Bihar RTI Help (Jaankari): Phone RTI 155311, Online Filing, First Appeal and Offline Options

Before you start, keep these ready

• Your full name, address and a phone number
• The Bihar department / public authority you want information from
• Your RTI questions in clear, simple language (for the phone route, be ready to dictate them to the operator)
• For online filing: citizen login details and a payment method shown by the portal
• For phone RTI: a phone to call 155311 (the fee is charged through the call)
• BPL proof, if claiming the fee exemption

How filing works

1. PHONE ROUTE - call 155311 from your phone (premium-rate). An operator records your RTI and the fee is collected through the call charges.
2. Dictate your RTI clearly: your name, the concerned department, and your questions in simple language.
3. Note the registration / reference number the operator gives you - you need it to track and to appeal.
4. ONLINE ROUTE - open jaankari.bihar.gov.in, log in (citizen login) and choose "Apply for RTI Application".
5. Select the concerned Bihar department, enter your details and write your RTI in plain text.
6. Pay the prescribed fee through the portal and submit; save the registration number.
7. Track status via the portal or the helpline (155310), and use "Apply for 1st Appeal" if needed.

If your department is not listed (the most common problem)

• Look for the parent Bihar department the office sits under.
• Use the phone route (155311) or helpline (155310) - the operator can help identify the right department.
• If it is a Central Government office, use the Central RTI portal (rtionline.gov.in) - see our Central portal help.
• If it is another State's public authority, use that State's RTI route.
• If a Bihar office is not available through Jaankari, file by post to the concerned PIO - see our guide to filing RTI offline.
• Use Section 6(3) transfer if you address the wrong office. See Section 6(3) explained.
• Not sure which office or PIO? Use FindMyPIO, or let FileMyRTI identify it and file for you.

Common portal errors and how to fix them

Filing a First Appeal

Bihar's Jaankari web portal supports First Appeals and Second Appeals ("Apply for 1st Appeal" / "Apply for 2nd Appeal") using your original RTI reference number. For phone-based appeal filing, confirm with the Jaankari helpline (155310) before relying on that route. If your RTI was filed by post, file the appeal physically to the First Appellate Authority of the same office. The Second Appeal lies with the Bihar State Information Commission.

When to use a State portal or file offline instead

• The phone line (155311) and the online portal are both unavailable and your matter is time-sensitive.
• The Bihar office is not available through Jaankari.
• For a Central Government office, use the Central portal (rtionline.gov.in) instead.
• You want a Speed Post trail as documentary proof, or you already know the PIO address.

For the postal route, see how to file an RTI offline (by post), including how to attach the fee.

Postal RTI packet checklist

• Signed RTI application
• Correct fee instrument or BPL proof
• Supporting document, if needed
• Envelope addressed to the PIO / public authority
• Your return address
• A photo or photocopy of the full packet before dispatch
• The Speed Post or registered post receipt

Frequently Asked Questions