What information can RTI get you?

If you are short on time: use the AI RTI Drafter and describe the record you want in one sentence.

Many first-time applicants ask, “Why was my work delayed?” or “Why did the officer reject my request?” RTI usually works better when you ask for the file that contains the answer.

Instead of asking “Why is my pension pending?”, ask for the pension file movement, noting sheet, deficiency memo, pending officer name, and copies of orders passed on your application.

That small change makes your RTI harder to reject. It also gives you evidence for a grievance, first appeal, consumer complaint, service tribunal, or court case.

Under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act, “information” includes records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, log books, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models and electronic data held by a public authority.

This means you can ask for:

• certified copies of orders, notices and letters
• file notings and noting sheets
• file movement history
• inspection reports
• enquiry reports
• bills, vouchers and utilisation certificates
• tender documents and work orders
• attendance registers and duty rosters
• beneficiary lists for public schemes
• rules, circulars and office memoranda
• reasons already recorded in the file

If your work is pending, do not only ask for “status”. Ask for the records behind the status.

Good RTI wording:

Please provide certified copies of:
1. The complete file movement sheet for my application dated [date].
2. All noting sheets, deficiency memos and orders recorded on the file.
3. The name and designation of each officer with whom the file remained pending.
4. The rule or circular prescribing the normal time limit for disposal.

Use this format for pension, mutation, ration card, passport, scholarship, municipal licence, FIR copy, building plan, refund, subsidy and other public-service delays.

RTI is useful when public money has been spent or promised.

You can ask for:

• sanctioned amount and release order
• contractor name and work order
• measurement book entries
• completion certificate
• photographs submitted by the contractor
• bills, vouchers and payment dates
• utilisation certificate
• audit objection or inspection report

For public works, ask for the tender, work order, measurement book and payment vouchers together. These records show what was promised, what was measured, and what was paid.

If an office rejects your application, cancels a benefit, delays a service, or demands extra documents, ask for the rule.

Good RTI wording:

Please provide a certified copy of the rule, circular, notification or office order under which the above requirement was imposed.

If the office cannot show a rule, that helps you in appeal or grievance proceedings.

If a file is large, ask for inspection first. Section 2(j) includes the right to inspect records and take notes or extracts.

Good wording:

Please allow inspection of the complete file relating to [subject] and permit me to identify pages for certified copies.

Inspection is useful for building permissions, tender files, school records, municipal works, land records and long-running complaints.

RTI is powerful, but it is not a magic question-answer service.

RTI usually cannot compel an officer to:

• create a new explanation that is not already on record
• give personal opinions
• answer hypothetical questions
• solve your grievance directly
• interpret law for you
• disclose exempt information under Section 8 without a public-interest case
• give private information unrelated to public activity

If you need action, use RTI to collect the records, then file the correct appeal, grievance or complaint.

Ask for the file notings, file movement and pending officer details. If the reason is recorded, you will get it. If no reason is recorded, that fact itself helps your grievance.

Yes, file notings are generally information under Section 2(f), subject to valid exemptions such as Section 8.

Sometimes. Records about public duty, public money or public action may be disclosable. Purely personal information can be refused under Section 8(1)(j) unless larger public interest is shown.

No. RTI gives records. Use those records in a first appeal, grievance, consumer complaint, departmental complaint, or court case.

Ask for inspection and identify the pages you need. Also narrow your date range, office and subject.

• Write the public authority that probably holds the record.
• Convert every “why” question into a request for a document.
• Add a date range, file number, application number or subject.
• Use the AI RTI Drafter to make a clean draft.
• Save your proof of filing. You will need it for first appeal.

• How to file an RTI in India
• Section 6 — how to make an RTI request
• Section 7 — reply timelines
• Section 8 — exemptions
• State RTI portals directory
• First Appeal Builder

• Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 2(f), 2(j), 6, 7 and 8 — India Code
• Central RTI online portal — rtionline.gov.in

Last reviewed: 17 May 2026 — RTI Wiki editorial team.

