What is the RTI Act 2005 and what right does it give every Indian citizen?

The Right to Information Act 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) came into force on 12 October 2005. It was enacted to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every government, to contain corruption, and to give citizens a legal mechanism to access government records. It replaced the earlier, toothless Freedom of Information Act 2002 and created a genuinely enforceable right with penalties for officials who delay or obstruct.

Section 3 of the Act is clear and unqualified: every citizen of India has the right to information. This right is not limited to affected parties or those with a personal stake. You do not need to explain why you want the information. You do not need to be a journalist, activist, or lawyer. A student, a farmer, a daily wage worker — anyone with Indian citizenship can file an RTI application about any public authority's records, expenditures, decisions, or processes.

What public authorities are covered under the RTI Act 2005?

Section 2(h) of the Act defines a "public authority" broadly — it includes any authority or body established by or under the Constitution, by any law made by Parliament or a state legislature, or by government notification. This covers central ministries and departments, state governments and their departments, courts (for administrative records), municipal corporations and panchayats, public sector undertakings (PSUs) like BSNL, ONGC, and Indian Railways, autonomous bodies funded by government grants (like universities, AIIMS, and IITs), and NGOs substantially funded by government.

The Second Schedule to the Act lists organizations that are exempt from RTI — primarily intelligence and security agencies like the IB, RAW, NIA, BSF, and similar bodies. However, even these exemptions have a carve-out: information relating to allegations of corruption and human rights violations in these organizations cannot be denied.

What information can you access under the RTI Act 2005?

Section 2(f) defines "information" very broadly — it includes records, documents, memos, emails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, and data held in electronic form. Practically, this means you can ask for:

  • Status of your application, pension, PF, or any government scheme
  • Government expenditure on any project, scheme, or tender
  • Details of government employees' salaries, promotions, and transfers
  • Copies of government contracts, tenders, and agreements
  • Copies of government orders, circulars, and policy decisions
  • Details of recruitment, selection, and examination processes
  • Copies of your own answer sheets from government examinations (permitted by the Supreme Court)
  • Inspection of physical works, documents, and records
The RTI Act overrides other laws

Section 22 of the RTI Act 2005 provides that its provisions have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent in any other law. This means a public authority cannot refuse information by citing any other act or rule that conflicts with the RTI Act — including the Official Secrets Act 1923. The RTI Act prevails, unless the specific exemptions in Section 8 apply.

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How to file an RTI application in India — step by step

1
Identify the right public authority and PIO
Every public authority has a designated Public Information Officer (PIO). Before filing, determine which department holds the information you need. For central government, search rti.gov.in for the list of PIOs. For state governments, check the relevant department's website. Filing with the wrong department wastes time — your application will be transferred, adding 5 days to the timeline.
rti.gov.in has PIO details for all central departments
2
Write a clear, specific application
There is no mandatory format. Your application should be addressed to the PIO, state that you are filing under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act 2005, and describe precisely what information you need. Be as specific as possible — vague requests are more likely to be rejected or answered incompletely. Ask for specific documents, records, or data points. Write in English, Hindi, or the official language of the state. You do not need to give any reason for seeking the information.
No reasons required · No prescribed format
3
File online at rtionline.gov.in or by post
Online (central government): Go to rtionline.gov.in. Register with your email and phone. Select the public authority, fill in your request, and pay the ₹10 fee via net banking, debit card, or credit card. You will receive a registration number for tracking. By post: Send your written application to the PIO's office by registered post or speed post, along with a ₹10 Indian Postal Order (IPO) made out to the Accounts Officer of the department. Keep the postal receipt. In person: Deliver your application at the PIO's office and get an acknowledgement receipt with date stamp. BPL applicants must attach a copy of their BPL card to claim full fee exemption.
Online fee: ₹10 · Copies: ₹2 per page · BPL: Free
4
Track your application and wait for the 30-day response
Under Section 7(1), the PIO must respond within 30 days of receiving your application. If filed through an APIO, the limit is 35 days. For information concerning the life or liberty of a person, the response must come within 48 hours. The PIO must either provide the information, provide it partially with written reasons for rejecting the rest citing a specific Section 8 exemption, or reject with written reasons. If information is provided after the 30-day deadline, no additional charges can be levied for copies.
30-day deadline · 48 hours for life-or-liberty matters
5
File a First Appeal if no response or unsatisfied
If the PIO does not respond within 30 days, gives incomplete information, or rejects your application, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) — a senior officer within the same department. This must be done within 30 days of receiving the PIO's decision, or within 60 days of your original application if no response was received. First Appeals are free. The FAA must decide within 30 days, extendable to 45 days with written reasons.
Free · Within 30 days of PIO decision
6
File a Second Appeal with the CIC or SIC if needed
If the FAA does not resolve the matter, file a Second Appeal under Section 19(3) with the Central Information Commission (CIC) at cic.gov.in for central government matters, or with your State Information Commission (SIC) for state government matters. This must be filed within 90 days of the FAA's decision (or from the date the FAA should have decided). Second Appeals are also free. The CIC or SIC can order disclosure, and under Section 20(1), impose a penalty of ₹250 per day on the PIO for unjustified delay or denial — up to a maximum of ₹25,000 from the PIO's own salary.
⏳ Within 90 days of FAA decision · PIO penalty up to ₹25,000

