How do I pay the RTI fee?

An Indian Postal Order (IPO) is accepted everywhere — all states and the central government. Demand draft, banker's cheque and cash are also widely accepted. Online payment works where the state runs a portal. A court-fee stamp is valid only in some states (e.g., Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, UP, Punjab) and never for central-government RTIs.

RTI Fee Calculator (2026)

RTI fees — and how you're allowed to pay them — vary by state. Pick your state for the exact application fee, copy charges, BPL exemption, the first-appeal fee, the online portal, and the accepted payment modes (including the court-fee-stamp rule that gets many RTIs rejected).

Your State / Authority

Pages of copies needed

I hold a BPL (Below Poverty Line) card — fee exempt

Estimated total₹0

Application fee₹0

Copy charges₹0

First appeal fee (if you appeal)₹0

File via—

💳 How to pay the fee: —

💡 Tip: an Indian Postal Order (IPO) is accepted in every state and by the central government — the safest mode if you're unsure. A court-fee stamp is valid only in some states and never for central-government RTIs.

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RTI Application Fee by State (2026)

Most states charge ₹10. The exceptions are below; BPL applicants are exempt everywhere; copies are about ₹2 per page (₹5 in Maharashtra). Use the calculator above for any state's exact fee and payment modes.

State	Application fee	Copies / page	How to pay	Online portal
Maharashtra (2026 Rules)	₹30	₹5	Online, or ₹30 court-fee stamp	rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in
Punjab	₹50	₹2	IPO / DD / cash / court-fee stamp	By post
Gujarat	₹20	₹2	Online, IPO / DD / cash	onlinerti.gujarat.gov.in
All other states & UTs	₹10	₹2	Varies — check the calculator above	Varies (see the state RTI guides)

How to Pay Your RTI Fee — and the Court-Fee-Stamp Trap

The fee is small, but how you pay it gets RTIs rejected more often than people expect. The modes accepted everywhere (all states + central):

Indian Postal Order (IPO) — the safest, universally-accepted mode. Buy it at any post office, in favour of the PIO/Accounts Officer.
Demand Draft / Banker's cheque — accepted everywhere, in favour of the department.
Cash — accepted at most offices, against a receipt.

Modes that are NOT universal:

Court-fee stamp — valid only in states that allow it (e.g. Maharashtra ₹30, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab) and never for central-government RTIs. Affixing one where it isn't accepted can get your RTI returned.
Online (net-banking / card / UPI) — only where the state runs an RTI portal (most do now — the calculator shows which).

Rule of thumb: if you're not sure, use an Indian Postal Order — it's accepted everywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the RTI application fee?

The central fee is ₹10. Most states also charge ₹10, but Gujarat is ₹20, Maharashtra ₹30 (2026 Rules) and Punjab ₹50. BPL applicants are exempt everywhere.

Can I pay the RTI fee with a court-fee stamp?

Only in states that allow it (such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, UP and Punjab). It is not accepted for central-government RTIs, and using one where it isn't allowed can get your application returned. If unsure, use an Indian Postal Order.