Quick answer: To file an RTI offline, write your application on plain paper, address it to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the office that holds the information, attach the prescribed RTI application fee (Rs. 10 for Central offices; State fees and accepted modes vary under that State's RTI Rules), and send it by Speed Post or registered post. Keep the postal receipt and a copy. The PIO must reply within 30 days.
When you must file an RTI offline
Filing online is convenient, but it is not always possible. The central portal, rtionline.gov.in, only covers Central Government public authorities. Many State, district, municipal, police and local offices have no online RTI portal at all - for these, filing by post is the correct and reliable route. (See our guide to filing RTI online to check which applies to you, or use the Fee Calculator for your state.)
Step 1: Find the right PIO and address
Your RTI must go to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the specific office that holds the information. Sending it to the wrong office wastes weeks. Use our free FindMyPIO tool to identify the correct public authority and PIO, then address the letter:
To,
The Public Information Officer,
[Name of the office]
[Full postal address]
If you have made a reasonable effort but are still unsure of the exact office, file it with the closest relevant public authority. Under Section 6(3), a PIO who does not hold the information must transfer it to the correct office within 5 days.
Step 2: Write the RTI application
There is no mandatory format - a plain-paper application in any language is valid. Keep it simple and specific:
- A subject line: "Request for information under the Right to Information Act, 2005".
- The line "Under Section 6 of the RTI Act, 2005, I request the following information:".
- Your questions, numbered - ask for specific records, statuses and documents, not opinions.
- Your name, full postal address and signature.
Need a ready format? Copy a complete one from our Sample RTI Applications, or draft it free with RTI Dost.
Step 3: Attach the prescribed fee
The application fee is Rs. 10 for Central offices. States set their own fee and accepted payment mode under their RTI Rules, so check the Fee Calculator or the authority's RTI page for your state.
For a postal RTI, an Indian Postal Order (IPO) is the most widely accepted instrument, especially for Central public authorities. Some State offices instead prescribe a court-fee stamp, treasury challan, demand draft, cash, or a State-specific mode - use whatever that authority's rules require.
Where to get the IPO - and the catch: an IPO is issued at the post office, but the eIPO online option only covers a handful of Central ministries. For State, district and local offices you usually need a physical IPO - a post-office trip many people cannot make. FileMyRTI can courier a ready Indian Postal Order to your door so you can post your RTI without the queue.
Do not guess the payee. For an IPO or demand draft, if the authority's RTI rules name a payee (often the "Accounts Officer" or a specific department), use exactly that. If you are unsure, check the public authority's RTI page, or use FindMyPIO / FileMyRTI support before filling the payee field - a wrong payee can get the instrument rejected.
Two cautions: court-fee stamps are State-rule specific - do not use one unless the concerned authority's RTI rules accept it, as a wrong fee mode gets your application returned. And BPL cardholders pay no fee; just attach a copy of the BPL card.
Step 4: Assemble the packet and post it
Before you seal the envelope, run through this postal RTI packet checklist:
- The signed RTI application
- The correct fee instrument (IPO / DD / court-fee stamp as prescribed) - or a copy of your BPL card if exempt
- A copy of any reference or supporting document your questions rely on
- An envelope addressed to the PIO / public authority
- Your own return address on the envelope
- A photo or photocopy of the full packet, kept for your records
Send it by Speed Post or registered post - never ordinary post - so you get a tracking number and a delivery record. That receipt is your proof of filing, essential if you later need to appeal. Note your deadline: the PIO must reply within 30 days from the date the office receives it, and keep the IPO serial number.
Step 5: Track the reply and appeal if needed
The PIO must respond within 30 days of receiving your RTI (48 hours if it concerns life or liberty). No reply within 30 days is a deemed refusal - you can then file a First Appeal, also by post, to a senior officer in the same office. See our First & Second Appeal guide for the steps.
Offline vs online: which should you use?
If the office is a Central public authority with a working portal, online is faster. For State departments, district and local offices, police and municipalities, offline by post is usually the dependable route - and often the only one. When in doubt, postal filing is often the safer route, provided the application is sent to the correct public authority with the prescribed fee mode.
Skip the queue - we handle the offline part
Have us draft, attach the fee, and post your RTI to the correct PIO - or just get a ready postal-fee kit couriered if you want to send it yourself.
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