What information can you get through RTI — complete guide with examples, scope, and limitations for 2026:

1. Step 1: The scope of “information” under Section 2(f). (a) the RTI Act defines “information” — under Section 2(f) — as any material in any form — including: (i) records, (ii) documents, (iii) memos, (iv) e-mails, (v) opinions, (vi) advices, (vii) press releases, (viii) circulars, (ix) orders, (x) logbooks, (xi) contracts, (xii) reports, (xiii) papers, (xiv) samples, (xv) models, (xvi) data material — held by or under the control of a public authority — in electronic or physical form, (b) the information includes: (i) the information relating to any private body — which can be accessed by a public authority — under any other law (e.g., the pollution control board — can access the information of a factory — under the Environmental Protection Act — and the citizen can get that information — through RTI), (ii) the information stored in electronic form (e.g., the database of the land records — or the voter list — or the PF accounts), (iii) the information in physical form (e.g., the file notings — and the correspondence — and the registers).
2. Step 2: What you CAN get through RTI. (a) government records: (i) the file notings (the notes — of the officers — on the file — including the comments — and the recommendations — and the decisions), (ii) the correspondence (the letters — and the e-mails — and the memos — between the officers — and the departments), (iii) the orders and circulars (the government orders — and the circulars — and the notifications — and the guidelines), (b) financial records: (i) the budget (the annual budget — and the allocations — and the expenditure), (ii) the contracts and agreements (the government contracts — and the agreements — and the MoUs — and the terms — and the conditions), (iii) the bills and vouchers (the bills — and the vouchers — and the payment records — and the utilization certificates), © personal records: (i) the service records (the service book — and the attendance — and the salary — and the promotions — of government employees), (ii) the pension records (the pension payment orders — and the pension amount — and the status), (iii) the land records (the patta — and the mutation — and the encumbrance — and the survey), (d) public services: (i) the ration card (the eligibility — and the issuance — and the status), (ii) the passport (the application status — and the reason for delay), (iii) the PF and pension (the account details — and the balance — and the transfer — and the withdrawal), (iv) the MGNREGA (the job card — and the works — and the wages — and the social audit), (e) regulatory: (i) the inspection reports (the factory inspection — and the drug inspection — and the food inspection), (ii) the licenses (the license issuance — and the conditions — and the revocation), (iii) the compliance reports (the environmental compliance — and the safety compliance — and the labour compliance).
3. Step 3: What you CANNOT get through RTI (Section 8 exemptions). (a) Section 8(1)(a): information whose disclosure would prejudicially affect: (i) the sovereignty and integrity of India, (ii) the strategic, scientific, or economic interests of the state, (iii) the relation with a foreign state, (b) Section 8(1)(d): information including commercial confidence, trade secrets, or intellectual property — whose disclosure would harm the competitive position of a third party — unless the competent authority is satisfied that the larger public interest warrants the disclosure, © Section 8(1)(e): information available to a person in his fiduciary relationship — unless the competent authority is satisfied that the larger public interest warrants the disclosure, (d) Section 8(1)(g): information whose disclosure would endanger the life or physical safety of any person — or identify the source of information — given in confidence for law enforcement purposes, (e) Section 8(1)(h): information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders, (f) Section 8(1)(j): personal information which has no relationship to any public activity or interest — or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of an individual — unless the PIO is satisfied that the larger public interest warrants the disclosure, (g) Section 9: information which involves an infringement of copyright — subsisting in a person other than the state.
