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Maharashtra RTI Online Portal Help: Department Not Listed, Payment Failed, First Appeal and Offline Filing

Note: FileMyRTI is not a government website. This guide helps citizens use the official RTI portal correctly. If the portal does not support your department or filing route, FileMyRTI can help you file through the correct online or postal method.

Quick answer

You can file an RTI online at rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in for Maharashtra State Government departments and public authorities available on the portal. Do not use this portal for Central Government offices or other States. If your department is not listed, first check whether it appears under a parent Maharashtra department; if it is not available on the portal, file by post to the concerned PIO. Below are the inputs to keep ready, the common portal errors and their fixes, and when to use offline filing instead.

Important - 2026 rule update: Maharashtra's newly notified RTI Rules, 2026 reportedly increased the RTI application fee to Rs. 30 and copying charges to Rs. 5 per page, and now require a self-attested photo identity proof with each application. They also reportedly add a single-subject rule (one issue per RTI, generally within about 150 words) and raise appeal fees (first appeal Rs. 50, second appeal Rs. 100). Some parts have been criticised by RTI activists, and one controversial purpose-disclosure clause was reportedly withdrawn after criticism - you should not be required to state the purpose or reason for seeking information. Because these rules are recent and some provisions are under public/legal challenge, always check the current portal instruction before filing.

Go to rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in > Fee: Under the newly notified Maharashtra RTI Rules, 2026, the RTI application fee is reported as Rs. 30, and document copy charges are Rs. 5 per page. Applicants must attach self-attested photo identity proof. BPL applicants should follow the exemption rules shown on the portal. Because the 2026 rules are recent and under public/legal challenge, verify the current portal instruction before payment.

CoversMaharashtra State Government departments and public authorities that are available on the Maharashtra RTI Online portal. The portal allows online RTI applications and First Appeals for listed Maharashtra public authorities.

Does NOT coverCentral Government offices, public authorities of other States, and Maharashtra offices not available on the portal. The official portal warns that RTIs for Central Government or other State public authorities should not be filed here - such applications may be returned without refund.

Before you start, keep these ready

Your full name and postal address
A mobile number and email ID
Self-attested photo identity proof, as required under the Maharashtra RTI Rules, 2026
The Maharashtra department / public authority you want information from
Your RTI questions, written in plain text (keep to one subject and about 150 words under the 2026 rules)
A payment method supported by the portal (internet banking, debit card or credit card)
Any supporting document as a small PDF, if the portal asks for it
BPL proof, if you are claiming the fee exemption

Good to know: The Maharashtra portal has separate options for submitting an RTI application, filing a First Appeal, checking status, viewing history, FAQ/contact and the user manual. Read the instructions on the portal before submitting.

How filing works

Open rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in and choose the option to submit an RTI application.
Read the portal instructions carefully before proceeding.
Select the concerned Maharashtra department / public authority from the available list.
Enter your applicant details, including postal address and contact details.
Write your RTI request in clear, plain language. Keep it to one subject and about 150 words, as indicated in the 2026 rule reports / current filing guidance.
Attach your self-attested photo identity proof (required under the 2026 rules) and any other supporting document the portal asks for.
Pay the applicable fee through the portal payment gateway.
Submit the application and save the registration / acknowledgement number.
Keep a copy or screenshot of the submitted application and payment confirmation.

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

Look for the parent Maharashtra department - many offices sit under a larger department or public authority.
Search using different names - a local office may appear under the district office, corporation, board, authority or secretariat department.
Do not choose a random department just to proceed - a wrong selection can delay the RTI or lead to rejection/transfer.
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 the Maharashtra office is genuinely not available, file by post to the concerned PIO - see our guide to filing RTI offline.
Use Section 6(3) transfer only after a reasonable effort to identify the correct public authority. 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

Registration / form submission not working

Refresh the page, clear the browser cache, or try another browser - the portal recommends modern browsers such as Chrome or Firefox. If the portal repeatedly fails and your matter is time-sensitive, file by post so you do not lose time.

