How to File an RTI Online in India (Central Government)

The Right to Information Act, 2005 gives every Indian citizen the right to request information from a public authority, and the central government's online portal makes filing that request possible without visiting an office. For the full checklist and the official link, see our RTI Online service page.

Central portal, not every RTI

This is the part people most often get wrong: rtionline.gov.in only accepts requests for Central Government public authorities — ministries, central departments, PSUs and similar. If the information you want is held by a state department (a state PWD office, a municipal corporation, a state university), you need that state's own RTI portal instead. Filing on the wrong one risks your request being returned, and the fee isn't always refunded when that happens.

What you need before you start

• Your basic details — name, address, contact information
• A clear, specific description of exactly what information you want — vague requests are more likely to be delayed or sent back for clarification
• Proof of BPL status, only if you're claiming the fee exemption

Step-by-step process

1. Go to the official RTI Online portal (rtionline.gov.in) — bookmark it, since a lot of unofficial-looking lookalike sites exist.
2. Click "Submit Request" and select the exact Ministry, Department or Public Authority that would hold the information.
3. Write your request in specific, unambiguous language — ask for particular documents, dates or decisions rather than a broad topic.
4. Pay the ₹10 fee online via net banking, card or UPI (skip this step if you're BPL and uploading proof instead).
5. Submit, and save the registration number shown — this is what you'll use to track the request's status on the same portal.

What happens after you file

The concerned Public Information Officer is ordinarily required to respond within 30 days of receiving your request, under the RTI Act. If the request concerns someone's life or liberty, that window is shorter. If you don't get a response in time, or you're unsatisfied with what you get, the Act provides an appeal process — check the current appeal procedure on the same portal.