
Guide to filing RTI Online
It is possible now to file RTI Online with the Department of Personnel and Training Online RTI portal for 75 Ministry/Department/Apex body only by visiting their online portal here! Here is what you need to know before you file an RTI Online. Share this article http://rti.cc/rtionline
Where can I file RTI Online ?
RTI applications/first appeals can be filed by Indian Citizens for all Ministries/Departments and few other Public Authorities of Central Government as listed in the table below. RTI cannot be filed for Public authorities under the State Governments, including Government of NCT Delhi. If filed, the application would be returned, without refund of amount.This contains the list of the Ministry/Department/Apex body where one can file the RTI Online. (Updated as on 30th June 2014)
Serial | Department / Ministry |
---|---|
1 | Cabinet Secretariat |
2 | Department of Administrative Reforms & PG |
3 | Department of AIDS Control |
4 | Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries |
5 | Department of Atomic Energy |
6 | Department of AYUSH |
7 | Department of Bio-Technology |
8 | Department of Chemical & Petrochemicals |
9 | Department of Commerce |
10 | Department of Consumer Affairs |
11 | Department of Defence |
12 | Department of Defence Production |
13 | Department of Economic Affairs |
14 | Department of Expenditure |
15 | Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare |
16 | Department of Financial Services |
17 | Department of Food & Public Distribution |
18 | Department of Health & Family Welfare |
19 | Department of Health Research |
20 | Department of Heavy Industries |
21 | Department of Higher Education |
22 | Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion |
23 | Department of Information Technology |
24 | Department of Justice |
25 | Department of Personnel & Training |
26 | Department of Pharmaceuticals |
27 | Department of Posts |
28 | Department of Public Enterprises |
29 | Department of Revenue |
30 | Department of School Education and Literacy |
31 | Department of Science & Technology |
32 | Department of Scientific & Industrial Research |
33 | Department of Space |
34 | Department of Telecommunications |
35 | Legislative Department |
36 | Ministry of Civil Aviation |
37 | Ministry of Coal |
38 | Ministry of Corporate Affairs |
39 | Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region |
40 | Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation |
41 | Ministry of Earth Sciences |
42 | Ministry of Environment & Forests |
43 | Ministry of External Affairs |
44 | Ministry of Food Processing Industries |
45 | Ministry of Home Affairs |
46 | Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation |
47 | Ministry of Information & Broadcasting |
48 | Ministry of Labour & Employment |
49 | Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises |
50 | Ministry of Mines |
51 | Ministry of Minority Affairs |
52 | Ministry of New & Renewable Energy |
53 | Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs |
54 | Ministry of Panchayti Raj |
55 | Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs |
56 | Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas |
57 | Ministry of Power |
58 | Ministry of Railways |
59 | Ministry of Road Transport & Highways |
60 | Ministry of Rural Development |
61 | Ministry of Shipping |
62 | Ministry of Social Justice & empowerment |
63 | Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation |
64 | Ministry of Steel |
65 | Ministry of Textiles |
66 | Ministry of Tourism |
67 | Ministry of Tribal Affairs |
68 | Ministry of Urban Development |
69 | Ministry of Water Resources |
70 | Ministry of Women & Child Development |
71 | Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports |
72 | Planning Commission |
73 | President Secretariat |
74 | Prime Minister's Office |
75 | Vice-President Secretariat |
What are the Prerequisites for filing RTI Online?
- First you need to be Indian citizen to file RTI application. The Citizenship is as per the RTI Act Section 3.
- Online Payment: You need to have either Internet Banking or ATM-cum-Debit Card of State Bank of India or alternatively any Credit/Debit card of Master/Visa only. It may be noted that no RTI fee is required to be paid by a citizen who is below poverty line, as per RTI Rules, 2012. However, the BPL applicant must attach a copy of the certificate issued by the appropriate government in this regard, along with the application.
- Email Address
- Your Postal Address
- If you have query which is more than 3000 words, keep it ready as attachment. You can request our team to help in drafting your RTI queries by posting at our forum here: Ask for Framing an RTI Question.
How to file RTI Online?
Once you have all the details described above, and the question ready, you need to visit the Government of India website here: https://rtionline.gov.in/. Please do not get bothered about this screen welcoming you:

