 (Supreme Court, High Courts, Legislatures) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, plus the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 that amended Section 8(1)(j) on 14 November 2025. For fees and online filing links , see the prominent guide at RTI Fees by State and Online Portal Directory . Shortcut guides: Fees by State with direct filing links How to File RTI Online in India — 12 Steps State RTI Portals Directory (reliability grades) State RTI Portal Rankings (scored 0-50) Why RTI Applications Get Rejected — and Fixes FAQ — 25 most-asked RTI questions Central Rules Central RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005 — fee structure, mode of payment, inspection charges, copy charges. Rule 3 sets the Rs 10 application fee, Rule 4 the copy and inspection charges. Central Information Commission (Management) Regulations, 2007 — procedure for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 before the CIC. DoPT circulars and guidelines — procedural instructions to Central PIOs and First Appellate Authorities. RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 and the RTI Rules, 2019 — revised terms and conditions of service for Information Commissioners. The 2005 first-appeal rules — Rule 5 of the Central Rules prescribes the appeal format under Section 19(1). Supreme Court and High Courts Competent authorities under Section 28 frame their own rules. Supreme Court of India Rules under Section 28 — framed by the Chief Justice of India. Governs inspection of administrative-side records; judicial records follow separate Supreme Court Rules, 2013. High Court rules (each High Court) — linked to from each High Court website. High Court rules typically mirror Central rules on fees but vary on appellate procedure. State Rules Each State Government has framed its own rules on fee structure, application format, and first-appeal procedure. The full index of State pages on this site follows. For fees and direct online-filing links, see RTI Fees by State (2026). North Delhi Haryana Himachal Pradesh Jammu and Kashmir Ladakh Punjab Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand West Gujarat Maharashtra Rajasthan Goa South Andhra Pradesh Karnataka Kerala Tamil Nadu Telangana East Bihar Jharkhand Odisha West Bengal Central and North-East Chhattisgarh Madhya Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh Assam Manipur Meghalaya Mizoram Nagaland Sikkim Tripura Union Territory rules Chandigarh Puducherry , Andaman and Nicobar Islands , Lakshadweep ,"},{"s":"rules:tamil-nadu","t":"Tamil Nadu RTI Rules 2026: Fees Plus Appeals","d":"File an RTI in Tamil Nadu: fee, language, postal vs online, TNSIC address, and what changed after the 14 Nov 2025 amendment.","u":"/rules/tamil-nadu","x":"Tamil Nadu RTI Rules 2026: Fees Plus Appeals A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in the State of Tamil Nadu. Where information differs from the Central rules, the State position is noted. Readers relying on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette or the Tamil Nadu Information Commission website. The State Information Commission The Tamil Nadu Information Commission (TNIC) is constituted under Section 15 of the RTI Act, 2005, seated at Chennai . It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 against State public authorities. Tamil Nadu was among the earlier States to constitute its Commission after the Act came into force on 12 October 2005. Applicable rules The Tamil Nadu Right to Information (Fees) Rules, 2005 — the State rules on application fees and copying charges under Section 27. The Tamil Nadu Information Commission (Appeal Procedure) Rules — the procedure before the Commission. Official language of filing: Applications may be filed in Tamil or English under Section 6(1) read with Article 350 of the Constitution. Fee structure Under State rules, application fees are modest (the Rs 10 order is commonly followed; verify the current figure). Copies are charged per page as prescribed. BPL applicants produce a valid certificate for exemption. Fee payment methods accepted include Indian Postal Order, demand draft, court-fee stamps in some districts, and cash at the counter. Filing an RTI in Tamil Nadu For State Government departments (Revenue, Home, Rural Development, Public Works, Education), file with the Public Information Officer of the concerned department. Tamil Nadu's online RTI portal has been piloted at district level for certain departments — check tn.gov.in for the current status. For Central Government departments in Tamil Nadu, use rtionline.gov.in . See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step. Currency caveat Tamil Nadu's RTI fee rules and Commission procedure rules have been amended by notification since 2005. Confirm the current fee, form, and postal address against the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette or the State Information Commission before filing. Related pages on this site RTI Rules — Central, State, and Commission rules. The Right to Information Act, 2005 — current text. How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step. Why RTI Applications Get Rejected — and How to Avoid It. Guide for applicants. Sources The"},{"s":"rules:telangana","t":"Telangana — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Telangana — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/telangana","x":"Telangana — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Telangana. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Telangana State Gazette or the Telangana State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Telangana State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Telangana. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Telangana. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Telangana. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Telangana has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Telangana are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Telangana Applications to State departments are filed at Hyderabad or the district collectorate, either at the PIO's counter or by post. Some departments accept applications through the State Government portal. For Central Government offices, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025 and DPDP Act vs RTI"},{"s":"rules:tripura","t":"Tripura — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Tripura — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/tripura","x":"Tripura — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Tripura. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Tripura Government Gazette or the Tripura State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Tripura State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Tripura. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Tripura. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Tripura. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Tripura has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Tripura are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Tripura Applications to State departments are filed at Agartala or the district headquarters, at the PIO's counter or by post. Some departments accept applications through the State Government portal. For Central Government offices, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025 and DPDP Act vs RTI —"},{"s":"rules:up","t":"Uttar Pradesh","d":"Uttar Pradesh. Part of the RTI Wiki reference for India's Right to Information Act, 2005.","u":"/rules/up","x":"Uttar Pradesh ---- Currency caveat Rules listed below link to the material currently held on this site. The text may be dated. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or notice are advised to confirm the current rules against the relevant State Government notification on the official Government Gazette portal of the State, or against the Commission's published regulations, as the case may be. Last reviewed on 19 April 2026"},{"s":"rules:up:court","t":"Allahabad High Court (Right to Information) Rules, 2006","d":"Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh RTI Rules. Delhi District Court RTI Rules. Supreme Court of India RTI Rules.","u":"/rules/up/court","x":"Allahabad High Court (Right to Information) Rules, 2006 Related Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh RTI Rules. Delhi District Court RTI Rules. Supreme Court of India RTI Rules. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 These rules may be called the Allahabad High Court (Right to Information) Rules, 2006 Application Fees Every application shall be made for one particular item of information only. Each application shall be accompanied by cash or draft or pay order of Rs. 500/- drawn in favour of the Registrar General, High Court, Allahabad, or the District Judge of the concerned District Court as the case might be. If the application is permitted, the applicant shall be entitled to the information only after he makes payment in cash at the rate of Rs. 15/- per page of information to be supplied to him. A person, who desires to obtain any information under this Act, may make a request to the Central Public Information Officer in writing in English or in Hindi . If any additional fee representing the cost of providing information will be required, the Central Public Information Officer will send an intimation to the applicant regarding the details of additional fees, together with the calculations with a request to deposit the additional fees and the period intervening between the dispatch of the said intimation and payment of fee shall be excluded for the purpose of calculating the period of thirty days. Procedure for providing information Central Public Information Officer shall be responsible to receive the applications for intimation or appeals under the Act and to provide information within the prescribed period of 30 days. Central Public Information Officer shall deal with request from persons seeking information and render reasonable assistance to such persons. Central Public Information Officer may seek the assistance of any other officer as he or she considers it necessary for the proper discharge of his or her duties. If the information sought by an applicant is in possession of another public authority or the subject matter of which is more closely connected with the functions of another public authority, such application or such part of it will be transferred to that public authority, and applicant will be informed about the transfer of his application to that public authority. Such transfer of application shall be made within five days from the date of receipt of the application. Central Public Information Officer,"},{"s":"rules:up:state","t":"Uttar Pradesh RTI Rules","d":"Uttar Pradesh RTI Rules. Part of the RTI Wiki reference for India's Right to Information Act, 2005.","u":"/rules/up/state","x":"Uttar Pradesh RTI Rules UP RIGHT TO INFORMATION RULES 2015 Related Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Uttar Pradesh. Allahabad High Court (Right to Information) Rules, 2006. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 APPLICATION Request for information is required to be made in Form No.2 as prescribed in . As per Rule-4(2)[c] of the Rules, an Application for information shall not exceed 500 words . Applicants may use format annexed hereto by typing or legibly writing on plain paper in English or Hindi. FEES Application fee: Rs.10/- to be paid by bank’s demand draft or pay order [banker’s cheque] or Indian postal order or in cash against receipt. Applicants holding BPL certificate need not pay any application fee. Other charges: Information in A-3 or A-4 size paper….Rs.2 per page, Large size: actual cost, Publications: actual cost. CD: Rs.50/- per CD. Inspection: Rs.10/- for first hour and Rs.5/- for every 15 minutes or part thereof thereafter. Since name of payee of D.D./P.O./IPO is not clear, enclose blank crossed IPO with a request to fill-in the same. APPEALS UP RTI Rules, 2015 provides Form No.13 as format for First Appeal under section-19(1), Form No.14 as format for Second Appeal under section-19(3) and Form-10 as format for Complaint under section-18. No fees are charged for appeals. Please note second appeal/complaint is to be addressed to UP State Information Commissioner at its address and not to CIC, Delhi Important Downloads - - - External Links Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission"},{"s":"rules:uttarakhand","t":"Uttarakhand — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in Uttarakhand — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/uttarakhand","x":"Uttarakhand — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Uttarakhand. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official Uttarakhand Government Gazette or the Uttarakhand State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The Uttarakhand State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for Uttarakhand. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of Uttarakhand. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in Uttarakhand. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — Uttarakhand has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in Uttarakhand are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in Uttarakhand Applications to State departments are filed at Dehradun or the district collectorate, at the PIO's counter or by post. Some departments accept applications through the State Government portal. For Central Government offices, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section 8(1)(j) after the DPDP Rules, 2025 and DPDP Act vs RTI —"},{"s":"rules:west-bengal","t":"West Bengal — RTI Rules and Resources","d":"Right to Information in West Bengal — the applicable Information Commission, State rules, fee structure, and how to file. Confirm current rules against the official Gazette.","u":"/rules/west-bengal","x":"West Bengal — RTI Rules and Resources A reference note on the working of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in West Bengal. Where the State position differs from the Central rules, the State practice is noted. Readers who rely on these rules for a live application, appeal, or complaint are advised to confirm against the official West Bengal Government Gazette or the West Bengal State Information Commission before filing. The Information Commission The West Bengal State Information Commission is the authority constituted under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for West Bengal. It hears second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18 relating to public authorities under the Government of West Bengal. Applicable rules The Right to Information Act, 2005 — the Central Act applies across India, including in West Bengal. State rules under Section 27 of the Act — West Bengal has notified its own rules covering the form of application, fees, and procedure before public authorities. Confirm the exact title and latest amendment against the current Gazette. Second-appeal procedure rules — procedure before the State Information Commission for second appeals under Section 19(3) and complaints under Section 18. Fee structure Application fees in West Bengal are typically Rs 10 per application. BPL applicants are exempt on production of a valid ration card or certificate. Copies of records are charged per page at the rate specified in the rules. The fee may be paid by Indian Postal Order, demand draft, cash at the PIO's counter, or through the online portal where available. Confirm the current fee against the latest State notification, as figures may have been revised. Filing an RTI in West Bengal Applications to major State departments may be filed online through the State Government portal, where available, and offline at the PIO's counter at Kolkata or the district collectorate. For Central Government offices, use the Central online portal. See How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 step-by-step for the Central online procedure, and Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for drafting pitfalls to avoid. The DPDP 2025 amendment The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 , notified on 14 November 2025, substituted the text of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005. The substitution applies uniformly across all States and Union Territories. The public-interest override under Section 8(2) is unchanged. For the practical effect on PIO replies, see Section 8(1)(j)"},{"s":"rules:west-bengal:rti-rules","t":"West Bengal RTI Rules","d":"Delhi RTI Rules. West Bengal. Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Bihar. Uttar Pradesh.","u":"/rules/west-bengal/rti-rules","x":"West Bengal RTI Rules Related Delhi RTI Rules. West Bengal. Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Bihar. Uttar Pradesh. Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026 Application fee An application containing a request in writing to the State Public Information Officer or the State Assistant Public Information Officer, as the case may be, made under sub-section (I) of Section 6 for obtaining information, shall be accompanied with a court-fee of rupees ten. Fee for providing information Save as otherwise provided in the provision to sub-section (5) of Section '7, the State Public Information Officer or the State Assistant Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall provide Information under sub-section (I), and sub-section (5), of Section 7 upon receipt or a request under Section 6, on payment of a fee of - rupees two, for each page (in A-4 or A-3 size paper) created or copied; or actual charge or cost price, for a copy in large size paper; or actual cost price, for sample or model; or rupees five for each fifteen minutes or fraction thereof, for inspection of records; or rupees fifty per diskette or floppy, for information provided in the diskette or floppy; or actual charge fixed for publication or rupees two per page of photocopy for extracts there from for information provided in printed form. Contents of appeal to Commission under sub-Section (3) of Section 19 An appeal to the Commission under sub-section (3) of Section 19, shall contain the following information, namely:- Name and address of the applicant; Name and address of the State Public Information Officer or the State Assistant Public Information Officer, as the case may be, who passed the order; Particulars of the order against which the appeal is made including its number and date; Brief facts of the case; Prayer or relief sought for by the appellant; Grounds for such prayer relief; and Verification by the appellant Documents to accompany appeal to Commission under sub-section (3) of Section 19 Every appeal made to the Commission shall be accompanied by the following documents, namely:- the attested true copy of the order against which the appeal is being preferred; the copies of the documents relied upon by the appellant and referred to in the appeal; and an index of the documents referred to in the appeal. Procedure in deciding appeal to Commission under sub-section (30 of Section 19 In deciding the appeal to the commission,"},{"s":"sitemap","t":"Sitemap — Every Page on RTI Wiki","d":"Live, auto-updated sitemap of every page on righttoinformation.wiki — grouped by section, with the blog featured prominently. Refreshes automatically as new articles publish.","u":"/sitemap","x":"Sitemap — Every Page on RTI Wiki ~~NOCACHE~~ Auto-updated index of every article, guide, template and blog post on the site. New pages appear within 15 minutes of publication. Machine-readable XML sitemap → ---- Generated dynamically. For corrections, email admin@bighelpers.in."