Sample RTI application format

Here is a sample format for an RTI application — adapt it to your specific need:

Sample RTI Application Format To, The Public Information Officer, [Name of Department / Ministry], [Office Address] Subject: Application for information under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act 2005 Sir/Madam, I, [Your Full Name], resident of [Your Full Address], request the following information under the Right to Information Act 2005: 1. [State your first specific question or information request clearly] 2. [State your second specific question or information request, if any] 3. [Any further specific questions] I am enclosing the prescribed application fee of ₹10 by way of [Indian Postal Order / cash receipt]. Name: [Your Name] Address: [Your Full Postal Address] Phone: [Optional] Email: [Optional] Date: [DD/MM/YYYY] Place: [City] Signature: _______________

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All RTI timelines in one place — your complete reference

Stage Time limit Provision
PIO responds to application 30 days from receipt (35 days if filed via APIO) Section 7(1)
Life or liberty matters 48 hours from receipt Section 7(1)
Transfer to another department Within 5 days of receipt Section 6(3)
Third-party notice by PIO Within 5 days of receipt Section 11(1)
File First Appeal Within 30 days of PIO decision (or 60 days from application if no response) Section 19(1)
FAA decides First Appeal 30 days from receipt (max 45 days with written reasons) Section 19(6)
File Second Appeal with CIC/SIC Within 90 days of FAA decision Section 19(3)
PIO penalty for delay or denial ₹250 per day, maximum ₹25,000 — paid from PIO's own salary Section 20(1)

What information can be refused under the RTI Act 2005 in India?

Section 8(1) of the RTI Act 2005 lists ten categories of information that a PIO may refuse to disclose. These are not absolute — Section 8(2) allows the PIO to disclose even exempt information if the public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interest. The exemptions are:

  • Information that would prejudicially affect the sovereignty, integrity, security, strategic, scientific, or economic interests of India, or the country's relations with a foreign state, or lead to incitement of an offence
  • Information expressly forbidden from disclosure by any court or tribunal
  • Information whose disclosure would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or state legislatures
  • Commercial confidence, trade secrets, or intellectual property whose disclosure would harm the competitive position of a third party
  • Information available to a person in a fiduciary relationship, unless the competent authority is satisfied that public interest warrants disclosure
  • Information received in confidence from a foreign government
  • Information that would endanger the life or physical safety of any person, or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for law enforcement
  • Information that would impede the process of investigation, prosecution, or apprehension of offenders
  • Cabinet papers, including records of deliberations of the Council of Ministers, Secretaries, and other officers — until the decision is made and the matter is complete
  • Personal information — since 13 November 2025, Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 has amended Section 8(1)(j) to simply exempt "information which relates to personal information", removing the earlier test (no relationship to public activity, unwarranted invasion of privacy, larger public interest) and the proviso about information that cannot be denied to Parliament. The general public-interest override in Section 8(2) still applies, and the amendment is under challenge in the Supreme Court.
Rejection must cite a specific exemption — vague refusals are illegal

A PIO cannot simply say "information cannot be provided" without citing the specific sub-section of Section 8(1) that applies. A vague refusal is itself grounds for a First Appeal and can attract penalty. Section 7(8) requires that the PIO provide reasons for rejection in writing, citing the specific exemption. If you receive a vague or unexplained refusal, appeal immediately.

Common RTI situations in India — and exactly what to ask

How to use RTI to track the status of a government application or scheme

One of the most common RTI uses is tracking stuck applications — passport delays, pension approvals, PF claims, ration card applications, caste certificates, land records corrections. File your RTI to the PIO of the specific department handling your application. Specify: the application reference number, the date it was submitted, and ask for the current status, the officer responsible, the reason for delay, and the expected date of decision.

The very act of filing an RTI often accelerates the processing of the underlying application — officials know that the RTI creates a paper trail of their inaction.

