Last Verified: March 2026 | Next Review: June 2026
Filing an RTI is easier than ordering food on Zomato. Seriously. It takes about 10 minutes, costs ₹10, and the government is legally forced to reply within 30 days. Yet most people think it involves lawyers, stamps, and visits to some dusty government office. It doesn’t. If you have a phone and an internet connection, you can file an RTI application online (RTI online kaise kare) right now — from your bed, if you want. This guide walks you through the entire process on the actual portal, screen by screen, so you don’t waste time figuring out which button to click.
Who Needs This and When
Any Indian citizen can file an RTI to any central government ministry, department, or public authority. You don’t need a reason, you don’t need a lawyer, and you don’t need to explain why you want the information. Want to know why your passport has been stuck for three months? RTI. Want the marks breakdown from a government exam? RTI. Want to find out how much money was spent on building that road in your area that’s already falling apart? RTI.
The RTI Act, 2005 (specifically Section 3) gives you this right. The only catch: the central portal — https://rtionline.gov.in — handles only central government bodies. State-level departments have their own portals, which I’ll cover below.
What You Need Before You Start
Not much, honestly. The portal is surprisingly light on documentation. Here’s the exact list:
- A working email ID — this is where your registration number and all updates land. Use one you actually check.
- A mobile number — optional on the form, but highly recommended. You’ll get SMS alerts for status updates and OTPs.
- Your RTI query typed out — the portal allows up to 3,000 characters in the text box. If your query is longer, prepare a PDF (under 1 MB) to upload as a supporting document.
- BPL certificate — only if you’re filing as a Below Poverty Line applicant to skip the fee. Upload a scanned copy (PDF format, under 1 MB).
- ₹10 for the application fee — payable online via net banking (SBI and associated banks), Visa/Mastercard debit or credit card, RuPay card, or UPI. BPL applicants are exempt — Section 7(5), RTI Act, read with RTI Rules, 2012.
That’s it. No Aadhaar required. No identity proof upload for general applicants. No registration or account creation is mandatory — you can file directly without logging in.
Quick tip from experience: always type your RTI query in a text file or Notes app first. I’ve seen people spend 20 minutes composing their query on the portal and then losing everything because the session timed out. Copy-paste is your friend.
How to File RTI Online — Step by Step
Here’s the exact process on the central RTI portal. I’ve tested this on both desktop (Chrome) and mobile (Chrome on Android). The portal works on mobile, but honestly, the layout is cramped — if you have access to a laptop, use it.
1. Go to https://rtionline.gov.in
You’ll land on the homepage. You’ll see a banner about maintenance schedules (SBI internet banking downtime notices are common here — ignore unless you’re paying via SBI net banking right then).
2. Click “Submit Request”
It’s in the top navigation menu. On mobile, you might need to tap the hamburger menu icon (three lines) to see the options.
3. Read and accept the guidelines
The portal will show you a page of guidelines and terms. Scroll to the bottom, tick the checkbox that says you’ve read the guidelines, and hit “Submit.” This is just an acknowledgment — no legal commitment beyond confirming you’re an Indian citizen filing under the RTI Act.
4. Fill in the RTI request form
This is the main form with these fields:
- Select Ministry/Department/Public Authority — a dropdown list. This is the single most important field. Pick the correct ministry or department your question is about. If you’re unsure, don’t panic — I’ll explain what to do in the tips section below.
- Name — your full name.
- Gender
- Address — your postal address. Replies sometimes come via physical post.
- State and Pincode
- Educational Status — yes, they ask this. Just fill it. It doesn’t affect your application.
- Phone number — optional but fill it. You need it for OTP-based status checks later.
- Email ID — mandatory. Double-check for typos.
- Citizenship — select “Indian.”
- Is requester below poverty line? — select Yes or No. If Yes, you’ll need to upload the BPL certificate.
- RTI Request text — this is where you type your actual question. Up to 3,000 characters. Be specific: ask for documents, copies, records, or data — not opinions or explanations.
