How many days does a PIO have to reply to an RTI?

Under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 the Public Information Officer must reply within 30 days of receiving the application. If the application was sent through an Assistant PIO or by post, the limit is 35 days. Where the information concerns the life or liberty of a person, the reply is due within 48 hours.

What is the time limit to file a First Appeal under RTI?

A First Appeal under Section 19(1) must be filed within 30 days of receiving the PIO's decision, or within 30 days of the date the reply was due (deemed refusal). The First Appellate Authority may condone a further delay of up to 30 days for sufficient cause.

What is the time limit to file a Second Appeal under RTI?

A Second Appeal under Section 19(3) must be filed within 90 days of the First Appellate Authority's order, or the date by which that order should have been made, before the State or Central Information Commission.

What happens if the PIO does not reply within 30 days?

No reply within the time limit is treated as a 'deemed refusal' under Section 7(2). You can immediately file a First Appeal, and the PIO may face a penalty of up to Rs.25,000 under Section 20.

RTI Deadline Clock

Enter your filing date — or 📎 upload your filed RTI and our AI reads the date for you — to see every key deadline under the Right to Information Act, 2005: when the PIO's reply is due, and your First & Second Appeal windows. Upload mode also checks your RTI for rejection risks. Never miss a deadline again.

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Date you filed your RTI

Filed through an Assistant PIO or by post (+5 days) Concerns the life or liberty of a person (48-hour rule)

Has the PIO replied?

Date you received the reply

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These dates are calculated under Sections 7 & 19 of the RTI Act, 2005. The First Appellate Authority may condone a further delay of up to 30 days for sufficient cause; the Second Appeal window (90 days) runs from the First Appeal order or the date it was due.

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RTI Time Limits at a Glance

Stage	Time limit	Section
PIO reply (normal)	30 days	7(1)
PIO reply (via Assistant PIO / post)	35 days	5(2) / 7(1)
PIO reply (life & liberty)	48 hours	7(1) proviso
First Appeal	30 days (condonable +30)	19(1)
First Appellate Authority's order	30 days (up to 45)	19(6)
Second Appeal	90 days	19(3)
No reply = deemed refusal	—	7(2)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a PIO have to reply?

30 days normally (35 days if filed through an Assistant PIO or by post), and just 48 hours where the information concerns the life or liberty of a person.

What if the PIO doesn't reply in time?

No reply within the limit is a “deemed refusal” (Section 7(2)). You can file a First Appeal immediately, and the PIO may face a penalty of up to ₹25,000.