RTI application (right to information)
How to ask a government office for information under the RTI Act, what it costs, and where to appeal if no answer comes.
About this guidePending verification
Published on 12-11-2026. Not every fact has been checked against its official source yet: confirm at the office.
For whom: Indian citizens who want information, or copies of records, from an Andhra Pradesh government office or a central government office.
Answer the questions below first. Then the documents and steps open.
1Your situation
We show only what your answers need.
- Which of these are you?
- Which office holds the information you want?
- At what level is that office?
- Are you below the poverty line? (For an Andhra Pradesh office: do you hold a white ration card?)
- How will you send the application?
Your answers stay on this phone.
Each step below says who it is for. Confirm yours at the office, then change your answer here.
This route does not apply to your situation
The Right to Information Act gives this right to citizens (section 3), and an Indian embassy states that it is available to citizens of India only. An OCI cardholder is a foreign national, not a citizen of India (Ministry of Home Affairs notification S.O. 1050(E), 4 March 2021, Explanation (1)). If you are not an Indian citizen, you cannot apply under this Act.
→ Under section 4 of the Act, public offices must publish details of their work, officers and schemes on their own; look on the office's website.
Sources: 1, 17, 12, 18
2Documents you need
Tick the ones you have. They are kept in this browser.
Details
Not confirmed: The rules treat "White Card" holders as below the poverty line. Ask the office's Public Information Officer (PIO) whether the ration (rice) card you hold today counts.
Sources: 4, 6
Details
A certificate issued by the government
Sources: 13, 14
Details
Your application, the PIO's reply (if any), your first appeal and its decision (if any), as copies you have signed as true; copies of any other papers you rely on; and an index listing them all
Sources: 5, 13
Nothing to get ready before these steps.
3Your steps
· Do them in order. Tick each one when it is done.
- Do this nowIf: Indian citizen living abroad (NRI)If: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)
Indian citizens living abroad have the same right.
You may be able to send an application to an Andhra Pradesh office online, but check first: the portal's registration asks for your current address (State, District, Mandal and Village from lists, and a six-digit PIN code) and a mobile number for an OTP. The Act also allows a written request on paper, but the Andhra Pradesh papers we read do not say how to send one from abroad, so ask the help desk first. The steps below apply to you too.
Not confirmed
Registering on the Andhra Pradesh RTI portal needs a mobile number and an OTP; the manual does not say whether a foreign mobile number works. The Andhra Pradesh papers we read also do not say how to pay the fee from abroad. E-mail rtiap-helpdesk@nic.in to ask.
Sources: 1, 8, 7
- Do this nowIf: Indian citizen living abroad (NRI)If: A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office)If: No
Indian citizens living abroad can pay the RTI fee for central offices online with the Department of Posts' electronic postal order (eIPO).
When buying it you choose the ministry or department you are applying to, and it works for that one only. Attach a printout of it to a paper application.
Sources: 17
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)If: On paper
Write the application to the office's Public Information Officer (PIO), stating that it is made "under section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005".
Say clearly what information you want. You need not say why; just give your name and address so the reply can reach you.
Sources: 1, 11
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)If: On paper
You may write in English, Hindi or the official language of the area.
If you cannot write, the PIO must help you put your spoken request in writing.
Sources: 1, 12
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)If: Yes, and I have proofIf: Online
When you register on the portal, choose "Yes" for "Below Poverty Line" and give your BPL card number.
Confirm it with the OTP sent to the mobile linked to that card. Once it is confirmed, there is no application fee.
Open the official pageNot confirmed
The government order (G.O.Ms.No.25) speaks of uploading the white ration card; the portal manual asks for the card number and an OTP. Do what the portal asks.
Sources: 8, 6, 4
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)If: Online
On the Andhra Pradesh RTI Online portal, open "Citizen Registration" and sign up: give your name, mobile number (checked by OTP) and address, and set a password.
Then log in with your mobile number, password and an OTP.
Open the official pageSources: 8, 6
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)If: Online
Click "Submit Request U/s 6(1)" and choose the department category, department, district, organisation and office.
Write the information you want; you may attach a PDF of up to 2 MB. Check the preview and click "Submit Request".
Open the official pageNot confirmed
You can only choose offices on the portal's list. If your office is not listed, send the application on paper.
Sources: 8, 6
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)If: Village level (for example the gram panchayat)If: No
There is no application fee for a village-level office.
Sources: 2
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)If: Mandal level (for example the Tahsildar office)If: No
The application fee for a mandal-level office is ₹5.