How to use RTI to expose corruption or wasteful government spending

RTI is one of the most effective tools for accountability journalism and citizen activism. You can ask for copies of government contracts and tenders, total expenditure on specific schemes and projects, details of beneficiaries of government programmes, audit reports and inspection reports, and minutes of meetings where decisions were made. Comparing what was spent with what was delivered has exposed dozens of major scams in India — from NREGA ghost workers to PDS ration diversion.

Can I use RTI for my court case or legal matter in India?

Yes, with some limits. RTI can be used to obtain copies of government records relevant to your case — land records, official correspondence, government orders, and so on. Courts themselves are covered by RTI for administrative records, though their judicial functions (decisions in cases) are not covered. However, you cannot use RTI as a substitute for legal discovery in a court case — information that is part of ongoing litigation may be exempt under Section 8(1)(b). Use RTI to get administrative records, not to seek information about ongoing court proceedings.

What if the PIO says the information has been destroyed or does not exist?

A PIO cannot claim information does not exist if they have not made genuine efforts to locate it. If you have reason to believe the information does exist — for example, because the department is legally required to maintain it — file a First Appeal and argue that the claim of non-existence should be substantiated. The FAA can direct the PIO to conduct a proper search. If records are found to have been illegally destroyed, the matter can be reported to the CIC which can recommend disciplinary action.

RTI application India — questions people actually ask

Under Section 3 of the RTI Act 2005, any Indian citizen can file an RTI application. There is no age limit, no income criterion, and no educational requirement. You do not need to give any reason for seeking information. Minors can file through a guardian. NRIs can file through an Indian address. Foreigners and companies cannot file RTI applications directly.

For central government departments, go to rtionline.gov.in. Register with your email and phone number. Select the public authority, describe your request clearly, and pay the ₹10 fee online via net banking or debit/credit card. You will receive a registration number for tracking. For state government departments, most states have their own RTI portals — search "[State name] RTI online portal". Alternatively, send a written application by registered post to the PIO's office with a ₹10 Indian Postal Order.

The application fee for central government public authorities is ₹10. For copies of documents, an additional ₹2 per page applies. BPL applicants are fully exempt from all fees and must attach a copy of their BPL card. State fees vary — ₹10 in Delhi, ₹50 in Maharashtra, ₹20 in Karnataka. First and Second Appeals to Information Commissions are free. If information is provided after the 30-day deadline, no additional charges can be levied.

Under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act 2005, the PIO must respond within 30 days of receiving the application — 35 days if filed through an Assistant PIO. For information concerning the life or liberty of a person, the response must come within 48 hours. If the PIO does not respond within the deadline, the information is deemed refused and you can file a First Appeal immediately.

File a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) within 30 days of the deadline — i.e., within 60 days of your original application. If the FAA also does not resolve the matter, file a Second Appeal with the CIC or SIC within 90 days. The CIC or SIC can impose a penalty of ₹250 per day on the PIO, up to a maximum of ₹25,000, payable from the PIO's own salary. The commission can also recommend disciplinary action under Section 20(2).

Section 8(1) lists exemptions: national security and sovereignty, cabinet deliberations during decision-making, information that would impede investigation or prosecution, trade secrets, information received in confidence from foreign governments, and personal information (since 13 November 2025, Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 has reworded Section 8(1)(j) to exempt any information which relates to personal information, removing the clause's own public-interest test). Even exempt information can be disclosed if the public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm, under Section 8(2). Intelligence and security agencies listed in the Second Schedule are generally exempt, but not for corruption and human rights violations.

Yes. RTI is widely and successfully used to track the status of pension applications, PF claims, provident fund settlements, promotion processes, and recruitment results. File your RTI with the PIO of EPFO (for PF matters), the relevant state department (for pensions), or the recruiting authority (for job-related information). The Supreme Court has also confirmed that you can seek copies of your own answer sheets from government examinations under RTI.

Not directly — RTI covers only public authorities. Private companies are generally not covered unless they are substantially funded by the government. However, if a private company's information is held by a public authority (regulatory filings with SEBI, RBI, or MCA, for example), you can seek that information from the regulator. You can also use RTI to ask a public authority about any regulatory actions, approvals, or decisions it has taken involving a specific private company.

There is no mandatory prescribed format for an RTI application. You simply need to address it to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the relevant department, state that you are filing under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act 2005, clearly describe the specific information you are seeking, provide your name and postal address, and enclose the ₹10 fee. You do not need to state any reason for seeking the information. Write in English, Hindi, or the official language of the state.

File a First Appeal under Section 19(1) with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) within 30 days of receiving the rejection — or within 60 days of your application if no response was received. The FAA must decide within 30 days (extendable to 45 days). If the FAA also rejects, file a Second Appeal with the CIC (for central government) or SIC (for state government) within 90 days under Section 19(3). Both appeals are completely free.

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