How to file an RTI online: authority, request, fee and follow-up
Author: LawSphereX
Category: Constitutional & Human Rights
Published:
Updated:
A useful Right to Information request starts by identifying the records you want and the public authority that holds them. The central RTI Online portal is one filing channel; it is not a single portal for every government office in India. Choosing the right authority first can prevent a request from being returned or delayed.
Central authority or state authority?
The portal's official FAQs state that it serves central ministries, departments and other central public authorities available in its request form. It does not accept requests directed to state public authorities, including those of the NCT of Delhi. Check the authority's own official RTI information for the correct state portal or offline process.
Do not decide solely by the office's physical address. A central institution can have a local office, while a nearby municipal or state office may use a different system. Look for the institution's name in the central portal's public-authority list and confirm which office is likely to hold the particular record.
Ask for information that can be identified
The Right to Information Act, 2005 provides the legal framework, including what constitutes information and how a request is made. A practical drafting approach is to specify the file, subject, time period and kind of record sought. A demand for an explanation or a new investigation may not identify an existing record.
For example, “Why is the department unfair?” leaves the record unclear. An illustrative alternative is: “Please provide copies of the recorded status entries and correspondence on application number X between dates Y and Z.” If you want the reasons already recorded for a decision, ask for the document containing those reasons. Do not ask the officer to invent an answer that is not held on record.
A short request structure
- Identify the subject and the reference number, if there is one.
- Set a reasonable date range so the records can be located.
- Number the records requested, keeping each item specific.
- State whether you seek copies, inspection or another available form of access.
- Provide the contact information needed for a response.
This is a drafting framework, not a mandatory form. Avoid attaching unrelated personal records or allegations. Under section 6, an applicant need not supply reasons for requesting information; the authority still needs enough particulars to identify the information and communicate with the applicant.
Central application fee and supporting documents
The central RTI Rules reproduced by DoPT prescribe a ₹10 application fee. Applicants entitled to the below-poverty-line exemption should follow the official instructions for supporting proof. Charges for supplying records can be separate. Do not assume central fee rules describe every state filing process.
Check the portal's current text and attachment limits before submitting. Save the final request, attachments, payment confirmation and registration number together. If a payment is deducted without a registration number, use the official payment-reconciliation guidance rather than repeatedly paying for the same request.
Track the reply and distinguish the next step
Use the registration number to check the request's status and any response or additional-fee notice. Keep the response as a file, not just as a screenshot of a status label. If the request is transferred, record the receiving authority and the instructions supplied. The Act contains provisions on transfers, disposal, exemptions and appeals, so a generic expectation that every request produces every record is incorrect.
For central requests, section 7 ordinarily provides a 30-day response period; requests concerning a person's life or liberty are subject to the specific 48-hour provision. Other statutory situations can affect the calculation. A first appeal is a different step from submitting another identical request. Check section 19, the reply's appeal information and the current portal instructions for the appropriate authority and applicable time limit.
Common avoidable mistakes
- Sending a state-office request through the central portal.
- Requesting an unlimited volume of records without a subject or date range.
- Confusing a request for records with a grievance seeking corrective action.
- Losing the registration number or missing a request for an additional fee.
- Assuming all personal, confidential or investigation-related material must be disclosed.
Keep a dated checklist of the request, acknowledgement, reply and any appeal. This guide explains the filing process; it cannot determine whether a particular record is exempt or whether an appeal should succeed. For help assessing a legal issue, see free legal aid eligibility and application options.
Official sources and scope
Sources checked on 2026-11-02. This educational guide was prepared by LawSphereX; it does not claim individual legal advice or professional review.