Right to Information application to any Central or State Government department, PSU, or public authority.
CPIO of the relevant public authority at the concerned department.
No limitation period. File as soon as information is needed.
This coverage is provided by a practicing advocate. Specific sections cited depend on the facts you provide during drafting.
An RTI (Right to Information) application is a written request filed under the Right to Information Act, 2005 with a Public Information Officer (PIO) of a Central or State government body, seeking specific information held by that public authority. It is one of the most powerful tools available to citizens for ensuring government accountability and transparency.
File an RTI application when you need official information from a government department or public authority — status of your passport or PAN application, details of a government contract, copies of inspection reports, information about a government scheme, status of a complaint filed with a government body, or details of public expenditure. Also used to expose corruption, delay, or inaction by government officials.
The Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) governs the right to seek information from public authorities. Section 6 prescribes the procedure for filing an RTI application. The PIO must respond within 30 days (or 48 hours for life/liberty matters). Section 8 lists exemptions (national security, cabinet papers, third-party commercial information). The Central Information Commission (CIC) or State Information Commissions (SIC) hear appeals. The RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 modified tenure and service conditions of Information Commissioners.
If the PIO does not respond within 30 days or provides an unsatisfactory response, you can file a First Appeal before the First Appellate Authority (Section 19(1)) within 30 days. If the First Appeal is also unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal/complaint before the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission. The CIC/SIC can impose penalties of ₹250/day (up to ₹25,000) on erring PIOs and recommend disciplinary action.
Any Indian citizen can file an RTI application. There is no requirement to show a personal interest in the information sought. The RTI Act gives every citizen the right to request information from public authorities.
For Central Government bodies: ₹10 application fee (by cash, DD, postal order, or online for Central RTI portal). For State Government bodies: fees vary by state (typically ₹10–₹50). BPL (Below Poverty Line) card holders are exempt from fees.
Yes. For Central Government departments, you can file online at rtionline.gov.in. Several states also have online RTI portals. For bodies not covered, you must send a written application by post or deliver in person to the PIO.
Exemptions under Section 8 include: information affecting national security/sovereignty, cabinet papers, personal information with no public activity, information that would harm investigation, trade secrets, and fiduciary information. Section 24 exempts intelligence and security organisations.
The CIC/SIC can impose a penalty of ₹250/day on the PIO (up to ₹25,000) and recommend disciplinary action. Filing a second appeal/complaint before the CIC with evidence of false information can lead to show-cause notices against the PIO.
RTI applies only to public authorities (government bodies, government-funded institutions). Private companies are not subject to RTI unless they are substantially financed by the government or perform public functions. Regulatory information about private companies held by regulators (SEBI, RBI) can be sought.
Be specific — ask for exact documents, records, or data points. Avoid broad or vague questions. Reference specific file numbers, dates, or schemes if known. Break multiple questions into numbered points. Avoid asking for opinions or reasons — ask for documents and records instead.
If the PIO does not respond within 30 days (or 48 hours for life/liberty matters), it is deemed a refusal under Section 7(2) of the RTI Act. You can file a First Appeal immediately after this period without waiting for a formal rejection letter.
Please confirm all of the following before proceeding with your RTI Application document:
Please confirm all eligibility conditions above to proceed. If you are unsure about any point, you may not be eligible for this type of notice.