Sources: 2, 11
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)If: District level, state level or any other officeIf: No
The application fee for a district-level, state-level or other office is ₹10.
Sources: 2, 11
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)If: Mandal level (for example the Tahsildar office) / District level, state level or any other officeIf: NoIf: On paper
Pay the fee in one of these ways: a court fee stamp stuck on the application; cash, against a receipt; or a postal order, demand draft or banker's cheque payable to the office's Accounts Officer (or other authorised officer).
Sources: 2, 4
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)If: Mandal level (for example the Tahsildar office) / District level, state level or any other officeIf: NoIf: Online
Pay the fee online on the portal.
An application whose fee is unpaid shows under "Pending Payment"; click "Pay" there and complete the payment.
Open the official pageNot confirmed
The papers we read do not list which payment methods (UPI, card, net banking) work.
Sources: 8, 6
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)If: Yes, and I have proofIf: On paper
White ration card holders need not pay the application fee.
The order does not say what proof a paper application needs; attach a copy of the card.
Sources: 4, 1
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)If: On paper
Hand the application in at the office and ask for a receipt.
The papers we read do not say clearly whether it may be posted; ask the office before posting one. In Andhra Pradesh offices, the Nodal Officer (RTI) (the office's Drawing and Disbursing Officer) receives it and passes it to the right PIO within 5 days. If you give it to an Assistant PIO (APIO), 5 days are added to the time limit. Keep a copy: you will need it for an appeal.
Sources: 1, 6, 11
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)If: Online
Keep the RTI Request ID you get after submitting.
You can follow the application on the portal's dashboard, and SMS and e-mail alerts come at each stage. If the PIO asks for more details, answer there.
Open the official pageSources: 8, 6
- Do this nowIf: A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office)If: Online
On the RTI Online portal, open "Submit Request" and choose the ministry or office.
Write your request in up to 3000 characters, in English letters and numbers (the box does not take Telugu script); if longer, attach it as a PDF with no spaces in the file name. Do not upload identity papers such as Aadhaar or PAN (only a BPL card). The portal is for central offices only; applications sent through it to state offices are returned without a refund of the fee.
Open the official pageSources: 14, 15
- Do this nowIf: A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office)If: On paper
Write the application and give it, or post it, to the office's Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), with the CPIO's address and yours.
Keep it normally under 500 words, though it cannot be rejected only for being longer.
Sources: 13, 1, 17
- Do this nowIf: A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office)If: No
The application fee for a central office is ₹10.
Sources: 13, 14, 17
- Do this nowIf: A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office)If: NoIf: Online
Click "Make Payment" on the portal and pay by net banking, debit or credit card, RuPay card or UPI.
If money is taken but no registration number comes, do not pay again; wait 24 to 48 working hours.
Open the official pageSources: 14, 15
- Do this nowIf: A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office)If: NoIf: On paper
Pay the fee in cash against a receipt, or send a demand draft, banker's cheque or Indian Postal Order payable to the office's Accounts Officer.
Sources: 13
- Do this nowIf: A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office)If: Yes, and I have proof
People below the poverty line pay no fee.
Attach a copy of the government's BPL certificate to the application (upload it if you apply online).
Sources: 13, 14, 1
- Do this now
Wait for the reply.
The PIO must give the information, or refuse it with reasons, within 30 days. If it concerns a person's life or liberty, it must be given within 48 hours. If a third party is involved, the limit can be up to 40 days, and the days between the PIO's fee letter and your payment are not counted. If another office holds the information, your application must be sent there within 5 days and you must be told.
Sources: 1, 11, 6
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)
If copies cost more, the PIO must tell you in writing, with the calculation.
It is ₹2 a page for A4 or A3 paper, ₹100 for a CD and ₹200 for a DVD, plus postage if sent by post. Inspecting the records is free for the first hour, then ₹5 for each further hour. You can pay by court fee stamp, in cash, or by postal order, demand draft or banker's cheque; the information is given once you pay.
Not confirmed
The Act (section 7(5)) says no such fee is charged to people below the poverty line, and the Commission's FAQ says no fees are charged from people living below the poverty line; the Andhra Pradesh order exempts White Card holders from the application fee only. Ask the PIO whether you must pay.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 12
- Do this nowIf: A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office)
If copies cost more, the CPIO must tell you, with the calculation: ₹2 a page for A3 or smaller paper; inspecting records is free for the first hour, then ₹5 for each further hour.
People below the poverty line pay no such fee.
