RTI Guide India — File RTI to Any Government Office

Complete, state-wise guide to filing a Right to Information application anywhere in India. Find Public Information Officer (PIO) details, RTI fees, response timelines, and file your application with expert legal drafting — starting at ₹399.

✓ 28 States + 8 UTs covered ✓ RTI practice since 2014 ✓ Drafted by our in-house legal team

What is the RTI Act 2005 and how does this guide help?

The Right to Information Act 2005 gives every Indian citizen the legal right to request information from any public authority — central ministries, state departments, municipal bodies, panchayats, public sector undertakings, and even NGOs substantially funded by the government. Public Information Officers are required to reply as expeditiously as possible and in any case within 30 days under Section 7(1) of the Act. Five days are added where the application is given to an Assistant PIO, and under Section 7(6) the information is free of charge if the PIO misses the time limit.

This guide covers every Indian state and union territory. Each state page lists the local RTI fee, the correct appellate authority, key government departments, and common RTI scenarios — so you know exactly where and how to send your application. For end-to-end filing with expert drafting, FileMyRTI handles the entire process including tracking; First Appeal drafting, if needed later, is a separate service (₹599 incl. GST).

Who can file: Any Indian citizen (no age / residency limit)
Statutory fee: ₹10 centrally · states differ · below poverty line exempt
Response time: 30 days · 48 hrs (life/liberty)
If no reply in 30 days: First Appeal drafting — ₹599 incl. GST

How to File an RTI — 6-Step Process

The same process works for every Indian state. FileMyRTI's advocates handle steps 2–6 end-to-end; all you do is describe your issue in plain language.

Identify the Public Authority

Figure out which central or state department holds the information. Our state guides map the most common RTIs to the correct department.

Draft a Legally Sound RTI

Describe what information you need in clear, specific language. Our in-house legal team draft applications that survive Section 8 scrutiny.

Pay the RTI Fee

₹10 under the central rules; your state may differ, and so may the modes it accepts. Applicants below the poverty line are exempt. FileMyRTI's service fee includes GST.

Submit to the PIO

File in person, by registered post, or online (central portal + 20+ state portals). We handle submission and share the diary number with you.

PIO Reply Due

Ordinarily 30 days under Section 7(1). We track the deadline and tell you when it passes; First Appeal drafting is a separate service.

First Appeal if Needed

Under Section 19(1) if the PIO misses the deadline or replies unsatisfactorily. First Appeal drafting is available at ₹599 incl. GST when you need it.

Select Your State or Union Territory

28 states and 8 union territories covered. Each page lists the state-specific RTI fee, State Information Commission details, typical departments, and common filing scenarios.