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

Before you start, keep these ready

• Your full name and postal address
• A mobile number and email ID
• 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

How filing works

1. Open rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in and choose the option to submit an RTI application.
2. Read the portal instructions carefully before proceeding.
3. Select the concerned Maharashtra department / public authority from the available list.
4. Enter your applicant details, including postal address and contact details.
5. Write your RTI request in clear, plain language. Rule 3(b) requires one subject matter and says the request shall not ordinarily exceed 150 words.
6. Attach only a supporting document genuinely needed for the request, or a photocopy of your BPL proof if claiming the fee exemption. The 2026 rules do not require identity or citizenship proof.
7. Pay the applicable fee through the portal payment gateway.
8. Submit the application and save the registration / acknowledgement number.
9. 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

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. Rule 5(1) sets a Rs. 20 First Appeal fee. 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. A Second Appeal goes to the Maharashtra State Information Commission under the separate route, with the Rs. 20 fee under rule 5(2).

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.

Postal RTI packet checklist

• Signed RTI application addressed to the PIO
• Correct fee instrument, or a photocopy of your 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