RTI Online lets Indian citizens file information requests and first appeals with participating Central Government public authorities. The central portal is not the place to file a request for a state government department, including one under the Government of NCT Delhi. The official site warns that such applications will be returned without a refund, so choosing the right authority comes before filling the form or paying a fee.
| Question | Official portal guidance |
|---|---|
| Who can use it? | Indian citizens |
| Authorities covered | Listed Central Government ministries, departments and public authorities |
| Request text | Up to 3,000 characters in the text field |
| Longer request | Supporting PDF attachment |
| First appeal fee | No fee |
How to apply for RTI online
Start at the official RTI Online website and check the available public authorities. Select Submit Request, read the instructions and complete the required fields. Fields marked with an asterisk are mandatory. The portal routes a submitted application to the ministry or department's nodal officer, who then sends it electronically to the relevant Central Public Information Officer, or CPIO.
The request text field accepts up to 3,000 characters. A longer application can be attached as a PDF in the Supporting Document field. The official filing guidelines also list the characters accepted in the text field and instruct applicants to avoid spaces in a PDF filename. If text will not submit, check those requirements before rewriting the entire request.
The guidelines specifically say not to upload Aadhaar, PAN or other personal identification, except the BPL document where applicable. A request for information does not require a collection of unrelated identity documents. Read the supporting document instructions before attaching a file, especially if it contains personal information that the public authority has not asked you to supply.
RTI application fees and payment problems
A non-BPL applicant proceeds through Make Payment for the prescribed application fee under the RTI Rules, 2012. The instructions list internet banking, credit or debit cards, UPI and RuPay among payment methods. The exact payable amount and any later charge should be checked against the official form and applicable rules when filing. This guide does not promise that the initial payment covers every possible cost of supplying records.
Citizens below the poverty line do not have to pay the RTI application fee under the portal's instructions. They must attach the certificate issued by the appropriate government to support that exemption. For other applicants, if providing the requested information requires an additional charge, the CPIO can communicate it through the portal. Look for that intimation in the status report or the associated email alert.
After successful submission, keep the unique registration number. If payment has been made but a registration number has not appeared, the guidelines advise waiting 24 to 48 working hours for reconciliation and avoiding another payment attempt. The portal also provides a Payment Reconciliation feature. Repeated payment should not be the first response to a delayed acknowledgement.
How to check RTI status and download the reply
Open View Status on the official portal. The public form asks for the registration number, email address and security code. It says an OTP will be sent to the email address and also to the mobile number if one was supplied with the request. Complete verification yourself to view the record and any reply.
The portal's FAQ explains that requests filed directly without signing into a user account may not appear in that account's history. Their status can still be checked using the registration number in View Status. A missing history entry therefore does not, by itself, establish that the application was never filed.
RTI first appeal and helpdesk
For an online first appeal, choose Submit First Appeal and use the original application's registration number. The guidelines state that no fee is payable for a first appeal. The FAQ also explains that, when the CPIO has not replied and the stipulated 30 days have not elapsed, the portal may not yet allow that appeal. Applicable time limits and exemptions under the RTI Act continue to apply.
For filing difficulties, the home page lists helpdesk numbers 011-24010690 and 011-24010691, with office hours of 9 am to 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday except public holidays. The helpdesk email is helprtionline-dopt@nic.in. The FAQ says this support channel handles problems using the central portal, rather than unrelated requests for information.
The home page also announces integration with the Central Information Commission's second appeal filing portal. Applicants can supply their first appeal registration number, email and filing date so that related details can be retrieved. This is a filing facility, not an assurance of a particular outcome. These instructions were checked on 29 October 2026; consult the current official form before submission.
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