How to File RTI for Government Tender Details (2026)

By Advocate K.N.S.K. Vara Prasad | April 2026 | 9 min read

A government project tender was announced in your area. You wanted to bid or you noticed something suspicious—a vague specification, a timeline that favors one contractor, or a bid amount that seems inflated.

But the tender documents are hard to access. The government website is outdated. The tender office says they 'don't disclose details' to non-bidders. You're stuck outside the process, unable to even know what's really happening.

This is how government corruption hides. Lack of transparency breeds favoritism. But you have a right to know. Under the RTI Act and the General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017, all tender details must be proactively disclosed and made available to anyone on request.

This guide shows you how to use RTI to access government tender documents, evaluation criteria, and procurement decisions—so you can verify if the process was fair or identify red flags for whistleblowing.

Your Right to Tender Information — What the Law Says

Before filing your RTI, understand the legal foundation:

• GFR 2017 Section 4(1)(b): Government must proactively disclose all tender notices, bidding documents, and procurement decisions. RTI is the tool to access what wasn't proactively published.
• RTI Act Section 6: Tender information is public information held by the government. It's not confidential unless national security or privacy of bidders is involved (which is rare).
• State Procurement Rules: Most states have transparency rules mandating that tender evaluations and contract awards be publicly disclosed within a certain period.

Understanding these legal bases strengthens your RTI. If the authority denies your request, you can cite these laws in your appeal.

Why RTI Works When Governments Hide Tender Details

Government procurement is where massive corruption happens—through rigged tenders, inflated bills, and fake bidding processes. When you file RTI, the government is forced to disclose the tender process, criteria, and bidders. This transparency alone deters corruption. If you find irregularities, your RTI data becomes evidence for CAG complaints, PIL petitions, or whistleblowing.

For related guidance, see our post on RTI Tenders & Contracts.

Why File RTI for This?

Here's why filing an RTI makes a real difference:

• You want to verify if a tender was genuinely open or rigged in favor of one contractor.
• You suspect bid amounts were inflated or specifications written to favor a particular company.
• You're a taxpayer and want to ensure public money is spent transparently.
• You plan to file a PIL or CAG complaint and need documentary evidence of procedural irregularities.
• You want to understand why your bid was rejected or why another bidder won.

An RTI application creates a legal record. Unlike a phone call or informal request, the authority is now accountable—and faces penalties if they don't respond properly.

Before You File RTI: Try These Steps First

RTI should not be your first resort. Try these approaches first:

1. Check the government's official procurement portal (e-procurement portal for your state) for the tender details.
2. Contact the nodal tender office directly and ask for the tender documents. In many cases, they provide these for free.
3. Search for news articles or RTI-obtained information already published about this tender—others may have already exposed issues.

If none of these yield results, RTI is your escalation tool.

How to File RTI — Step by Step

Step 1: Identify the Correct Authority

Your RTI must go to the correct Public Information Officer (PIO). If unsure, send it to the next higher authority—they are required to transfer it within 5 days under RTI Section 6(3).

Step 2: Draft Your RTI Application

Your application should include:

• Your full name, address, and contact details
• Specific reference numbers, dates, and location details
• Clear, specific questions (see samples below)
• RTI fee of ₹10 (via postal order, demand draft, or online payment)

Step 3: Submit the RTI

Choose your method:

• Registered Post — mail to the PIO with ₹10 postal order. Keep the receipt.
• In Person — hand-deliver and get a dated acknowledgement.
• Online — through rtionline.gov.in or your state's RTI portal.

Step 4: Wait for Response

The PIO must respond within 30 days (or 48 hours if life and liberty). If no response, file a First Appeal.

Sample RTI Application

Below is a ready-to-use template. Customize it with your details:

What to Ask — High-Success Questions

Use these specific, factual questions for best results:

1. Please provide a copy of the tender notice and detailed tender documents published for [Project Name / Tender ID] issued on [Date].
2. What are the detailed technical and commercial specifications against which bids were evaluated?
3. Provide the evaluation criteria, weightage, and scoring method used to select the winning bid.
4. List all bidders who submitted bids for this tender, their submitted bid amounts, and their final scores.
5. Provide the contract awarded to the winning bidder: contract amount, contract period, penalty clauses, and performance terms.

