Top 20 RTI Questions You Can Ask Government (With Examples)

• Six categories — governance, finance, services, your own record, infrastructure, environment.
• All are copy-paste — reframe by inserting dates, place names, and file numbers.
• All specify a document — the core rule: ask for records, not opinions.
• 30-day reply — §7(1) of the RTI Act.
• Rs 10 fee — Central; Rs 20 most States; free for BPL.
• If refused — First Appeal within 30 days under §19(1).

Not sure what type of RTI to file? Use the table below to match your problem to the right category, sample question, and the RTI Act section that backs it.

To,
The Central/State Public Information Officer,
[Department / Ministry / Office],
[Full address].

Sir/Madam,

Subject: Request for information under the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, I request the following information:

1. [One specific document, list, or fact, with exact date/year/subject].
2. [Second request, separate from the first].
3. [Third request].

I enclose an Indian Postal Order of Rs 10 payable to the Accounts Officer, [department], towards the application fee under Rule 3 of the RTI Fees Rules.

Kindly send the reply to the address below.

Yours faithfully,
[Full name]
[Address]
[Phone and email]
Date:

Now pick any of the 20 questions below and paste it as your numbered request.

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.”

See RTI for Passport Delay and RTI for Ration Card Status for department-specific wording.

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].”

See RTI for Answer Sheet Evaluation and RTI for CBSE Re-evaluation Records 2026 for detailed templates.

“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].”

See RTI for Pension Delay 2026 and RTI for Ration Card Cancellation.

“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].”

See RTI for FIR Status 2026 for the full format.

“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.”

See RTI for Scholarship Delay and RTI for NSP Scholarship Not Credited.

“The current stage, file noting trail, and expected disposal date of my EPF transfer-in claim or pension commencement under PPO [X] dated [date].”

See RTI for Stuck PF Withdrawal and RTI for EPF Withdrawal Delay 2026.

“A copy of the list of beneficiaries under [scheme name] in [panchayat or ward] for the financial year [X], along with the criteria used and the sanctioning authority.”

See RTI for PM-Kisan Installment, RTI for PMAY Status, and MGNREGA Wages.

“A copy of the sanction order, utilisation certificate, and photograph-based inspection report for [specific work, e.g. boundary wall, streetlight installation] under MPLADS or MLALADS in [constituency or ward] during [financial year].”

See RTI for MP/MLA Fund Utilisation and RTI for Utilisation Certificate.

“A copy of the tender document, contract award, estimated and actual expenditure, and completion certificate for [specific road, drain, park, or streetlight work] in [ward or locality] in the financial year [X].”

See RTI for Road Repair Delay and RTI for Streetlight Non-Functional.

“A copy of the last three inspection reports of [government school or Primary Health Centre], along with the attendance register of teachers or doctors for the month of [month, year].”

See RTI for Government Schools and RTI for Teacher Attendance.

“A list of starred and unstarred questions asked by [MP or MLA name, constituency] in [House] between [date range], along with the subject of each question and the minister to whom it was addressed.”

“The total expenditure incurred on domestic and foreign travel of [minister name] between [date range], along with dates, destinations, and the purpose of each visit.”

“A copy of the merit list, cut-off marks, and the selection committee's minutes for [post name] advertised under notification no. [X] dated [date].”

See RTI for Recruitment Merit List and RTI for Recruitment Cut-Off.

“A copy of the tender document, the list of bidders, the evaluation sheet, and the reasons for awarding the contract to [firm name] for [project name] under notification no. [X].”

See RTI for Tender Evaluation and RTI for Government Contract Award.

“A list of beneficiaries of the [scheme name] subsidy or loan waiver in [district or block] for the financial year [X], with name, village, and amount credited.”

“A copy of the purchase order, technical specifications, rate contract, and the utilisation report for [equipment, e.g. laptops for municipal schools] bought in the financial year [X].”

“A copy of the latest office memorandum, standing order, or circular issued by [department] regarding [subject], including all amendments up to [date].”

See RTI for Transfer & Posting Policy for the format.

“A copy of the transfer and posting policy of [cadre or service] in force during [financial year X], along with the list of exceptions granted and the reasons recorded.”

“A copy of the complete file noting, including inter-departmental communications, leading to the order no. [X] dated [date] in the matter of [subject].”

Refer to Girish Deshpande for what survives a Section 8(1)(j) privacy test after DPDP 2025.

The RTI Act reaches every public authority substantially financed or controlled by the government. Examples that many applicants do not try: Reserve Bank of India (on policy, regulation, and supervisory action), UGC-funded universities, IITs and IIMs, ONGC, IOC, SBI and other PSUs, Election Commission of India, Supreme Court and High Court registries (on administrative matters, not judicial proceedings), and regulators like SEBI, TRAI, IRDAI, CAG.

“A copy of [specific order, report, circular, or inspection note] issued by [public authority] in the matter of [subject] during [date range].”

See Thalappalam Co-op Bank (SC, 2013) for the “substantially financed” test.