4. Step 4: Can you get file notings? (a) yes — file notings are obtainable under RTI (the Central Information Commission — and the High Courts — and the Supreme Court — have held — that file notings are “information” — under Section 2(f) — and are not exempt — under Section 8 — unless they fall under a specific exemption), (b) the file notings include: (i) the notes of the officers (the comments — and the observations — and the recommendations), (ii) the decisions (the approval — or the rejection — or the modification), (iii) the correspondence (the letters — and the memos — on the file), © the file notings are important because: (i) they show the decision-making process (why the decision was made — and who made it — and on what basis), (ii) they reveal the officers' accountability (whether the officer followed the rules — or acted arbitrarily), (iii) they expose the corruption (whether the officer considered the public interest — or acted for personal gain), (d) the Supreme Court (in the CBSE vs Aditya Bandopadhyay case, 2011) held that: (i) the answer sheets are “information” — and can be obtained under RTI, (ii) the file notings — on the answer sheet evaluation — can also be obtained — unless exempt.
5. Step 5: Can you get information from private bodies? (a) the RTI Act applies to “public authorities” — which are: (i) government bodies (central, state, and local), (ii) bodies owned, controlled, or substantially financed by the government, (iii) NGOs substantially financed by the government, (b) the RTI Act does not directly apply to private companies — but: (i) if a public authority can access the information of a private body — under any other law — then the citizen can get that information — through RTI — from the public authority, (ii) examples: the pollution control board can access the pollution data of a factory — under the Environmental Protection Act — and the citizen can get the pollution data — through RTI — from the pollution control board, (iii) the electricity regulator can access the tariff data of a power company — under the Electricity Act — and the citizen can get the tariff data — through RTI — from the regulator, © the Supreme Court (in the RBI vs Jayantilal Mistry case) held that: (i) the RBI can access the inspection reports of banks — under the Banking Regulation Act, (ii) the citizen can get the inspection reports — through RTI — from the RBI — and the RBI cannot refuse — citing fiduciary relationship — or public interest.
6. Step 6: Can you get information about a third party? (a) yes — but the PIO must follow the Section 11 procedure: (i) the PIO — if the information relates to a third party — must give a written notice to the third party — within 5 days — of receiving the RTI application, (ii) the third party — within 10 days — must make a representation — for or against the disclosure, (iii) the PIO — after considering the third party's representation — must decide — within 40 days — whether to disclose — and must give the reasons — for the decision, (b) the third party information is disclosed if: (i) the public interest warrants the disclosure, (ii) the information is not exempt under Section 8(1)(d) (commercial confidence) — or Section 8(1)(e) (fiduciary relationship) — or Section 8(1)(j) (personal privacy), © examples: (i) the contract between the government and a private company — can be disclosed — because the public interest — in the use of public funds — outweighs the commercial confidence, (ii) the salary of a government employee — can be disclosed — because the salary is paid from public funds — and the public interest warrants the disclosure, (iii) the personal details of a private citizen — like the Aadhaar number — or the phone number — cannot be disclosed — because the privacy — under Section 8(1)(j) — outweighs the public interest.
7. Step 7: Practical tips. (a) be specific (ask for the specific document — or record — or file noting — not a vague question — like “give me all the information”), (b) cite the section (if the PIO refuses — cite the section — under which the information is sought — and the section — under which the refusal is claimed — and challenge the refusal — in the first appeal), © use the “larger public interest” argument (if the information is exempt — under Section 8(1)(d) or (e) or (j) — argue that the larger public interest — warrants the disclosure — and the PIO must disclose — if the public interest outweighs the exemption), (d) file appeals (if the PIO refuses — file the first appeal — and the second appeal — and the courts — if necessary), (e) Example: A citizen filed RTI with the municipal corporation — asking for the file notings — on the approval of a building plan — the PIO refused — citing Section 8(1)(j) — the citizen filed a first appeal — arguing that the file notings relate to a public activity — and the public interest warrants the disclosure — the FAA directed the PIO to disclose — the file notings showed that the building plan was approved — in violation of the zoning rules — and the citizen filed a complaint — with the anti-corruption bureau — and the building was sealed.

See What RTI Can Get and Section 2(f) Information.