Sources: 1, 13
- Do this now
If no reply comes within 30 days, or you are not satisfied with it, give a first appeal to the officer senior to the PIO in the same office (the First Appellate Authority, FAA).
A late appeal may be accepted for sufficient cause.
Sources: 1, 12
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)If: Online
If you applied online, click "Submit First Appeal U/s 19(1)" on the portal: choose the ground (no reply, incomplete, misleading, refusal and so on), choose the FAA, write the appeal in up to 2000 characters and submit.
If you close the request by giving feedback, you can no longer appeal.
Open the official pageNot confirmed
The Andhra Pradesh fee rules set no fee for a first appeal; we found no Andhra Pradesh paper that says outright that it is free.
Sources: 8, 6
- Do this nowIf: A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office)If: Online
If you applied on RTI Online, appeal on the same portal with "Submit First Appeal", using the application's registration number and your e-mail.
There is no fee for a first appeal.
Open the official pageSources: 14, 15
- Do this now
The First Appellate Authority must decide within 30 days, or within 45 days in all if it records its reasons.
It may call you and the PIO to a hearing.
Sources: 1, 6
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)If: Online
If you are not satisfied with the first appeal decision, or none comes, file a second appeal with the Andhra Pradesh Information Commission.
If you applied online, click "Submit Second Appeal U/s 19(3)" on the portal, write your grounds, attach a PDF if needed and submit. Keep the Second Appeal number it gives.
Open the official pageSources: 1, 8, 6
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)If: On paper
Write the second appeal to the Andhra Pradesh Information Commission.
Include your name and address; the PIO's name and address; details of the order you challenge; the facts in brief; what you ask for and why; and your verification and signature at the end. If no reply came at all, give the application's number and date and the PIO's details.
Not confirmed
The Commission's address is 1st Floor, MGM Capital, Chinnakakani, Mangalagiri Mandal, Guntur District 522503; phone 0863-2387345 (Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 5:30 PM). The pages we read do not say clearly that appeals by post are accepted; call and ask before posting one.
Sources: 1, 5, 10, 7
- Do this nowIf: An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)
The Commission must tell you the hearing date at least 7 clear days before.
You may attend in person, send a representative, or not attend; you may take someone to help you. The rule says that person "may not be a legal practitioner", so ask the Commission before bringing a lawyer. The Commission also holds hearings by video conference, and the decision is shared on the portal.
Sources: 5, 6, 8
- Do this nowIf: A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office)
If you are not satisfied with the first appeal decision, or none comes, file a second appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC).
You can do it online on the Commission's portal, logging in with your e-mail or mobile number.
Open the official pageSources: 1, 13, 16
If something goes wrong
If it is rejectedIf the PIO refuses, you must be told in writing the reasons, the time allowed for an appeal and who the appellate authority is.
If the PIO refuses, you must be told in writing the reasons, the time allowed for an appeal and who the appellate authority is. Give a first appeal within 30 days.
First Appellate Authority (in the same office)
Sources: 1, 12
If it is lateNo reply within 30 days counts as a refusal: give a first appeal.
No reply within 30 days counts as a refusal: give a first appeal. Information given after the time limit must be free. For an Andhra Pradesh office you can also complain to the Information Commission; the RTI portal takes complaints.
Andhra Pradesh Information Commission (complaint) · Open the official page
Sources: 1, 11, 7, 10
If it is lateNo reply within 30 days counts as a refusal: give a first appeal.
No reply within 30 days counts as a refusal: give a first appeal. Information given after the time limit must be free. For a central office, complaints and second appeals go to the Central Information Commission. You can call the Commission's helpdesk for help.
Central Information Commission (CIC) · Open the official page
Sources: 1, 16
If you are asked for more moneyIf the fee asked seems unreasonable, you can ask the appellate authority to review it, or complain to the Information Commission.
If the fee asked seems unreasonable, you can ask the appellate authority to review it, or complain to the Information Commission.
Andhra Pradesh Information Commission (complaint) · Open the official page
Sources: 1, 12, 7, 10
If you are asked for more moneyIf the fee asked seems unreasonable, you can ask the appellate authority to review it, or complain to the Central Information Commission (CIC).
If the fee asked seems unreasonable, you can ask the appellate authority to review it, or complain to the Central Information Commission (CIC).
Central Information Commission (CIC) · Open the official page
Sources: 1, 16
AlsoIf your application is not accepted, the office has no PIO, or you get incomplete or false information, complain to the Information Commission.
If your application is not accepted, the office has no PIO, or you get incomplete or false information, complain to the Information Commission.