Choosing the right question is the single biggest factor in whether your RTI succeeds. Follow these steps:

1. Start with a document, not a complaint. If you cannot name the specific record you want (file noting, sanction order, beneficiary list, inspection report), the PIO can lawfully say the information is not available in the form you seek. See the 6 top rejection reasons.
2. Match the authority to the subject. Federal subjects (defence, passport, income tax, railway) go to the Central PIO. State subjects (police, land, revenue, school) go to the State PIO. See Central vs State RTI.
3. Check if the information is already public. Many departments proactively publish data under Section 4(1)(b) — check the department's website first. The DoPT maintains a consolidated RTI Act reference and DoPT RTI guidelines.
4. Frame one subject per RTI. If your questions span multiple departments, file separate applications. Each costs Rs 10 but you avoid the “multiple subjects” rejection.
5. Use the RTI Assistant tool at RTI Assistant to auto-draft your application based on your situation.

The RTI Act defines “information” very broadly under Section 2(f):

• Documents, records, and files
• File notings and internal communications
• Circulars, memoranda, and press releases
• Contracts, tenders, and purchase orders
• Data held in electronic form
• Samples of materials

You cannot ask for:

• Opinions or advice — “Do you think the road will be built?” is not a document.
• Answers to hypothetical questions — “What would happen if I filed a complaint?” is not on record.
• Information exempt under Section 8 — including national security, Cabinet deliberations, trade secrets, fiduciary records, and personal information of third parties (unless public interest overrides under the Section 8(1)(j) test).
• Information that would require the PIO to create new records — e.g., “Analyse whether this policy is effective.” You can ask for the policy document, not an analysis.

See Girish Deshpande (SC, 2013) and K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (Privacy, 2017) for the privacy boundary.

Once you file, the RTI Act sets a strict legal timeline:

1. Day 0: You file the RTI (by post, or online at rtionline.gov.in).
2. Days 1–5: If the information is held by a different public authority, the PIO must transfer your application under Section 6(3) and inform you.
3. Day 30: The PIO must provide the information or refuse in writing under Section 7(1), citing the specific exemption clause.
4. Day 48 (life or liberty): If the matter concerns life or liberty, the reply is due in 48 hours (Section 7(1) proviso).
5. Day 40 (third-party info): If the information involves a third party, the PIO issues a notice under Section 11, giving the third party a chance to object — the timeline extends to 40 days.
6. Day 30+1 to 60: If the PIO refuses or is silent, you file a First Appeal within 30 days under Section 19(1). Use the first appeal format.
7. Day 60+1 to 120: If the First Appellate Authority also refuses, you file a Second Appeal before the CIC or SIC within 90 days under Section 19(3). Use the second appeal format.

1. Identify the right public authority. Federal subject (defence, passport, income tax, railway) goes to the Central PIO. State subject (police, land, revenue, school) goes to the State PIO. See Central vs State RTI.
2. Draft the application using the format above. One request per paragraph. Specific dates and subjects.
3. Pay the Rs 10 fee. Indian Postal Order (IPO), Demand Draft, or online for the Central Government at rtionline.gov.in. BPL applicants pay nothing — see RTI Fee Waiver for BPL.
4. Send by Speed Post (get a proof of delivery) or file online for central departments.
5. Wait up to 30 days (48 hours if a life or liberty issue is involved, per Section 7(1) proviso).
6. If the PIO refuses or delays, file a first appeal within 30 days using the first appeal format. See First Appeal §19(1) — 30-day window for details.
7. If the First Appellate Authority also refuses, file a second appeal before the Central or State Information Commission within 90 days using the second appeal format.

1. Asking “why” instead of “what”. Do not ask “Why was my file stalled?”. Ask “A copy of the current file noting on my application”. See the 6 top rejection reasons.
2. Asking for an opinion. “Do you think the road will be built?” is not a document. Ask for the sanction order and work-completion certificate.
3. Combining an RTI with a grievance. Keep action requests separate. See RTI vs Complaint.
4. Naming a third-party individual without cause. Section 8(1)(j) denials follow, especially post-DPDP 2025. Anchor the request in public activity, not the individual.
5. Filing the RTI with the wrong authority. The central Ministry of Education has no files on state-run schools. The state Education Department does.
6. Forgetting the Rs 10 IPO. A missing fee is a common rejection ground, though the PIO should notify you first under Rule 6.
7. Using an anonymous address. The applicant must be a citizen of India (see who is a citizen for RTI).

You can ask multiple questions, but each on a distinct subject with its own clear wording, in numbered paragraphs. A single application must concern one public authority. If your 20 questions span different ministries, file 20 separate RTIs (one fee each). If they all concern one department, file one RTI with 20 numbered requests.

The PIO must answer every request that falls within the public authority's records and is not exempt under Section 8 or Section 9. For each refused item, the PIO must cite the specific sub-clause and give reasons, per Section 7(8).

