How to File an RTI Application Online in India (and the First Appeal / CIC) (2026)

How-to · Right to Information

Updated for 2026 · Claw Editorial

To file an RTI application online for a central public authority, register on the RTI Online portal, write your request to the Public Information Officer (PIO), and pay the Rs 10 fee online. The PIO must reply within 30 days. If there is no reply or the answer is a refusal, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority, and after that a second appeal or complaint to the Central or State Information Commission. Last verified October 2026.

01Before you file

Most RTI applications fail for simple reasons: they go to the wrong office, they ask vague questions, or they ask for opinions instead of records. A few minutes of preparation avoids all three.

Central or state authority?

The central RTI Online portal is for central public authorities, such as Union Ministries, central departments and many central bodies. State governments and their departments usually have their own RTI portals and their own rules, including different fees. Check which government the office belongs to before you start.

Ask for information that exists on record

The RTI Act gives you a right to information held by a public authority, such as records, documents, file notings, reports and data. It does not make an officer answer “why” questions or give opinions. Ask for copies of documents, dates, decisions and file notes. Keep each question short and separate.

Keep your cause simple

You do not have to give a reason for wanting the information. You only need to give your name and a way to reach you.

02Steps to file an RTI application online

Here is the process for a central public authority on the RTI Online portal.

1. Open the portal. Go to rtionline.gov.in, the official portal for central public authorities.
2. Register or log in. Create an account with your email and mobile number, or log in if you already have one.
3. Choose the Ministry or Department. Select the public authority that holds the information. The portal routes your application to its nodal officer, who sends it to the right PIO.
4. Fill in your details and write the request. Enter your name, address and contact details, then type your questions in the text box. The text box has a character limit, so keep it tight.
5. Pay the fee online. The application fee is Rs 10. You can pay by net banking, card or UPI through the portal. People below the poverty line do not have to pay the fee and need to attach proof.
6. Submit and save the registration number. You get a unique registration number. Note it down, because you will need it to track the reply and to file an appeal.
7. Track the reply. The portal shows the status of your application and lets you file the First Appeal online if needed.

03RTI application format (what to write)

The online form takes the text in a box, but the structure of a good application is the same as a paper one. Use this outline.

1. To: The Public Information Officer, with the name of the Ministry, Department or office.
2. Subject: One line, for example “Request for information under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005”.
3. Your details: Name, postal address, email and phone number.
4. Period: The dates or years the information relates to.
5. Numbered questions: Each question on its own line. Ask for specific records, for example “a certified copy of the order dated 12 March 2025 on file no. X”.
6. Format of reply: Say whether you want certified copies, inspection of records or an email reply.
7. Fee: State that the Rs 10 fee has been paid online, with the transaction reference.

Avoid long background stories, arguments and opinions. The PIO only needs to know what record you want.

04RTI fees and timelines

The 30 day clock runs from the date the PIO receives your application. If your request was sent to the wrong authority, it should be transferred to the right one, and the clock continues from there.

Fees at the state level can differ, so check the rules of your state before paying.

05The appeal ladder: when the PIO does not reply or refuses

The RTI Act has a clear ladder for appeals. Each step has its own time limit, so note the dates.

Step 1: First Appeal

If the PIO does not reply in 30 days, or you are unhappy with the reply, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) with the First Appellate Authority (FAA). The FAA is a senior officer in the same public authority. File within 30 days of the reply or of the date the reply was due. The FAA should decide within 30 days, extendable to 45 days with written reasons. On the central portal you can file this online.

Step 2: Second appeal or complaint to the Information Commission

If the First Appeal fails or is not decided in time, you can file a second appeal under Section 19(3) with the Central Information Commission (CIC) for central authorities, or the State Information Commission for state authorities. File within 90 days of the First Appeal order, or of the date it was due. You can also file a complaint under Section 18 for matters such as refusal to accept an application or an unreasonable fee demand.

Step 3: Writ petition in the High Court

An order of the Information Commission is final under the Act, but it can still be challenged by a writ petition in the High Court on grounds such as illegality or a wrong reading of the exemptions. Many important RTI questions have been decided this way.

The ladder is simple: PIO, then First Appellate Authority, then Information Commission, then, in a few cases, the High Court.

06Common mistakes to avoid

• Wrong authority. A central application to a state office, or the reverse, wastes time.
• Vague or bundled questions. “Give all information about the project” is easy to reject.
• Asking for opinions. The Act covers existing records, not answers to “why”.
• Missing the appeal dates. The 30 and 90 day limits are strict. Diarise them the day you get the reply.
• Not quoting the section. In appeals, state the section the PIO relied on to refuse and explain why it does not apply.
• No record of the filing. Keep the registration number, payment receipt and a copy of the text.

Remember that some information is exempt under Section 8, for example matters affecting national security or personal information with no public interest. A refusal citing a valid exemption is not automatically wrong, but the PIO must say which clause applies.

07Where Claw fits

Claw does not file RTI applications, and you do not need it for the steps above. The RTI Online portal is the right place to file.

Claw becomes useful after a refusal turns into a dispute. Appeals to the Information Commission and later writ petitions in the High Court are real litigation with hearing dates, orders and deadlines. Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals. Teams that handle many such matters use it to follow their cases and orders in one place. See our guide on litigation tracking for litigation-heavy companies. For regulated sectors, see insurance litigation management software, and for other statutory time limits, the IP deadline calculator.

Claw has a free plan for individual advocates. Team and enterprise plans are paid.

08Sources and further reading

• RTI Online portal (central public authorities): rtionline.gov.in
• Central Information Commission: cic.gov.in
• RTI Act, 2005 and government guidance: rti.gov.in
• Claw: clawlaw.in

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees can change and differ by state, so confirm on the official portal. Last verified October 2026.

09Frequently asked questions