- Supporting Document — optional upload. PDF only, 1 MB maximum.
5. Click “Make Payment”
For non-BPL applicants, clicking submit takes you to the SBI payment gateway. Choose your payment mode — net banking, card, or UPI. The fee is ₹10 as of 2026 (Section 6(1), RTI Act, 2005 read with RTI Rules, 2012).
A heads-up: UPI payments sometimes hang if you don’t approve the collect request within 2–3 minutes. Keep your UPI app open.
6. Get your Registration Number
After successful payment, you’ll get a unique registration number on screen. This same number will be sent to your email and via SMS (if you gave your mobile number). Screenshot this page immediately. If the payment went through but the number doesn’t appear, wait 24–48 hours — the portal FAQ confirms that numbers are generated after bank reconciliation in some cases.
Done. Your RTI application is filed.
Sunita from Bhopal filed an RTI to the Ministry of Education asking for the selection criteria used in a central government scholarship scheme. She got a reply in 18 days — a scanned PDF of the internal guidelines document, sent to her email. Total cost: ₹10 and about 12 minutes of her time.
State-Level RTIs: Different Portals
The central portal only covers central government bodies. If your query is about a state government department — say, a municipal corporation, state police, or a state university — you need the state’s own RTI portal.
Here are the major ones:
Not every state has a fully functional online portal yet. For states without one, you’ll need to file a physical RTI application — print it out, attach a ₹10 IPO (Indian Postal Order) or court fee stamp (varies by state), and send it by registered post to the PIO (jan soochna adhikari) of the concerned department.
Fees and Timeline
Fee: ₹10 per RTI application for central government bodies (Section 6(1), RTI Act, 2005). State fees vary — some states charge ₹10, others up to ₹50. BPL applicants are exempt across the board.
Additional fees: If the information you requested involves photocopies or printed pages, the PIO may ask for additional fees — typically ₹2 per page for A4 size. This request will show up in your application status on the portal, and you can pay it online.
Timeline: The PIO must respond within 30 days from the date your application reaches them (Section 7(1), RTI Act, 2005). If the information concerns someone’s life or liberty, the deadline is 48 hours.
What if they don’t reply? File a First Appeal. You can do this directly on the same portal — click “Submit First Appeal,” enter your original registration number and email, and submit. No fee for the first appeal. The First Appellate Authority gets 30 days to decide.
Still no luck? File a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) at https://dsscic.nic.in. The CIC portal is now integrated with the RTI Online portal, so it auto-fetches your application details.
How to Track Your RTI Status
- Go to https://rtionline.gov.in
- Click “View Status”
- Enter your Registration Number and the Email ID you used while filing
- You’ll receive an OTP on your email — enter it to view status
What the status messages mean:
- “Request received” — your application reached the nodal officer. It hasn’t been forwarded to the CPIO yet.
- “Request forwarded to CPIO” — the concerned Public Information Officer now has it.
- “Reply sent” — the PIO has uploaded or dispatched the reply. Check your email and the portal.
- “Request transferred” — your application was sent to a different department/ministry. You’ll get a new registration number.
- “Supporting documents required from applicant” — the PIO needs more from you. Log in to View Status and upload.
Rahul from Patna filed an RTI about pending MGNREGA wages in his village. His status showed “Request transferred” after 10 days — turned out it was rerouted to the Ministry of Rural Development from the Labour Ministry. He got a detailed reply with payment records within 26 days total.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
❌ Filing a state government query on the central portal → ✅ The application will be returned without refund. Always check if your department falls under central or state government first. When in doubt, search the dropdown list on rtionline.gov.in — if your department isn’t listed, it’s likely a state body.
❌ Writing vague queries like “Tell me about the road project” → ✅ Be specific. Ask for certified copies, expenditure statements, work orders, or file notings. Example: “Please provide a copy of the work order and expenditure statement for NH-48 road repair between km 120–125 for FY 2024–25.”