The receiving PIO must transfer the request to the correct PIO within 5 days under Section 6(3) and inform you. Do not refile on your own during this period.

Yes for supervisory records and regulatory actions. Note the Supreme Court's ruling in RBI v. Jayantilal N. Mistry (2016) on fiduciary relationship claims. Specific depositor files may be blocked under Section 8(1)(e) fiduciary or Section 8(1)(j) privacy.

The PIO must reply in 30 days under Section 7(1). For matters of life or liberty, the reply is due in 48 hours. For third-party information under Section 11, the timeline extends to 40 days to allow for notice and objections.

In practice, a citizen-driven RTI is routine and rarely attracts trouble. If there is retaliation, the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014 provides some cover, and a complaint under Section 18 to the Information Commission is available for the PIO's misconduct.

No. Section 6(1)(b) requires the applicant to provide their name and contact details. However, if you are concerned about privacy, you can request that the information be sent by email. Note that the applicant must be an Indian citizen — see who qualifies as a citizen for RTI purposes. The DoPT confirms this in its official RTI Act text.

The Rs 10 application fee applies to Central Government public authorities under the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Most States charge Rs 20. BPL (Below Poverty Line) applicants are fully exempt from the fee — they only need to attach a copy of their BPL certificate. See RTI Fee Waiver for BPL and the DoPT fee rules page for the official schedule.

Generally no — private companies are not “public authorities” under Section 2(h). However, you can ask a government regulator (SEBI, RBI, IRDAI, TRAI) about its regulatory action against a private company. You can also ask a government department about its contracts with a private firm, since the contract is a government record. See Thalappalam Co-op Bank for the “substantially financed” test and the RTI Act, Section 2(h)(i)(d) for the definition of public authority.

Yes. Under Section 2(j), the right to information includes the right to inspect works, documents, and records — and to take certified samples or extracts. You can request an inspection date and then decide which pages to have photocopied (at Rs 2 per page for Central). This is often cheaper than requesting full copies blindly. See RTI for Personal Problems for practical examples.

If the PIO provides some information but withholds other parts, you can file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) challenging the partial denial. The FAA must review each refused item independently and either uphold the PIO's decision or direct disclosure. See First Appeal Timelines and Privacy vs Public Interest Balancing.

There is no statutory word limit in the RTI Act. However, some PIOs claim a 150-word or 250-word “guideline” (based on a 2005 DoPT OM that is advisory, not mandatory). The CIC has repeatedly held that no such limit is binding. Keep your application clear and specific — a well-drafted 500-word RTI with 5 numbered requests is better than a vague 3000-word essay.

No. Only citizens of India can file RTI applications under Section 3. NRIs holding Indian citizenship (OCI cardholders are not citizens) can file. Foreign nationals cannot. See citizen under the RTI Act.

Pick any one of the 20 questions above. Paste it into the copy-paste format at the top. Post it by Speed Post with a Rs 10 IPO, or file online at rtionline.gov.in. You will have an answer in 30 days.

For state-specific filing, see our state RTI rules. If the reply is inadequate or late, use the first appeal format.

• File your first RTI: 12-step online guide.
• Pick the right wording: Why RTIs get rejected — avoid it.
• For a personal problem: Passport / pension / FIR / mutation / scholarship templates.
• If rejected: First Appeal §19(1) — 30-day window.
• See landmark rulings: 310+ RTI rulings database.

• The RTI Act, 2005 (as amended on 14 November 2025)
• RTI vs Complaint: When to Use RTI and When Not To
• File RTI Online in India: 12 Steps (2026)
• 6 Reasons Your RTI Gets Rejected (And Fixes)
• RTI Application Format 2026 (Copy-Paste)
• RTI First Appeal Format (30-Day Rule)
• RTI Second Appeal: CIC/SIC Format 2026
• 25 RTI Questions Answered (2026 Update)
• Central vs State RTI: Which Should You File?

• State RTI Portal Rankings 2026
• Fees by State

1. Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 2(f), 2(h), 2(j), 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 18, 19.
2. RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005.
3. Central Information Commission, Annual Report 2023-24, available at CIC Annual Report 2023-24.
4. Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 (updated 2013), available at DoPT RTI Act Guide.
5. DoPT, RTI Fee and Cost Rules, available at DoPT Fee Rules.
6. DoPT, Guidelines and Circulars on RTI, available at DoPT Guidelines.
7. Government of India, RTI Online Portal, rtionline.gov.in.
8. Press Information Bureau (PIB), Right to Information Act backgrounders, available at PIB RTI Releases.
9. CBSE and Anr. v. Aditya Bandopadhyay, (2011) 8 SCC 497.
10. Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. CIC, (2013) 1 SCC 212.
11. Thalappalam Ser. Coop. Bank Ltd. v. State of Kerala, (2013) 16 SCC 82.
12. K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, (2017) 10 SCC 1.
13. RBI v. Jayantilal N. Mistry, (2016) 3 SCC 525.

Last reviewed on: 10 July 2026. Next scheduled review: October 2026.