Quick answer: The official fee to file an RTI with a Central public authority is ₹10. Citizens Below Poverty Line (BPL) pay nothing. You also pay about ₹2 per page for photocopies of the information supplied. Most States charge the same ₹10 application fee, though the payment method varies by State.
"How much does it cost to file an RTI?" has two honest answers: the government fee (small and fixed by law) and, if you use a filing service, a service fee for drafting and handling it for you. This guide covers both — transparently.
The Official RTI Fees (Fixed by Law)
| Charge | Amount (Central) |
|---|---|
| Application fee | ₹10 |
| BPL applicants | Free (with BPL proof) |
| Photocopy of records | ~₹2 per A4 page |
| Larger/printed documents | At actual cost |
| Inspection of records | First hour free, then ~₹5 per 15 minutes |
| First Appeal | No fee (Central rules) |
| Second Appeal (CIC/SIC) | No fee |
Important: if the PIO misses the 30-day deadline, the information must be given free of charge under Section 7(6) — no copying fee either.
State-Wise RTI Fee & Payment Mode
The application fee is ₹10 in most States, but how you pay it differs. Always confirm the current method in your State's RTI Rules, as modes and amounts can change.
| Route | Fee | Common payment mode |
|---|---|---|
| Central ministries & bodies | ₹10 | Online at rtionline.gov.in, or IPO/DD/court-fee stamp |
| Telangana / Andhra Pradesh | ₹10 | Court-fee stamp / DD / cash at the office |
| Maharashtra | ₹10 | Court-fee stamp / State online portal |
| Uttar Pradesh | ₹10 | State RTI portal / treasury challan |
| Most other States | ₹10 (a few differ) | IPO / DD / court-fee stamp / State portal |
| BPL applicants (all) | Free | Attach BPL proof |
A handful of States have used different amounts historically; treat ₹10 as the norm and verify your State's current RTI Rules before paying.
How to Pay the ₹10 RTI Fee
- Online (Central): pay by card/net-banking/UPI on rtionline.gov.in — simplest for central authorities.
- Indian Postal Order (IPO): bought at any post office, drawn in favour of the "Accounts Officer" of the department.
- Demand Draft / Banker's cheque: in favour of the relevant Accounts Officer.
- Court-fee stamp: accepted by several State governments — affixed to the application.
- Cash: at the PIO's office against a receipt.
Why Does a Service Charge ₹399 if the Government Fee is Only ₹10?
Fair question — and here's the honest answer. The ₹10 is only the application fee. It does not include getting the application right, which is what actually decides whether you get useful information or a brush-off. A professional fee (FileMyRTI starts at ₹399, all-inclusive) covers:
- Drafting by our in-house legal team — precise, record-based questions a PIO cannot evade.
- Identifying the correct PIO/authority — the single most common reason RTIs fail is going to the wrong office.
- Paying the government fee and filing in the correct mode for that authority/State.
- Tracking the reply and telling you what to do next.
- A free First Appeal drafted for you if the department misses the 30-day deadline.
If you are comfortable drafting it, identifying the right PIO, and chasing it yourself, filing direct for ₹10 is absolutely your right — and we explain how throughout this site. If you would rather it be done correctly the first time, that is what the service fee is for.
Bottom Line
The RTI Act keeps the government fee deliberately tiny — ₹10, or free for BPL — so cost is never a barrier to transparency. Copying is ~₹2 a page, appeals are free, and a missed deadline makes the whole reply free. Beyond that, any charge you pay is for help with drafting and handling, not for the right itself.
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