How to Write an RTI Application: Format, ₹10 Fee, Reply Time and Appeals

What is RTI and who can file it?

The Right to Information Act 2005 lets any citizen of India ask a public authority for information it holds: copies of files, notings, letters, rules, the status of your application, how a scheme’s money was spent, and much more. You do not have to give a reason for asking. Public authorities include central and state government departments, municipal bodies, public sector banks and companies, universities funded by government, and many other bodies.

RTI is most useful when your work is stuck: a pension, a scholarship, a ration card, a refund or a certificate that has not moved for months. Asking for the file notings and the name of the officer handling it often gets things moving.

RTI application format: what to write

There is no compulsory form for central public authorities. A plain application with these parts is enough:

1. To: The Public Information Officer (PIO), with the name and address of the office.
2. Subject: “Application under section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act 2005”.
3. Your details: name, address for reply, phone or email (optional).
4. Information sought: short, numbered questions, each asking for a document or a fact. Mention the period, for example “from 1 April 2025 to date”.
5. Fee: how you paid ₹10 (postal order or demand draft number, or online), or that you are BPL and have attached proof.
6. Declaration: that you are a citizen of India.
7. Signature, date and place.

TipAsk for documents, not opinions. “Provide certified copies of the file notings on my application number X” works better than “Why has my application been delayed?”

The central rules ask for a request of up to 500 words, but an application cannot be rejected only for being longer. Keep it short anyway: a focused application gets a focused reply.

RTI fee kitni hai aur kaise bharein?

Watch outState governments set their own fees, forms and payment methods. If you are asking a state department, municipality or state university, check your state’s RTI rules first.

RTI online kaise file karein?

1. Go to rtionline.gov.in (for ministries, departments and other central public authorities that are on the portal).
2. Choose “Submit Request”, read the guidelines and pick the ministry or department.
3. Fill in your details and type or paste your questions, and attach your BPL proof if you have one.
4. Pay ₹10 online by net banking, card or UPI.
5. Save the registration number. You can track the status and file a first appeal from the same portal.

Many states run their own RTI portals. If the office is not on rtionline.gov.in, send the application by speed post or registered post to the PIO and keep the receipt as proof of the date.

Sample RTI questions that get useful answers

Good RTI questions are narrow, ask for records that already exist, and name a period. A few patterns that work for a stuck application:

• Provide the daily progress report on my application number [X] dated [date], with the name and designation of each officer it went to and the dates it was received and sent on.
• Provide certified copies of the file notings and correspondence on my application number [X].
• State the time limit fixed under the department’s citizen charter or rules for deciding such applications, and provide a copy of that document.
• Provide the list of applications received for [scheme] in [office] from [date] to [date], with their status (without personal details of other applicants).

Avoid asking “why” questions, hypothetical questions or for information the office would have to create. Personal information about other people is generally exempt unless there is a larger public interest, so ask about the process, not about individuals.

RTI reply time limit and what if no reply comes?

If the PIO does not reply in time, refuses without a valid reason, or sends incomplete information, file a first appeal to the First Appellate Authority, a senior officer in the same office. Our RTI first appeal format sets out the grounds. If the first appeal does not help, the second appeal goes to the Central Information Commission or your State Information Commission.