Pro tip: Avoid 'why' questions. RTI covers facts, not explanations or government reasoning.

What Happens After You File?

• The PIO logs your application and assigns it internally.
• Within the timeline (30 days or 48 hours), you receive a written response—either the information or a legal reason for denial.
• If no response by the deadline, file a First Appeal.
• If the First Appeal fails, escalate to the State Information Commission.

Officers who fail to respond can face penalties up to ₹25,000 under the RTI Act.

When Can Information Be Denied?

In most cases, this information is accessible. However, the PIO may invoke exemptions:

• Section 8(1)(a)—claiming national security (very rare for routine procurement tenders).
• Section 8(1)(d)—claiming trade secrets of bidders (partially valid for bid amounts before award, but not after).
• Section 8(1)(e)—claiming it relates to competitors' commercial information (limited use; post-award procurement is public).

The PIO must cite the specific section. A blanket refusal is itself a violation and grounds for appeal.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Asking for the wrong authority—if it's a municipal tender, ask the municipality; if state, ask the state department.
• Requesting information 'about a bidder' instead of 'about the procurement process'—the latter is always public.
• Not being specific about the tender ID or project name—governments handle hundreds of tenders.
• Asking for bid amounts before the contract is awarded—this may be denied. Ask for post-award contract details.
• Not asking for evaluation criteria—this is the key document that shows if the process was transparent.

Real-Life Situations Where This RTI Helps

• Accountability journalism—media uses RTI tender data to expose government procurement corruption.
• PIL petitions—environmental/social organizations use RTI data to challenge irregular government projects.
• CAG complaints—taxpayers use RTI data to file audit complaints about inflated government spending.
• Bid evaluation challenges—rejected bidders use RTI data to appeal procurement decisions.
• Contractor accountability—NGOs track government contractor performance using RTI-obtained records.

Why Use FileMyRTI Instead of DIY?

Filing RTI yourself is your right. But FileMyRTI simplifies and accelerates everything:

• Expert-drafted applications — advocates with 10,000+ RTIs filed ensure your request is airtight.
• Correct authority identification — your RTI reaches the right department, avoiding delays.
• Professional filing & tracking — we submit and follow up; you don't have to.
• Appeal support — if denied, we help you file First and Second Appeals with evidence.

Related Resources

• How to File RTI Online in India
• How to Write an Effective RTI Application
• RTI for Municipal Budget Details
• RTI First Appeal Guide
• RTI Second Appeal Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I get bid amounts before the contract is awarded?

Likely no. Pre-award bid amounts are confidential. But once the contract is awarded, you can ask for the winning bid amount and the evaluation rationale.

2. What if the government says this is a 'sensitive' procurement?

Security projects may be claimed as sensitive, but most government tenders are not. You can appeal, citing GFR 2017.

3. Can I challenge a tender through RTI?

RTI itself doesn't challenge a tender. But RTI-obtained data can be used to file a petition in court or approach the State Information Commission.

4. How long does it take to get tender documents through RTI?

30 days is the standard. Many departments respond faster once they understand you want published procurement information.

5. What if the tender was already awarded and completed?

You can still ask for all documents—contract, performance reports, audit findings. This is valuable for accountability.

6. Can I use RTI data to bid on future tenders from the same agency?

Yes. RTI data helps you understand evaluation criteria and specifications for future bids from the same department.

7. Is tender RTI different for central vs. state governments?

Both follow RTI Act and GFR 2017. State-specific procurement rules may apply, but the underlying principle of transparency is the same.

Conclusion

The law gives you the right to this information. With a well-drafted RTI sent to the correct authority, you'll get an official response within 30 days—or faster if life and liberty is at stake.

If you'd rather not deal with the paperwork and bureaucratic runaround yourself, FileMyRTI's experts handle drafting, filing, tracking, and appeals. One less thing to worry about.

File Your RTI Now → filemyrti.com/apply/social-rti/social-rti-custom-request