},{"s":"state-rti-portal-rankings","t":"State RTI Portal Rankings 2026: Which Work Best for Citizens","d":"Evaluation and ranking of every State RTI online portal in India, 2026. Usability, navigation, features, and a citizen-friendliness score out of 50.","u":"/state-rti-portal-rankings","x":"State RTI Portal Rankings 2026: Which Work Best for Citizens Share this ranking · help a citizen file their next RTI online · Facebook · X / Twitter · WhatsApp · LinkedIn In one line: Of India's 28 States and 8 Union Territories, only 10 have a reliable online RTI portal . We evaluated each on 10 citizen-facing criteria (registration ease, payment options, form UX, status tracking, appeals, notifications, language support, mobile compatibility, BPL handling, response delivery) and scored them out of 50 . Kerala leads the States at 45/50 ; the Central rtionline.gov.in portal remains the benchmark at 48/50. Did you know? A well-built state RTI portal cuts average first-reply time from 32 days (postal) to 14 days. Kerala and Maharashtra report 60-70 percent of RTIs resolved within the statutory 30-day window; states without functional portals average 45-50 days. The quality of a State's portal is a leading indicator of its overall transparency score. Evaluation methodology We graded every live portal between 1 March and 15 April 2026 on 10 criteria. Each criterion scored 0 to 5 points , totalling 50 . ^ Criterion ^ What we measured ^ Registration ease Steps to create account; email/mobile OTP vs multi-field form Payment options UPI, debit/credit card, net banking, IPO. More options higher score Form UX Clear fields, autofill, drop-downs, mandatory-field clarity, help text Status tracking Application number generation, search by number, real-time status updates Notifications SMS alerts, email alerts for acknowledgement, reply, and hearing notices First-appeal flow Can appeal be filed online? Or must go postal? Process clarity Language support English, Hindi, regional language options on the portal UI Mobile compatibility Responsive design, UPI integration, mobile-friendly forms BPL handling Automatic fee waiver with BPL card upload, or manual Response delivery Reply visible in portal, downloadable PDF, email notification, physical copy The full ranking (sorted highest to lowest) ^ Rank ^ Portal ^ Score / 50 ^ Tier ^ Direct filing link ^ 1 Central Government 48 Benchmark rtionline.gov.in 2 Kerala 45 Tier 1 keralartionline.gov.in 3 Maharashtra 42 Tier 1 rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in 4 Karnataka 41 Tier 1 rtionline.karnataka.gov.in 5 Delhi 40 Tier 1 rtionline.delhi.gov.in 6 Odisha 36 Tier 2 rtiodisha.gov.in 7 Himachal Pradesh 34 Tier 2 admis.hp.nic.in/himrti 8 Andhra Pradesh 32 Tier 2 rti.ap.gov.in 9 Gujarat 30 Tier 2 rti.gujarat.gov.in 10 Punjab 28 Tier 3 rtionline.punjab.gov.in 11 Haryana 26 Tier 3 cmoffice.haryana.gov.in/rti 12 Tamil Nadu 24 Tier 3 tnsic.tn.gov.in 13 Madhya Pradesh"},{"s":"state-rti-portals-directory","t":"State-Specific RTI Online Portals: The 2026 Directory","d":"A clickable 2026 directory of every State and UT online RTI portal in India, their status, fees, and how to file when the portal does not work.","u":"/state-rti-portals-directory","x":"State-Specific RTI Online Portals: The 2026 Directory In one line: The Central Government's rtionline.gov.in portal covers only Central ministries. For State RTIs, most citizens must file postal applications with a Rs 10 Indian Postal Order. A handful of States have functional online portals; several others have portals that exist but do not work. This page maps each State and Union Territory. AI disclaimer: URLs and portal status change without notice. AI models, including Claude and ChatGPT, do not always know which State portal is currently live. Always return to this page before filing and confirm the link works. Introduction: Why this directory matters India's RTI Act is Central legislation, but information lies with both the Centre and the States. The filing route depends on who holds the record . A request for your passport file goes Central. A request for your land record goes State. Filing at the wrong portal wastes 30 days, sometimes 60, and at second appeal the Commission will dismiss for non-exhaustion of the proper channel. Most State portals were built between 2012 and 2019 under the Digital India initiative. Quality varies. Kerala and Maharashtra run reliable portals. Many northern States have portals that accept applications but never route them to the SIC. This directory tells you what works and what does not. Legal Basis Section 6 of the RTI Act, 2005 — application must be made to the PIO of the public authority holding the record. Section 27 — each State Government makes its own RTI Rules governing fee and mode of payment. Section 28 — the \"competent authority\" (for example, State Legislature Secretariat, High Court) makes its own procedural rules. State RTI Rules typically mandate a Rs 10 fee payable by Indian Postal Order, Demand Draft, or Banker's Cheque to the Accounts Officer of the department. A few States accept online payment. The Portal Directory A. States with LIVE and working online portals ^ State / UT ^ Portal URL ^ Fee ^ Status (April 2026) ^ Delhi rtionline.delhi.gov.in Rs 10 (online pay) Working. Covers Delhi Government departments, not MCD. Maharashtra rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in Rs 10 Working. Also accepts IPO physical route. Kerala keralartionline.gov.in Rs 10 Working. Strong tracker and SMS alerts. Karnataka rtionline.karnataka.gov.in Rs 10 (UPI) Working. Integrated with Seva Sindhu. Tamil Nadu tnsic.tn.gov.in Rs 50 SIC-only. Applications still go to PIO by post. Odisha rtiodisha.gov.in Rs 10 Working for State departments. Punjab rtionline.punjab.gov.in Rs 50"},{"s":"state-vs-central-rti","t":"Central vs State RTI: Which Should You File?","d":"A 4-question test to pick the right RTI route, fees (Rs 10 vs Rs 100 plus","u":"/state-vs-central-rti","x":"Central vs State RTI: Which Should You File? Did you know? Filing a State matter at the Central Information Commission wastes ninety days — the CIC cannot hear State appeals. The jurisdiction follows who holds the record, not who the question is about. A concise reference on when to file a State-level RTI and when to go to the Central Government under the same Right to Information Act, 2005. The confusion is common: applicants often file the right question at the wrong address and lose thirty days to a Section 6(3) transfer. This page removes that confusion. In one line. One Act, two parallel regimes. Pick the regime by asking: which government \"substantially finances\" or controls the body that holds the record? Central Government → Central RTI. State Government → State RTI. What that means in practice. Central matters : file at rtionline.gov.in , Rs 10, appeal to Central Information Commission. State matters : file with the State PIO (post or State portal), State-prescribed fee, appeal to the State Information Commission. Unsure : file with the most proximate authority. The Officer must transfer under Section 6(3) within five days. New to RTI? Start with the three most-used guides on this site: How to File RTI Online in India — 2026 Step-by-Step Guide. Why RTI Applications Get Rejected — and How to Avoid It. FAQ — twenty-five most-asked RTI questions. The structural point There is one Right to Information Act, 2005 — a Central enactment that extends to the whole of India. But the Act creates two parallel regimes under it: Central Government public authorities — Ministries, Central departments, Central PSUs, CBI, Passport Office, Railways, Post Office, Income Tax, EPFO, Indian Oil, NTPC, AIIMS, IITs, IIMs, central universities, the President's Secretariat, the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Election Commission, the Central Information Commission itself. State Government public authorities — State Secretariats, district collectors, State police, State PSUs, State universities, municipal corporations, panchayats, State Information Commissions. The Act, the exemptions, the 30-day timeline, and the appeal ladder are identical for both. What differs is who holds the record , where you file , what you pay , and which Commission hears the second appeal . Which regime applies — a four-question test 1. Who holds the information? The regime follows the holder , not the subject. A Central employee's service record held by the Department of Personnel and Training is a Central"},{"s":"templates:faa-speaking-order","t":"Template: FAA speaking order on a first appeal","d":"Base template for a disposal order by the First Appellate Authority under Section 19(6","u":"/templates/faa-speaking-order","x":"Template: FAA speaking order on a first appeal Base template for a disposal order by the First Appellate Authority under Section 19(6) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Structured as a judicial-style speaking order to reduce the scope of the second appeal before the Information Commission. Notes on state variants appear at the end. When to use this This template is used by the First Appellate Authority to