RTI Online Punjab: Official Connect Punjab Link, Rs 10 Fee, Login Help
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.
File it yourself: for the Punjab state offices listed on it, use the official portal connect.punjab.gov.in. The fee is Rs 10 (nil for applicants below the poverty line who attach a copy of their BPL certificate). Central government offices listed on rtionline.gov.in can be reached there; others by post.
You file after logging in to a Connect Punjab account, with an ID proof upload.
Fee: rule 3, Punjab Right to Information Rules, 2017, notification dated 3 July 2017. Below-poverty-line exemption: the proviso to Section 7(5) of the RTI Act and rule 5 of the same Rules. Checked 21 Oct 2026.
Want it done for you? We draft your RTI, file it and track the reply, from Rs 399 incl. GST.
Start my RTIIn Punjab, RTI is filed online through the Connect Punjab portal at connect.punjab.gov.in: you register an account, log in and choose the RTI service, with an ID proof upload. rti.punjab.gov.in is the State RTI gateway. The fee is Rs. 10. If the portal does not work for your matter, file by post to the concerned PIO. Do not use it for Central Government offices or other States.
Before you start, keep these ready
- Your full name and postal address
- A mobile number and email ID (to register on Connect Punjab)
- Connect Punjab account / login details, and an ID proof to upload (up to 1 MB)
- The Punjab department / public authority you want information from
- Your RTI questions, written in plain text
- A payment method: UPI, card, net banking or NEFT/RTGS
- A copy of your BPL certificate, if claiming the fee exemption
How filing works
- Open connect.punjab.gov.in and register / log in (an account is required).
- Choose the RTI service ("Apply RTI") on the portal.
- Select the concerned Punjab public authority and enter your applicant details.
- Write your RTI request in clear, plain text and upload a supporting document if needed.
- Pay the Rs. 10 fee online (UPI, card, net banking or NEFT/RTGS).
- Submit and save the registration / reference number - you need it to track and to appeal.
- Track status on the portal and use "Submit First Appeal" (and, if needed, "Submit Second Appeal") online.
If your department is not listed (the most common problem)
- Look for the parent Punjab department - the office may sit under a larger public authority.
- 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 Punjab office is not available on the portal, 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 / login not working
Check the email/mobile you registered with on Connect Punjab and retry; clear the browser cache or try another browser. If it keeps failing and your matter is time-sensitive, file by post so you do not lose time.
Department / public authority not found
Look for the parent Punjab department. If it is a Central Government office, use rtionline.gov.in. If a Punjab office is not available on the portal, file by post to its PIO.
Payment failed, or amount debited but not confirmed
Do not pay again immediately. Save the bank/transaction reference and check the status. If debited but not confirmed, keep the reference and retry only after confirming.
Portal rejects special characters in your RTI text
Remove bullets, emojis, smart/curly quotes and copied formatting. Paste your draft into Notepad first, then use simple punctuation.
Supporting document upload failed
Use a small PDF and remove spaces/special characters from the file name. Upload only what is relevant to your RTI (and a BPL certificate if claiming the exemption).
No registration / reference number generated
Do not assume the RTI was filed. Check the portal status and your email. If nothing appears, retry or file by post and keep the postal receipt as proof.
Filing a First Appeal
For an RTI filed on Connect Punjab, use Submit First Appeal (and later Submit Second Appeal) on its status page; the 2017 Rules set no appeal fee. If your RTI was filed by post, file the First Appeal physically to the First Appellate Authority of the same office. The Second Appeal lies with the Punjab State Information Commission (PSIC), which hears appeals (including by video conferencing).
When to use a State portal or file offline instead
- The Punjab office is not available on the portal, or Connect Punjab registration/payment keeps failing.
- The office is a Central Government body or another State's authority - use the Central portal (rtionline.gov.in) or that State's route.
- 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
Not sure whether to file online or by post? FileMyRTI can identify the route and file it for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I file RTI online in Punjab?
Register and log in on the Connect Punjab portal (connect.punjab.gov.in), choose the RTI service, select the Punjab public authority, write your RTI and pay online.
Do I need an account to file Punjab RTI?
Yes. RTI is a service inside the unified Connect Punjab portal, and you must register/log in before filing.
Can I file a First or Second Appeal online in Punjab?
Yes, for an RTI filed on Connect Punjab: use the Submit First Appeal and Submit Second Appeal options on its status page. If the RTI was filed by post, file the First Appeal physically. The Punjab State Information Commission hears second appeals.
What is the RTI fee in Punjab?
Rs. 10 under rule 3 of the Punjab Right to Information Rules, 2017. BPL applicants pay no fee on a copy of their BPL certificate.
Can I file Central Government RTI on the Punjab portal?
No. Use it only for Punjab State public authorities; for Central Government RTIs use rtionline.gov.in.
Can FileMyRTI file a Punjab RTI for me?
Yes. FileMyRTI can draft the RTI, identify the correct Punjab public authority or PIO, and file it through the correct online or postal route.
Punjab State Information Commission RTI helpline: 0172-2864100 (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM).
Stuck on the portal? FileMyRTI can file it for youThe portal does not support my authority / I need postal filing - we draft it, identify the correct PIO, and file via the right online or postal route, from Rs. 399. The official DIY route usually charges only the fee prescribed by that authority; check the amount shown above or on the portal.I only need help finding the correct PIO >
Need live help filing on this portal? Book a 30-minute assisted filing session (Rs. 499) >
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