Untrusted connection of RTI Online Portal
OR

Security Exception for RTI Online
The RTI Online portal is https (Secured site) developed by NIC and the security certificate is also that of NIC. However, the certificate of the NIC though valid but is not recognised by the popular browsers till date. All you need to do is to add exception, or ignore the warning and go ahead. If you have more technical knowledge and want to be doubly sure of the RTI online portal, then you can view the certificate of the website which appears like this:

NIC certificate for RTI Online
Once you have overcome the primary hurdle of security, the Home page of RTI Online portal looks like this:

Official Government Portal for filing RTI Online
You can either create a new account with the RTI Online Portal or go straight to filing an RTI. The link to file an RTI is available at the top of the site ‘Submit Request‘. Once you click on the ‘Submit Request’, you shall be asked to accept the Terms and Conditions of filing RTI Online. This shall appear something like this:
All you need to do is to read the terms and conditions and click on ‘I Have read and understood the above guidelines’. After you have accepted the terms of filing RTI Online, you shall be presented with the following page:
GUIDELINES FOR USE OF RTI ONLINE PORTAL
The official user manual for filing RTI Online is available with the Government website and should be referred always.
- The fields marked * are mandatory while the others are optional.
- The text of the application may be written at the prescribed column. At present, the text of an application that can be uploaded at the prescribed column is confined to 3000 characters only. In case an application contains more than 3000 characters, it can be uploaded as an attachment, by using column “Supporting document”.
- Only after making payment, an application can be submitted. After clicking on the “Pay” button, applicant will be directed to SBI Payment Gateway for payment. After completing the payment process, applicant will be redirected back to RTI Online Portal. On submission of the application, a unique registration number would be issued, which may be referred by the applicant for any references in future.
- The applicant will get an email and sms alert (if mobile no. provided) on submission of application.
- Status of the RTI application/first appeal filed online can be seen by the applicant/appellant by clicking at “View Status“.
- The application filed through this Web Portal would reach electronically to the “Nodal Officer” of concerned Ministry/Department, who would transmit the RTI application electronically to the concerned CPIO.
Additional Payment for RTI Online
In case additional fee is required representing the cost for providing information, the CPIO would intimate the applicant through RTI Online portal. This intimation can be seen by the applicant through Status Report or through his/her e-mail alert. Additional payment can be made by clicking on Make Payment link. Then the applicant will be directed to payment gateway again. Here is what the Status shall look like:

Additional Payment for RTI Online
Forwarding to multiple CPIO
Filing RTI Online seems very easy if you follow the above steps, but wait, there is a tricky part too. If you correctly asked all the information belonging to one CPIO, you must consider yourself lucky. However, if you have asked information which belonged to multiple CPIO, you are in for some difficult position. Once CPIO decides that the questions belong to other CPIO’s too, he shall forward to multiple CPIO’s and you shall get multiple registration number. If for example the RTI application has been split into four CPIO, then four replies will be received by the applicant. The tricky part is that in case the applicant is not satisfied with the reply of a particular CPIO, then appeal needs to be filed for that particular registration no and not to the original RTI Application. You can request our team to help in drafting your RTI queries by posting at our forum here: Ask for Framing an RTI Question.
Here are the other important links for you:
What is Right to Information
Read the RTI Act
Download Sample RTI
Court Judgements on RTI
Centre State RTI Rules & Fees
Who is RTI Activist
How to become RTI Activist
Search RTI Activist
RTI News
Member RTI Blogs
RTI iPhone App
RTI Android App
This article can be shared by using http://rti.cc/rtionline
I had applied for RTI to a Bihar State Circle Officer under the advice of a former Bihar Chief Secretary Chief Bihar State Information Commissioner. But, even then, I have not the information till today. Rather I got a reply from the concerned Circle Officer that he is not in a position to furnish the information as the information, I asked for, is of interrogative nature which is a bold lie. Te Bihar State Information Commission is openly supporting the Circle Officer. What should I now do?
Hous wife
Can RTI be filed online for UPPCL (UP Power Corporation Ltd.), if yes how?
yes
i m satisfied