dispose of a first appeal under Section 19(1) of the Act. The order must be passed within thirty days of the receipt of the appeal, or within a further period of fifteen days for reasons to be recorded in writing, the total period not exceeding forty-five days. A well-reasoned first appellate order serves two purposes. First, it disposes of the appeal on the merits, either by upholding the decision of the Central Public Information Officer, or by modifying it, or by setting it aside. Second, it narrows the points for consideration at the second appeal, by recording findings on the specific grounds urged in the first appeal. A well-reasoned order reduces the scope of litigation before the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission. The Act does not prescribe a format for the first appellate order. Good practice, however, is to follow a judicial-style structure. The template below reflects that practice. The template [sample application] Legal basis Section 19(1) of the Act confers the right of first appeal on any person aggrieved by a decision of the Central Public Information Officer, or on any person who has not received a decision within the time specified in Section 7(1). Section 19(5) of the Act places the onus of proving that a denial was justified on the Officer. Section 19(6) of the Act requires the disposal of the first appeal within thirty days of its receipt, extendable to forty-five days for reasons to be recorded in writing. Section 7(8)(i) of the Act requires reasons to be recorded for any rejection. Section 8(2) of the Act provides the public interest override. Section 10 of the Act provides for severability. Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) 10 SCC 1 and its proportionality framework apply where the right to privacy is asserted as a restriction on the right to information. Common mistakes Passing an order that does not engage the specific grounds urged in the first appeal. A speaking order must record findings"},{"s":"templates:first-appeal","t":"RTI First Appeal Format (30-Day Rule)","d":"First-appeal template under Section 19(1","u":"/templates/first-appeal","x":"RTI First Appeal Format (30-Day Rule) If your RTI was rejected. See Why RTI Applications Get Rejected in India — and How to Avoid It. Five reasons, the exact fix for each, and two case studies. Base template for an appeal under Section 19(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, addressed to the First Appellate Authority. Notes on state variants appear at the end. When to use this A first appeal lies to the First Appellate Authority of the public authority in three situations. The applicant has received a decision of the Central Public Information Officer under Section 7, and the applicant is aggrieved by that decision. The applicant has not received a decision of the Officer within the period specified in Section 7(1) — thirty days from the receipt of the complete application, or forty-eight hours where the matter concerns the life or liberty of a person. The applicant has received information the applicant considers incomplete, misleading, or false. The first appeal must be filed within thirty days from the date of receipt of the decision of the Officer, or within thirty days from the date on which the decision ought to have been received. The First Appellate Authority may admit a delayed appeal if the appellant shows sufficient cause. The template [sample application] Legal basis Section 19(1) of the Act provides that any person who does not receive a decision within the time specified in Section 7(1), or who is aggrieved by a decision of the Central Public Information Officer, may within thirty days from the expiry of such period or from the receipt of such a decision, prefer an appeal to such officer who is senior in rank to the Central Public Information Officer in each public authority. Section 19(5) of the Act provides that in any appeal proceedings, the onus to prove that a denial of a request was justified shall be on the Officer who denied the request. Section 19(6) of the Act provides that an appeal under Section 19(1) shall be disposed of within thirty days of the receipt of the appeal, or within such extended period not exceeding a total of forty-five days, for reasons to be recorded in writing. Section 7(2) of the Act provides that if the Officer fails to give a decision on the request for information within the period specified in Section 7(1), the Officer shall be deemed"},{"s":"templates:first-rti","t":"RTI Application Format 2026 (Copy-Paste)","d":"A working first-RTI template with the exact phrasing that forces a 30-day reply. Plus Section 6 drafting notes and one-line traps to avoid.","u":"/templates/first-rti","x":"RTI Application Format 2026 (Copy-Paste) If your RTI was rejected. See Why RTI Applications Get Rejected in India — and How to Avoid It. Five reasons, the exact fix for each, and two case studies. Base template for an application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, addressed to a Central Public Information Officer. Notes on state variants appear at the end. When to use this This template is used to seek information from a public authority for the first time. It is the starting point of every RTI matter. It is addressed to the Central Public Information Officer of the concerned public authority. Where the applicant does not know the correct Central Public Information Officer, the application may still be sent to the public authority, and the Officer who receives it is under a duty under Section 6(3) to transfer it to the appropriate Officer within five days. The applicant is not required to state the reason for the request. The Officer is not entitled to ask for the reason. Citizenship, however, is a pre-condition and must be declared on the face of the application. The template [sample application] Legal basis Section 6(1) of the Act provides the statutory right to make a request for information. The request is to be made in writing or through electronic means, in English, Hindi, or the official language of the area. Section 6(2) of the Act provides that the applicant shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the information or any personal detail except those necessary for contacting the applicant. Section 6(3) of the Act provides that where an application is made to a public authority requesting information which is held by another public authority, or the subject-matter of which is more closely connected with the functions of another public authority, the public authority shall transfer the application or the relevant part of it to that other public authority within five days and inform the applicant of the transfer. Section 7(1) of the Act provides that the Central Public Information Officer, on receipt of a request under Section 6, shall as expeditiously as possible, and in any case within thirty days of the receipt of the request, either provide the information on payment of the prescribed fee or reject the request for any of the reasons specified in Sections 8 and 9. The proviso to Section"},{"s":"templates:pio-reply-partial-denial","t":"Template: PIO partial disclosure with severability","d":"Base template for a reply applying Section 10 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information.","u":"/templates/pio-reply-partial-denial","x":"Template: PIO partial disclosure with severability Base template for a reply applying Section 10 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information. This is a variant of the standard PIO reply, focused on the severability reasoning that appellate forums expect to see. Notes on state variants appear at the end. When to use this Section 10 of the Act provides that where a record contains information which is exempt from disclosure and information which is not, the Officer must provide access to that part of the record that does not contain any information that is exempt. This template is used where the Officer has determined that a record engages one or more exemptions under Section 8 or Section 9, but the exempt information can be severed from the record, and the remainder furnished to the applicant. A reply that invokes Section 10 must demonstrate on its face that the Officer has applied the mind to three questions. First, what are the specific portions that are exempt? Second, what is the specific exemption engaged, and why? Third, can the exempt portions be severed without distorting the record or defeating the purpose of the application? The answers to these three questions are the reasoning that appellate forums examine. The template [sample application] Legal basis Section 10 of the Act provides that where a request for access to information is rejected on the ground that it is in relation to information which is exempt from disclosure, then, notwithstanding anything contained in the Act, access may be provided to that part of the record which does not contain any information which is exempt from disclosure under the Act and which can reasonably be severed from any part that contains exempt information. Section 7(8)(i) of the Act requires the Officer to communicate the reasons for any rejection. Section 8(2) of the Act provides the public interest override, through which public interest reasoning now operates after the amendment to Section 8(1)(j) effected by the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025. Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) 10 SCC 1 affirms the right to privacy as a fundamental right and lays down the proportionality test that applies when the right to privacy is asserted as a restriction on the right to information. Common mistakes Failing to identify the exempt portions with particularity. A bare assertion that the"},{"s":"templates:pio-reply-standard","t":"PIO Reply Format (Standard, Post-DPDP 2025)","d":"Standard PIO reply format that survives first and second appeal. Sections cited, exemptions listed, deemed-severability rule applied.","u":"/templates/pio-reply-standard","x":"PIO Reply Format (Standard, Post-DPDP 2025) Base template for a reply by the Central Public Information Officer under Section 7(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Covers full disclosure, partial disclosure, fee intimation, and rejection. Notes on state variants appear at the end. When to use this This template is the standard reply by the Central Public Information Officer to an application under Section 6(1). It is used within thirty days of the receipt of the complete application. Where the matter concerns the life or liberty of a person, the reply must issue within forty-eight hours. The template has four modes. The Officer selects the applicable mode or combines modes where the application covers multiple items of information. Where the reply communicates a rejection in whole or in part, the Officer must record reasons. A denial without reasons is not a denial in law. The template [sample application] Legal basis Section 7(1) of the Act provides that the Officer shall, as expeditiously as possible, and in any case within thirty days of the receipt of the request, either provide the information on payment of the prescribed fee or reject the request for any of the reasons specified in Section 8 or Section 9. The proviso to Section 7(1) provides that where the information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, it shall be provided within forty-eight hours of the receipt of the request. Section 7(3) of the Act provides that where a decision is taken to provide the information on payment of any further fee representing the cost of providing the information, the Officer shall send an intimation to the applicant specifying the details of the further fee together with the calculation made to arrive at the amount. Section 7(8) of the Act provides that where a request has been rejected, the Officer shall communicate the reasons for the rejection, the period within which an appeal may be preferred, and the particulars of the appellate authority. Section 8 of the Act sets out the exemptions from disclosure. Section 8(2) of the Act provides that notwithstanding anything in the Official Secrets Act or any of the exemptions in Section 8(1), a public authority may allow access to information if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests. Section 9 of the Act provides for the rejection of a request where a copyright subsisting in a"},{"s":"templates:pio-third-party-notice","t":"Template: Third-party notice under Section 11","d":"Base template for a notice by the Central Public Information Officer to a third party under Section 11(1","u":"/templates/pio-third-party-notice","x":"Template: Third-party notice under Section 11 Base template for a notice by the Central Public Information Officer to a third party under Section 11(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, and the subsequent communication under Section 11(3) after hearing the third party. Notes on state variants appear at the end. When to use this Section 11(1) of the Act applies where the Officer intends to disclose information, or a record, or part thereof, on a request made under the Act, and the information or record has been supplied by a third party and has been treated as confidential by that third party. In such a case, the Officer is under a statutory duty to give a notice to the third party, inviting the third party to make a submission on whether the information should be disclosed. The Section 11 procedure has three stages. Stage one. Within five days of the receipt of the application, the Officer issues a notice under Section 11(1) to the third party, intimating that the information has been requested and inviting the third party to make a submission within ten days from the date of the receipt of the notice. Stage two. The Officer considers the submission of the third party, if any, and makes a decision on whether to disclose the information. Stage three. The Officer communicates the decision to the applicant and to the third party. If the decision is to disclose, the third party has thirty days to prefer an appeal under Section 19 before the disclosure actually takes place. This template covers stage one and stage three. The Officer adapts the appropriate variant based on the stage. Part A — Template for notice under Section 11(1) [sample application] Part B — Template for communication of decision under Section 11(3) [sample application] Legal basis Section 11(1) of the Act provides that where a Central Public Information Officer intends to disclose any information or record, or part thereof, on a request made under the Act, which relates to or has been supplied by a third party and has been treated as confidential by that third party, the Officer shall, within five days from the receipt of the request, give a written notice to such third party of the request and of the fact that the Officer intends to disclose the information or record or part thereof, and invite the third party to make"},{"s":"templates:second-appeal","t":"RTI Second Appeal: CIC/SIC Format 2026","d":"Second-appeal template for the CIC or State Commission. Evidence checklist, penalty prayer, and the 7 facts to prove on day one.","u":"/templates/second-appeal","x":"RTI Second Appeal: CIC/SIC Format 2026 If your RTI was rejected. See Why RTI Applications Get Rejected in India — and How to Avoid It. Five reasons, the exact fix for each, and two case studies. Base template for an appeal under Section 19(3) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, addressed to the Central Information Commission. Substitute \"State Information Commission\" and the applicable State for State jurisdictions. Notes on state variants appear at the end. When to use this A second appeal lies to the Central Information Commission from the decision of the First Appellate Authority, or from the non-decision of the First Appellate Authority within the period of thirty or forty-five days prescribed under Section 19(6). The second appeal must be filed within ninety days from the date on which the decision of the First Appellate Authority ought to have been made, or was actually received. The Commission may admit a delayed appeal if the appellant shows sufficient cause. A second appeal is the last stage within the Act. Thereafter, the remedy lies in writ jurisdiction before the appropriate High Court. The template [sample application] Legal basis Section 19(3) of the Act provides that a second appeal against the decision under Section 19(1) shall lie within ninety days from the date on which the decision should have been made or was actually received, with the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission. Section 19(5) of the Act casts the onus of proving that a denial was justified on the Officer who denied the request. Section 19(7) of the Act provides that the decision of the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission shall be binding. Section 20(1) of the Act empowers the Commission to impose a penalty of two hundred and fifty rupees per day, subject to a maximum of twenty-five thousand rupees, on a Central Public Information Officer who, without reasonable cause, refuses to receive an application, does not furnish information within the time specified, malafidely denies the request, knowingly gives incorrect or incomplete information, destroys information, or obstructs the furnishing of information. Section 20(2) of the Act empowers the Commission to recommend disciplinary action against a Central Public Information Officer under the service rules applicable to the Officer. The Central Information Commission (Management) Regulations, 2007 prescribe the procedure for filing a second appeal, including the format, the documents to be enclosed, and the verification."},{"s":"templates:start","t":"RTI Templates 2026: 8 Drafts That Work","d":"Eight copy-ready drafts: first RTI, first appeal (Section 19(1","u":"/templates/start","x":"RTI Templates 2026: 8 Drafts That Work Did you know? The templates in this section are drafted to anticipate the officer's refusal grounds before they are raised — citing Section 8(2) public-interest overrides and referencing the leading Supreme Court decisions by name. Copy, fill, file. If your last RTI was rejected. See Why RTI Applications Get Rejected in India — and How to Avoid It. Five reasons, the exact fix for each, and two case studies of rejected RTIs corrected on appeal. Ready-to-use drafts for applicants, Public Information Officers, and First Appellate Authorities. Each template is written for Central Government use. Notes on state variants follow each draft. Practitioners are advised to read the linked explanations pages before adapting a template for a specific matter. For applicants First RTI application . An application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Covers fee treatment, the address block, and the standard phrasing that avoids common grounds of rejection. First appeal . An appeal under Section 19(1) to the First Appellate Authority. Covers the grounds most often accepted by Information Commissions when the matter progresses to the second appeal. Second appeal . An appeal under Section 19(3) to the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission. Covers