Is there a fee for filing an RTI First Appeal?

In most states and for Central-government RTIs there is no fee for a First Appeal - the Central portal's FAQ says so explicitly, and states like Karnataka, Kerala, Goa and Jharkhand confirm it on their portals. A few states do prescribe appeal fees under their own rules - Maharashtra's 2026 rules reportedly set Rs. 50 for a first appeal and Rs. 100 for a second appeal - so check your state's rule before filing. Second-appeal practice also varies (Haryana requires manual filing in triplicate; J&K and Ladakh appeals go to the Central Information Commission). Our state portal guides list what each portal says.