| Attribute | Option A | Option B |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage of public authorities | Online: Central + ~10 working state portals. Offline: works for everyone, including 36 states + 1.4M+ panchayats. | |
| Speed of filing | Online: 5 minutes. Offline: 30-60 minutes (write + IPO + Speed Post). | |
| Cost | Same ₹10 statutory fee (some states ₹50). Online: UPI; Offline: IPO commission ~₹3. | |
| Tracking | Online: built-in dashboard. Offline: Speed Post tracking + local PIO follow-up. | |
| Acknowledgement | Online: instant. Offline: AD card (Acknowledgement Due) within 7-10 days. | |
| Reliability | Online: depends on state portal. Bihar/UP portals routinely fail to forward to PIO. Offline: cannot get lost; sender keeps proof. | |
| Privacy | Online: state portal logs IP+device. Offline: paper trail only. | |
| Best for | Online: Central ministries + Maharashtra/Kerala/Karnataka/Delhi/Odisha/Punjab. Offline: everyone else + sensitive cases. | |
| Hybrid pattern (recommended) | Both: file online + simultaneously by Speed Post for the same ref. Counts as one application; doubles reliability. |
Take action now
This comparison reflects RTI Wiki's understanding of competing options as of April 2026. We are not affiliated with filemyrti.com or CIC.