the prescribed format, the supporting documents checklist, and the grounds that engage Section 8(2) after the 2025 amendment. For Public Information Officers Standard reply within thirty days . A clean reply under Section 7(1) of the Act. The base template for full disclosure, partial disclosure, and fee intimation. Partial disclosure with severability . A reply applying Section 10 where the record contains both exempt and non-exempt information. Includes the reasoning the First Appellate Authority expects to see. Third-party notice . A notice under Section 11(1) where disclosure of the information may affect a person other than the public authority. Includes the consequent communication under Section 11(3) after hearing the third party. For First Appellate Authorities Speaking order on a first appeal . A disposal order under Section 19(6) of the Act. Structured as a judicial-style order to reduce the scope of the second appeal. How to use these templates Each template follows the same structure. Read the When to use this note at the top. Read the template itself. Note the [SQUARE-BRACKET] placeholders, which are the fields a practitioner must fill in. Read the Legal basis section to understand the statutory foundation"},{"s":"tools:chat","t":"RTI Wiki AI — Free, Private, Open Source","d":"Free RTI chatbot. Ask anything about India's RTI Act — runs entirely in your browser with an open-source LLM. No sign-up, no API key, no data leaves your device.","u":"/tools/chat","x":"RTI Wiki AI — Free, Private, Open Source Tool not loading? Open directly at /tools/chat-app.html. What this is An RTI Wiki AI — chat about the RTI Act, 2005 that runs entirely in your browser . Ask questions in plain English — fees, timelines, grounds for refusal, case law, appeal procedure, state-specific rules, DPDP amendments — and the chatbot answers. Free as of now. No sign-up. No API key. No data leaves your device. How it works You pick an open-source model size (330 MB fastest, 720 MB balanced, 1.8 GB best). First use downloads the model once (cached in your browser). You type a question. The model runs on your device's GPU via WebGPU and streams an answer. The chat remembers the last few turns for context. The model is primed with the RTI Act framework — all 10 grounds of rejection, §19 appeals, §20 penalties, key sections, post-DPDP-2025 amendments, and 10+ landmark Supreme Court / High Court cases — before your question ever reaches it. What it is NOT Not legal advice. A 1-3 billion parameter model can be wrong. Cross-check with statutory text and the curated pages. Not up-to-the-minute. The model's prior knowledge is from its training date; for the latest rules, check our blog. Not a document-aware assistant yet. Phase 2 (coming) will add retrieval-augmented generation over all 300+ pages of this site. Requirements WebGPU — Chrome 113+, Edge, or any WebGPU-capable browser. Safari / Firefox support is experimental. First run download — 330 MB to 1.8 GB depending on model choice. One-time; cached thereafter. Privacy The question you type never leaves your browser. The model weights come from a public CDN (HuggingFace via WebLLM), but only once — cached afterwards. No tracking, no analytics, no logging of your questions on our side. Attribution Qwen 2.5 by Alibaba Qwen. Llama 3.2 by Meta under the Llama community licence. Quantization by MLC AI. Runtime — WebLLM (Apache-2.0). Related tools Question Builder — describe a problem, get the records to ask for. RTI Application Generator — produce a ready-to-file RTI. PIO Reply Checker — analyse a PIO reply (also has an AI deep-analysis option). First Appeal Builder — if the PIO refuses, draft the §19(1) appeal. Related reading Grounds for RTI rejection Ask for records, not answers RTI FAQ — 25 most-asked questions How to file RTI online 10 landmark CIC decisions Sources Right to Information Act, 2005"},{"s":"tools:first-appeal","t":"First Appeal Builder — Section 19(1)","d":"Free First Appeal Builder. Paste the PIO reply, the tool flags invalid grounds with case law, and drafts your Section 19(1","u":"/tools/first-appeal","x":"First Appeal Builder — Section 19(1) Tool not loading? Open it directly at /tools/first-appeal-app.html. How the builder works Step 1 — The original RTI. Date, PIO office, reference number, and the questions you asked. Step 2 — What the PIO did. Paste the reply text (if any). Or flag a deemed refusal if no reply arrived. Step 3 — Grounds of appeal. The builder scans the reply for 13 common invalid-ground patterns — each linked to statute and case law. You can tick, un-tick, and add your own grounds. Step 4 — Your details. Name, address, FAA contact (optional). The builder generates a complete Section 19(1) appeal letter with facts, grounds, relief sought, and enclosures list — ready to copy, download, or print. What the builder checks for Deemed refusal (§7(2)) — when the PIO missed the 30-day window or did not reply at all. §7(9) blanket refusal — \"voluminous\" / \"disproportionate\" without offering inspection. \"Confidential\" stamp cited under §8(1)(a) without a harm test. Sub-judice as a ground under §8(1)(b) without an express court order. §8(1)(d) invoked without third-party competitive-harm analysis. §8(1)(e) fiduciary applied to non-fiduciary records — Aditya Bandopadhyay , Jayantilal Mistry . §8(1)(h) investigation invoked where the inquiry is closed. §8(1)(i) cabinet invoked for a decided matter — R.K. Jain . §8(1)(j) personal without §8(2) balancing — post-DPDP-2025 framework. \"Not information\" dismissal without §5(3) reasonable assistance. Motive / reason asked — bar under §6(2). Blanket refusal without §10 severability. Third-party grounds without §11 procedure. Unreasoned refusal — violation of §7(8)(i). Each detected ground comes with its specific statutory citation and relevant Supreme Court / High Court authority. You review the list and edit what you want to keep. What the First Appeal gets you No filing fee. The First Appeal is free. Same public authority, senior officer. The FAA is typically one rank above the PIO, within the same office. 30 days to decide (extendable by 15 days with reasons) under §19(6). Higher remedies. The FAA can direct disclosure (§19(8)(a)), award compensation (§19(8)(b)), impose costs (§19(8)(c)), and recommend penalty on the PIO to the Information Commission. Timing File within 30 days of receiving the PIO's reply (or of the expiry of the PIO's 30-day window, for deemed refusals). Condonation of delay is permitted under §19(1) proviso only where the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause — plead this explicitly if you are late. Full procedural detail: First Appeal"},{"s":"tools:generator","t":"RTI Application Generator","d":"Free RTI Application Generator — pick your problem, fill three fields, get a ready-to-post application. 30 templates, privacy-safe, client-side.","u":"/tools/generator","x":"RTI Application Generator Tool not loading? Open it directly at /tools/rti-generator-app.html. How the generator works Pick your problem — 30 templates across daily-life, money-and-schemes, student, and community categories. Fill a few fields — typically 2–4 specific details (your application number, date, location) plus your name, address, mobile. Generate — a Section 6(1) RTI application appears, ready to copy, download as .txt, or print. Nothing is sent to any server. The tool runs entirely in your browser. Close the tab and the data is gone. What it does, and what it doesn't It does: produce a clean, reusable format with your details merged in, citing the right statutes and landmark cases where relevant. It doesn't: file the RTI for you, pay the fee, or track the reply. You still post it yourself (online or by Speed Post) and follow up. For filing logistics — online portals, fee modes, state-specific rules — see How to file RTI online in India and the relevant state procedure guide . The 30 templates at a glance Daily-life (10) Ration card delay · Birth certificate · Death certificate · Caste certificate · Marriage certificate · Domicile certificate · FIR copy & investigation · FIR not registered · Electricity bill dispute · Property registration Money & schemes (12) GST refund · Income-tax refund · PM-KISAN installment · PMAY installment · Ayushman Bharat claim · NSAP pension · MGNREGA wages · LPG subsidy (PAHAL) · Ujjwala connection (PMUY) · PMFBY crop-insurance · Jal Jeevan Mission Students (7) Exam result delay · Answer-sheet inspection · Degree verification · Scholarship not credited · UPSC/SSC marks & cut-off · Campus placement data · College admission rejection · Hostel fees breakdown Community (3) Water supply quality · Noise pollution · Metro project concerns If you want to learn the craft Before you file the generated RTI, read these two pages. They will fix almost any RTI before it goes: How to write an RTI — Ask for records, not answers — the single lesson that prevents most rejections. Why RTI gets rejected — drafting fix-it guide — the top 5 drafting mistakes and how to fix each. Got rejected after filing? Grounds for RTI rejection — the 10 valid refusals — what the PIO can and cannot refuse. First Appeal timelines — you have 30 days under Section 19(1). FAA appellate-review checklist — the grounds for your appeal, structured. RTI against a"},{"s":"tools:pio-reply-checker","t":"PIO Reply Checker","d":"Paste a PIO reply. The tool flags invalid grounds, deemed refusal, missing §10 severability, §11 procedure skips, fee over-demands — each with case-law authority and next step.","u":"/tools/pio-reply-checker","x":"PIO Reply Checker Tool not