How to Actually File an RTI — Step by Step
It costs ₹10, takes ten minutes to write, and public authorities have to answer within 30 days. Here's exactly how.
The Right to Information Act, 2005 lets any citizen ask a government body for information it holds — and the default answer has to be yes, not no.
Write your request in plain language addressed to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the relevant department, describe exactly what information you want, pay the ₹10 fee (via the RTI Online portal for central departments, or a postal order/court fee stamp for state ones), and submit it online at rtionline.gov.in or in person.
The PIO must respond within 30 days (48 hours if it concerns someone's life or liberty). If they miss the deadline or refuse without a valid exemption, you can file a first appeal with the department's Appellate Authority within 30 days, and a second appeal with the Information Commission after that — no fee on appeals.
The core law creating this right and the 30-day response deadline
Governs how a request must be made and its ₹10 fee
Still wondering about...
What if the department says the information is confidential?
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Heading to a protest? Know the full picture first.
This FAQ covers the specifics — our complete guide covers everything about police stops, arrest and detention in one place.
Open the Full GuideAdhikar is an independent citizen-awareness platform, not a Government of India website and doesn't take a position on the NEET protests themselves — this is general information about rights every student already has, not legal advice for a specific situation. For that, contact a lawyer or the free legal aid helpline (15100).