The government fee is ₹10 in most states — and free for BPL applicants. A few States charge more or use a different payment mode, and document copies cost about ₹2/page. Get your exact state cost in 10 seconds:
Calculate my exact RTI fee → Paying by post? Get your IPOQuick answer: For Central Government public authorities, the RTI application fee is ₹10. Citizens Below Poverty Line (BPL) do not pay the RTI fee if they attach valid BPL proof. Copying charges are usually extra — commonly ₹2 per A4/A3 page under the Central RTI Rules. For State Government offices, the fee and payment method can vary: many States charge ₹10, but some prescribe different fees or modes (court-fee stamp, demand draft, treasury challan, cash, IPO, or a State RTI portal).
"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 and Payment Mode
The application fee is ₹10 for Central Government RTIs. For State Government RTIs, the amount and payment mode depend on the applicable State RTI Rules. The table below is guidance only — verify the current rule before paying.
| Route | Typical fee | Common payment mode |
|---|---|---|
| Central ministries and bodies | ₹10 | RTI Online portal, IPO, DD, banker's cheque, or cash (as applicable) |
| State departments | Usually ₹10, but varies | Court-fee stamp, DD, treasury challan, IPO, cash, or State portal — depending on the State |
| BPL applicants | Free | Attach valid BPL proof |
Some States prescribe fees higher than ₹10 or specific payment modes, and these can change. Always check your State's current RTI Rules — or use our Fee Calculator — before buying the instrument.
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.
Filing by post instead of online? See our step-by-step guide to filing RTI offline.
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 that reduce vague replies and avoid common drafting mistakes.
- 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.
- First Appeal drafting support at no extra FileMyRTI service fee if there is no proper response within the statutory timeline.
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 about ₹2 a page, the First Appeal carries no fee under the Central RTI Rules (some State rules may differ), 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.
Important: RTI fees and accepted payment modes can change by State, department and filing route. This page is general guidance — for exact filing, check the current RTI Rules of the concerned government or use FileMyRTI's fee calculator and filing support.
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