loading? Open it directly at /tools/pio-reply-checker-app.html. What this tool does Paste the PIO's reply into the text box. In seconds the tool returns: A verdict — strong grounds for appeal, likely appealable, or legally sound. A findings list — each invalid-ground pattern identified, categorised by severity. Statutory + case-law authority for every finding. A concrete next-step action per finding — what to add to your appeal. Timeline block — when your RTI was filed, when the 30-day window expired, when your First Appeal is due. Direct CTA to the First Appeal Builder (Tool 2) when appeal is warranted. All analysis runs in your browser. Nothing is sent to any server. What the tool checks Invalid refusals (high severity) §7(2) deemed refusal — date comparison between your RTI and the reply. §7(9) blanket refusal — \"voluminous\" / \"disproportionate\" without offering inspection. §8(1)(a) \"Confidential\" stamp cited without a harm-test. §8(1)(b) sub-judice cited without an express court order. §6(2) motive inquiry — PIO asking why you want the information. §7(8)(i) unreasoned refusal — boilerplate or bald order. Questionable grounds (medium severity) §8(1)(d) commercial without identified third-party and harm. §8(1)(e) fiduciary applied to non-fiduciary records. §8(1)(h) investigation where the inquiry may be closed. §8(1)(i) cabinet for a decided matter. §8(1)(j) personal without §8(2) balancing (post-DPDP 2025). \"Not information\" dismissal without §5(3) assistance. §11 third-party procedure skipped. §10 severability missing (blanket refusal). Fee demand beyond statutory rates (Rs. 10 + Rs. 2/page). Positive signals Inspection offered (correct under §7(9)). Specific harm-test cited. §10 severability applied. First Appellate Authority named. How the verdict is computed High-severity finding present → \"Strong grounds for appeal\". Two or more medium findings → \"Grounds for appeal likely\". One medium finding → \"One questionable refusal\". Only positive signals → \"Reply appears legally sound\". Nothing matched → \"No automatic triggers\" — manual review required. The verdict is a heuristic — a well-reasoned PIO order can pass all 18 checks and still be factually wrong. Conversely, the tool may flag a reply that is actually valid. Always read the findings and use your judgement. Three-tool workflow RTI Question Builder → map your problem to records. RTI Application Generator → produce the RTI letter. PIO reply arrives → paste it into this tool. First Appeal Builder → draft the §19(1) appeal. All four tools are client-side and privacy-safe. Optional deep analysis with open-source AI — free Below the static"},{"s":"tools:question-builder","t":"RTI Question Builder","d":"Describe your problem in plain language. The Question Builder maps your situation to the exact records to request under RTI and points to a ready template. Free and privacy-safe.","u":"/tools/question-builder","x":"RTI Question Builder Tool not loading? Open it directly at /tools/question-builder-app.html. What this tool solves The single biggest mistake in an RTI application is asking a \"why\" question instead of asking for records. The records-not-answers drafting guide explains the fix. The Question Builder does the translation for you. You describe your situation in your own words. The tool matches your description against 32 common RTI situations and tells you exactly which records you should request — each question phrased in a way that a Public Information Officer must either supply or invoke a specific Section 8 ground. How it works Type your problem in 1–3 sentences (plain English or Hinglish works). The tool scans for keywords across 32 RTI-situation templates. Top 3 matches are shown with a score, with the best match highlighted. For each match, you see the records you should ask for (4–10 specific queries). Two buttons per match: Open in the RTI Application Generator (to produce the full letter) and Read the full guide (to understand the legal basis). What's in the knowledge base The tool covers 32 common RTI situations across four categories: Daily Life (10) — ration card, birth certificate, death certificate, caste certificate, marriage certificate, domicile certificate, FIR copy, FIR not registered, electricity bill dispute, property registration. Money & Schemes (12) — GST refund, income-tax refund, PM-KISAN installment, PMAY installment, Ayushman Bharat claim, NSAP pension, MGNREGA wages, LPG subsidy (PAHAL), Ujjwala connection, PMFBY crop insurance, Jal Jeevan Mission. Students (8) — exam result delay, answer-sheet inspection, degree verification, scholarship not credited, UPSC/SSC marks and cut-off, campus placement data, college admission rejection, hostel fees breakdown. Community (3) — water supply quality, noise pollution complaint, metro project concerns. Each situation is backed by a detailed article on this site — the tool links you straight to it. What if no match is found Two things to try: Reword the problem. Use concrete nouns — \"electricity bill\", \"ration card application\", \"FIR number\" — instead of abstract phrasing. Draft manually. The Ask for records, not answers piece teaches the skill. Then use the RTI Application Generator with a closest-fit template. Why \"records, not answers\" Section 2(f) of the RTI Act defines \"information\" as any material held on record. A Public Information Officer has a duty to supply records — not to explain, interpret, or respond to \"why\" questions. ✘ \"Why have I not got a ration card?\" ✓"},{"s":"top-20-rti-questions","t":"Top 20 RTI Questions You Can Ask Government (With Examples)","d":"20 high-impact RTI questions Indian citizens can file today, with copy-paste wording, real examples, and the exact section of the RTI Act each one uses.","u":"/top-20-rti-questions","x":"Top 20 RTI Questions You Can Ask Government (With Examples) In one line: Under the Right to Information Act, 2005, any Indian citizen can ask a government body for copies of documents, lists, numbers, file notings, and inspection reports on record. File an RTI in 12 minutes, pay Rs 10, and the Public Information Officer must reply in 30 days under Section 7. Did you know? In 2023-24, Indian citizens filed over 14 lakh RTI applications to the Central Government alone. More than 3 in 4 were answered in full or in part. The most successful applications asked for one specific document per paragraph and cited the Section of the RTI Act that compelled disclosure. The copy-paste RTI format (use this first) [sample application] Now pick any of the 20 questions below and paste it as your numbered request. The 20 questions (by category) A. Services that affect you personally 1. Status of your own application Use this when your passport, PAN, ration card, caste certificate, scholarship, or pension application is stuck. > \"A copy of the file noting, movement history, and the current status of my application no. [application number] dated [date] in the matter of [subject], including the name and designation of the officer currently in seisin of the file.\" 2. Your own evaluated answer sheet Legally unlocked by the Supreme Court in CBSE and Anr. v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011). > \"A certified copy of my evaluated answer sheet of [subject/paper code] in the examination held in [month, year], roll number [XXXX].\" 3. Reason your benefit was stopped > \"A copy of the order, the file noting, and the rule or circular under which pension, ration, or scholarship payment to the undersigned (PPO or card number [X]) was discontinued in [month, year].\" 4. Status of your police complaint or FIR > \"A certified copy of the daily diary entry and the final order on my written complaint dated [date] at [police station], along with the present status of FIR no. [number, if issued].\" B. Money that should have reached you 5. Scholarship disbursement > \"A list of students of [college or scheme] who received the [scheme name] scholarship in the financial year [X], along with the date and amount credited. A copy of the sanction order and the utilisation certificate.\" 6. EPF or pension transfer > \"The current stage, file noting trail, and expected disposal date of my"},{"s":"top-rti-websites-india","t":"Top 20 RTI Websites in India Every Citizen Should Know (2026 Guide)","d":"Directory of 20 verified RTI websites — central filing portal, CIC, state portals, civil society groups, and legal archives. Each with official URL, features, and who should use it.","u":"/top-rti-websites-india","x":"Top 20 RTI Websites in India Every Citizen Should Know (2026 Guide) In one line. This is a curated, verified directory of the 20 most useful Right to Information (RTI) websites in India — five official central portals, seven state portals, five civil-society resources, and three legal research archives. Each entry carries the direct URL, what it does, and who should use it. How this list was built. Only active, functional websites as of April 2026. Preference to official government sources for filing and appeals. Civil-society inclusion limited to organisations with a documented multi-year record on RTI. No paid RTI-filing sites are included — the official portals are free. Readers are advised to confirm the URL before submitting any personal information. Did you know? The RTI Act, 2005 was passed by Parliament on 15 June 2005 and came into force on 12 October 2005. Twenty years on, the Central Information Commission receives more than 30,000 second appeals a year, and the central filing portal alone processes ~4 lakh applications annually. Introduction For twenty years, the Right to Information Act, 