Department / public authority not found

Do not guess. Search for the parent department or related public authority. If the public authority is not available on the portal, use offline postal filing. Some civic/local bodies or special authorities may not always be available through a single online route.

Application returned for missing photo ID

Under the 2026 rules, a self-attested photo identity proof is required with every RTI, and PIOs may return applications without it. Attach a clear, self-attested photo ID and re-file.

Payment failed, or amount debited but application not confirmed

Do not pay again immediately. Save the bank/payment reference number, check whether the acknowledgement is generated, and use the portal status/history/help options. If the issue does not resolve, contact the portal helpdesk before making another payment.

RTI text is not accepted

Remove bullets, emojis, smart quotes, copied formatting and unusual symbols. Paste your draft into Notepad first, then copy the plain text into the portal. Keep it to one subject in short, simple sentences (the 2026 rules cap an application at about 150 words).

Supporting document upload failed

Use a small PDF and remove spaces/special characters from the file name. Upload the self-attested photo identity proof required by Maharashtra's current RTI rules, plus any supporting document genuinely relevant to your RTI. If claiming BPL exemption, attach valid BPL proof.

Acknowledgement number not generated

Check whether payment was successful and whether the application appears under status/history. Keep screenshots and payment details. If nothing appears after waiting, contact the helpdesk with your payment/reference details.

Filing a First Appeal

If you filed your RTI through the Maharashtra RTI Online portal, you can file the First Appeal on the same portal using the relevant registration/application details (the 2026 rules reportedly set a first-appeal fee of Rs. 50). If your original RTI was filed physically by post, file the First Appeal physically unless the public authority has given you an online registration route for that application. For a Second Appeal or complaint, use the Maharashtra State Information Commission route - not this RTI application / First Appeal flow.

When to use a State portal or file offline instead

The Maharashtra public authority is not listed on the portal.
The portal is repeatedly failing or payment is not completing.
The matter involves a local office/body that is not available online.
You want a Speed Post trail as documentary proof of filing.
You already know the PIO address and prefer postal filing.
You are sending supporting documents that are easier to file physically.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Maharashtra RTI application fee in 2026?

As per recent reports on the Maharashtra RTI Rules, 2026, the application fee is Rs. 30 and copy charges are Rs. 5 per page. Verify the current amount on the official portal before submitting.

Do I need to attach ID proof for Maharashtra RTI?

Yes, under the newly notified Maharashtra RTI Rules, applicants are reportedly required to attach self-attested photo identity proof with every RTI application.

Can I file Central Government RTI on the Maharashtra portal?

No. The Maharashtra portal is for Maharashtra State Government departments and public authorities available on that portal. For Central Government RTIs, use rtionline.gov.in.

What if the Maharashtra department is not listed?

First search for the parent department or related public authority. If it is still not available, file by post to the concerned PIO. Do not choose a random department just to proceed.

Can I file a First Appeal online in Maharashtra?

Yes, the Maharashtra RTI portal provides an option to file a First Appeal online for RTIs handled through the portal. If the original RTI was filed physically, the appeal may also need to be filed physically unless an online registration route is available.

What should I do if payment is debited but no acknowledgement is generated?

Do not pay again immediately. Save the payment reference number, check status/history, and contact the Maharashtra RTI portal helpdesk if the issue does not resolve.

Can FileMyRTI file Maharashtra RTI for me?

Yes. FileMyRTI can draft the RTI, identify the correct Maharashtra public authority or PIO, and file it through the correct online or postal route.

Maharashtra RTI portal - 24x7 Citizen Contact Centre: 1800 120 8040 (toll-free) - Support email: rti.support@maharashtra.gov.in

Stuck on the portal? FileMyRTI can file it for youWe draft it, identify the correct PIO, and file via the right online or postal route - from Rs. 399

I only need help finding the correct PIO >

Last verified: June 2026, including the newly notified Maharashtra RTI Rules, 2026 (recent and under legal/public challenge - reconfirm the current portal instructions before filing). See also: the national RTI online guide, the Fee Calculator, and more portal help guides.