❌ Uploading a supporting document larger than 1 MB → ✅ The portal rejects files over 1 MB silently — no error message, the upload just doesn’t go through. Compress your PDF using SmallPDF or any free tool before uploading.
❌ Not saving the registration number and then losing the confirmation email → ✅ Screenshot the confirmation page the moment it appears. Also check your spam folder — emails from NIC servers sometimes land there, especially on Gmail.
❌ Using UC Browser or outdated mobile browsers → ✅ The portal sometimes doesn’t render properly on UC Browser or Samsung Internet. Use Chrome or Firefox. If the payment page shows a blank screen, clear your browser cache and try again.
❌ Filing the first appeal before 30 days have passed → ✅ The portal won’t allow it. You can only file a first appeal after 30 days from the date of your original application, or after receiving an unsatisfactory reply — whichever comes first.
❌ Paying again when the registration number doesn’t appear immediately → ✅ Don’t. The portal clearly states that numbers may take 24–48 working hours after bank reconciliation. If it still doesn’t show up, email helprtionline-dopt[at]nic[dot]in with your transaction details.
What Nobody Tells You
Here’s something most guides skip entirely: you don’t need to know the exact department to file your RTI. If you’re unsure whether your query falls under, say, the Ministry of Finance or the Ministry of Commerce, just address it to whichever seems closest. Under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, if the PIO determines that the information doesn’t fall under their department, they are legally required to transfer your application to the correct public authority within 5 days. You don’t lose your ₹10, and you don’t need to refile.
Also — and this surprises people — you can file an RTI without creating an account on the portal (RTI application kaise dale bina account banaye). The “Submit Request” option works without login. Creating an account only helps if you want to see all your past applications in one place under “View History.” For a one-time filing, skip the account.
One more: the 3,000-character limit on the query text box trips people up. But you can upload your full, detailed query as a PDF in the “Supporting Document” field and write a one-line summary in the text box like: “Detailed RTI query attached as PDF — please refer to the uploaded document.” This works perfectly and is accepted by PIOs.
FAQs
Can I file RTI online from my phone?
Yes. Visit https://rtionline.gov.in on Chrome or Firefox. The portal works on mobile, though the experience is better on desktop due to form layout.
How much does it cost to file an RTI in 2026?
₹10 for central government RTIs, payable via net banking, card, or UPI. BPL applicants are exempt. State fees may vary.
RTI ka jawab kitne din mein aata hai?
PIO ko 30 din ke andar jawab dena hota hai (Section 7(1), RTI Act). Life or liberty ke mamle mein 48 ghante ka time limit hai.
Can I file RTI for state government departments on rtionline.gov.in?
No. The central portal only accepts applications for central ministries and departments. State departments have separate portals — check your state’s RTI website.
What happens if the PIO doesn’t reply within 30 days?
You can file a First Appeal on the same portal at no cost. If that also fails, escalate to the Central Information Commission (CIC) for a Second Appeal.
Do I need Aadhaar to file RTI online?
No. The portal requires only your name, address, email ID, and optionally a phone number. No Aadhaar or identity proof upload is needed for general applicants.
RTI online form kaise bhare agar department pata na ho?
Jis ministry se sabse zyada related lage, wahan file kar dijiye. Section 6(3) ke under PIO ko 5 din mein sahi department mein transfer karna mandatory hai. Aapko dobara file nahi karna padega.
Can I file a First Appeal if my RTI was filed offline?
Only if the concerned CPIO has logged your physical application into the RTI Online portal. Otherwise, file the first appeal physically to the First Appellate Authority of that department.
Chinnagounder Thiruvenkatam — Editor at Tips Clear. Our team researches, tests each portal process hands-on, and updates guides when portal interfaces or government rules change. This content is educational and should not be treated as legal or financial advice. Always verify the latest process on the official government portal.
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes. Portal interfaces, fees, and timelines may change. Always verify the latest process on https://rtionline.gov.in before filing.
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