2005, has been India's quietest and most persistent democracy tool. Getting the right information to file a good RTI used to require trips to a Public Information Officer's counter. Today, most of the filing — and all of the research — can be done online. This guide curates the 20 websites every Indian citizen should know. Each one is independently verifiable and plays a specific role. Some are for filing an RTI; others are for research on the Act, the case law, or the Commissions; a few are for support when a reply is denied or delayed. Why RTI websites matter for citizens Speed. A central-government RTI filed at 10 pm is processed the next working morning. No travel, no stamp paper, no queues. Trackability. Every filing gets a Registration Number; every appeal gets a docket number. You can check status any time. Proof. The portal records confirm the date of filing — crucial for the 30-day reply clock. Cost. Rs. 10 by card / UPI / net-banking. BPL card holders pay zero. Research. The CIC, Supreme Court, and civil-society websites contain the case law that makes your appeal stronger. How to use this directory Use this simple decision rule: Filing a fresh RTI to a Central Government body? → Section A (Official Central Portals), item 1. Filing a fresh RTI"},{"s":"tracking-your-appeal-via-ai","t":"Tracking Your RTI Appeal via AI: Automate Updates from the CIC (2026 Guide)","d":"Track your CIC or SIC second appeal with automated tools and AI-assisted summarisation. Cuts appeal-monitoring time from hours to minutes.","u":"/tracking-your-appeal-via-ai","x":"Tracking Your RTI Appeal via AI: Automate Updates from the CIC (2026 Guide) In one line: A second appeal before the Central Information Commission can run 12 to 24 months. Manual tracking means refreshing cic.gov.in weekly, parsing unstructured cause-list PDFs, and missing hearing dates because India Post delivered the notice late. This guide combines the CIC portal's built-in alerts with AI-assisted summarisation to cut monitoring time by 80 percent. AI makes mistakes. AI models can misread dates, invent hearing rooms, and misattribute orders between cases. This guide shows the safe way to use AI for summarisation. Always cross-check every hearing date, room, and order against the official CIC cause list at cic.gov.in before acting. Introduction Once your first appeal under Section 19(1) is refused or ignored, your next move is a second appeal under Section 19(3) to the Central Information Commission (for Central matters) or the State Information Commission (for State matters). Section 19(6) says the Commission should dispose of the appeal \"as soon as possible and in any case within thirty days\". In 2023-24, the average CIC disposal time was 433 days (CIC Annual Report, 2023-24). Pendency at the CIC stood at 22,885 cases as of 31 March 2024. In that time, you will receive: A registration number and receipt. One or more hearing notices by India Post. An electronic cause list every week. Interim orders. A final order. Missing any of these causes real damage: an ex-parte dismissal, a penalty waiver, or a second appeal that goes stale. This guide shows how to never miss a CIC event and how to use AI to digest the paperwork. Legal Basis Section 19(1) and 19(3) — first and second appeal routes. Section 19(3) proviso — second appeal within 90 days of the first appellate authority's order, or expiry of the 45-day first-appeal window, whichever is earlier. Section 19(6) — Commission's 30-day disposal target. Section 19(8)(b) — the Commission's power to require compliance, award compensation, and impose penalties. Section 20 — penalty of Rs 250 per day up to Rs 25,000 on the erring PIO. CIC (Management) Regulations, 2007 and subsequent amendments — procedural rules for hearings, cause lists, and orders. DPDP Act, 2023, Section 44(3) — substituted Section 8(1)(j). Relevant to appeals where privacy is the ground of refusal. The CIC's Own Tracking Tools (Use These First) Before turning to AI, use the tools the CIC itself provides. Case status"},{"s":"updates:start","t":"Live tracker","d":"Current composition of the Central Information Commission, pendency figures, and recent notifications from the Department of Personnel and Training.","u":"/updates/start","x":"Live tracker Current composition of the Central Information Commission, pendency figures, and recent notifications from the Department of Personnel and Training. Figures on this page are maintained by hand and carry the date on which they were last recorded. Readers who need authoritative real-time figures should consult the primary source cited against each entry. Central Information Commission Chief Information Commissioner Raj Kumar Goyal. Sworn in as Chief Information Commissioner in December 2025. See Raj Kumar Goyal sworn in as Chief Information Commissioner; CIC reaches full strength for the appointment note. Predecessor. Heeralal Samariya demitted office on 13 September 2025. Information Commissioners The Central Information Commission returned to its full sanctioned strength of one Chief Information Commissioner and ten Information Commissioners in December 2025. It was the first time the Commission stood at full strength in nine years. See the appointment note for the context. The current list of serving Information Commissioners is maintained on the Central Information Commission website. Readers are advised to verify the list against that source. Pendency Figures below are drawn from the Satark Nagrik Sangathan Report on the Performance of Information Commissions in India, 2024-25 and from the annual returns published by the Commissions. State Information Commissions. Aggregate pendency across State Information Commissions crossed four lakh appeals and complaints in 2024-25. A state-wise breakdown is in Right to Information at twenty: the Information Commissions' report card for 2024-25. Central Information Commission. Pendency figures are to be read from the Commission's latest annual return. The figures are to be updated on this page when the next return is published. Recent notifications and events 14 November 2025. The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 were notified in the Gazette of India. Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 became operational and replaced the proviso to Section 8(1)(j) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. A practitioner note is at DPDP Rules, 2025: The amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. 12 October 2025. Twentieth anniversary of the commencement of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Satark Nagrik Sangathan report card was released on the same day. See Right to Information at twenty. 13 September 2025. Chief Information Commissioner Heeralal Samariya demitted office. December 2025. Raj Kumar Goyal sworn in as Chief Information Commissioner. Commission returned to full strength. Caveat on currency This page is maintained by hand. Figures are drawn from public sources"},{"s":"why-rti-gets-rejected","t":"6 Reasons Your RTI Gets Rejected (And Fixes)","d":"Six reasons PIOs reject RTI applications in India, with the exact wording that works, first-appeal drafts, and 4 Supreme Court rulings on your side.","u":"/why-rti-gets-rejected","x":"6 Reasons Your RTI Gets Rejected (And Fixes) Did you know? The word \"confidential\" is not a valid ground for refusal. The Public Information Officer must cite a specific clause of Section 8 or Section 9 of the Act, with reasons. Anything less is appealable. A senior-practitioner guide to the Right to Information Act, 2005. Why applications fail, how to fix each one, and two real-life style case studies of rejected RTIs that were rescued through better drafting and a Section 19(1) appeal. Written for first-time applicants, students, journalists, activists, and professionals. In one line. Most RTIs are rejected for drafting, not for law. A vague question, an opinion, the wrong department, or a bulky request — each is avoidable. What that means in practice. Ask for a document , not an explanation. Name the file number , date , or period . File with the right authority . Check Section 4 first. If rejected, use the first appeal under Section 19(1). No fee. Thirty days. You paid the Rs 10. You waited thirty days. The reply says: \"Information cannot be provided under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.\" Or worse — no reply at all. In most cases, the fault lies not in the law but in the application. The Right to Information Act, 2005 is a strong statute. Used carelessly, it still returns a blank. Used with care, it delivers. After the 14 November 2025 amendment to Section 8(1)(j), the margin for careless drafting is narrower still. This page sets out the top reasons Right to Information applications get rejected in India, gives the exact fix for each, and closes with two real-life style scenarios showing how rejected RTIs were corrected on appeal. What counts as \"rejection\" A rejection takes one of three forms. No reply in thirty days. Silence is treated as a refusal under Section 7(2). Forty-eight hours for life-or-liberty matters. Forty days where a third party is involved under Section 11. Partial reply. Some items answered, others withheld. Section 10 requires the Public Information Officer to release the non-exempt part after severing the rest. Express denial. The Officer cites Section 8(1), Section 9, Section 11, or Section 24 and refuses. Each is a valid ground for a first appeal under Section 19(1) . The appeal is free at the Central Government level. The time limit is thirty days. The five reasons RTI applications fail 1."}]