Andhra Pradesh Information Commission (complaint) · Open the official page
Sources: 1, 7, 10
AlsoIf your application is not accepted, the office has no CPIO, or you get incomplete or false information, complain to the Central Information Commission (CIC).
If your application is not accepted, the office has no CPIO, or you get incomplete or false information, complain to the Central Information Commission (CIC).
Central Information Commission (CIC) · Open the official page
Sources: 1, 16
AlsoFor a technical problem on the Andhra Pradesh RTI portal, e-mail rtiap-helpdesk@nic.in.
For a technical problem on the Andhra Pradesh RTI portal, e-mail rtiap-helpdesk@nic.in.
Andhra Pradesh RTI portal technical support · Open the official page
Sources: 7, 9
Official websites for this work
- RTI Online (central) RTI applications to central offices
- RTI (Andhra Pradesh) RTI applications to state offices
Related guides
The 18 official pages and papers this guide is written from
- The Right to Information Act, 2005 (No. 22 of 2005), Gazette of India Extraordinary, Part II, Section 1Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department), Government of India; Gazette copy on the Andhra Pradesh RTI Online portal, Sections 3, 6(1)-(3), 7(1)-(3), 7(5)-(6), 7(8), 18(1), 19(1), 19(3), 19(6) (21-06-2005) · read on 30-10-2026
- G.O.Ms.No.454: Andhra Pradesh Right to Information (Regulation of fee and cost) Rules, 2005General Administration (I&PR.II) Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh (A.P. Gazette Extraordinary No. 73; copy on the Andhra Pradesh Information Commission website), Rules 3 and 4 (13-10-2005) · read on 30-10-2026
- G.O.Ms.No.545: amendment to the A.P. Right to Information (Regulation of fee and cost) Rules, 2005 (fee for inspection of records)General Administration (I&PR.II) Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh (A.P. Gazette Extraordinary No. 79; copy on the Andhra Pradesh Information Commission website), Amendment to rule 4(B)(vi) (12-12-2005) · read on 30-10-2026
- G.O.Ms.No.740: amendment to the A.P. Right to Information (Regulation of fee and cost) Rules, 2005 (postal orders and court fee stamps; White Card holders exempt)General Administration (Coordination, GPM&AR) Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh (copy on the Andhra Pradesh Information Commission website), Amendments 1(i), 1(ii) and 2 (01-10-2007) · read on 30-10-2026
- G.O.Ms.No.66: State Information Commission (Appeal Procedure) Rules, 2006General Administration (I&PR.II) Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh (copy on the Andhra Pradesh Information Commission website), Rules 3, 4 and 7 (25-02-2006) · read on 30-10-2026
- G.O.Ms.No.25: Launch of RTI Request & Appeals Management Information System (RTIMIS)General Administration (AR) Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh (copy on the Andhra Pradesh RTI Online portal), Paras 4 and 6 (I Nodal Officer, III Scope, VI Workflow, VII Timeline Summary) (18-02-2026) · read on 30-10-2026
- Right To Information (RTI Act, 2005): RTI Online portal of Andhra Pradesh, home pageGeneral Administration Department (Administrative Reforms), Government of Andhra Pradesh; developed by NIC Andhra Pradesh, Welcome text (RTIMIS live from 18/02/2026; requests, first appeals and complaints on the portal; second appeals with the Commission); technical support e-mail · read on 30-10-2026
- RTIMIS Online, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh: Citizen User ManualGeneral Administration Department (Administrative Reforms), Government of Andhra Pradesh; National Informatics Centre, Andhra Pradesh, Sections 2, 2.2, 2.5, 5.3, 5.4, 6.3, 6.6, 7, 7.1, 8.5 and 9.4 · read on 30-10-2026
- Contact Us (Andhra Pradesh RTI Online portal)General Administration Department (Administrative Reforms), Government of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh State Information Commission address, phone, e-mail; technical support e-mail · read on 30-10-2026
- Home | AP Information CommissionAndhra Pradesh Information Commission, Welcome text; Our Address; Contact Us; Timing; Working Days · read on 30-10-2026
- Procedure for RequestAndhra Pradesh Information Commission, Questions 1-3 · read on 30-10-2026
- FAQ's: Frequently Asked QuestionsAndhra Pradesh Information Commission, Questions 10, 11, 14, 16 and 17 · read on 30-10-2026
- Right to Information Rules, 2012Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India (Gazette notification G.S.R. 603(E); copy published by the Central Information Commission), Rules 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 (31-07-2012) · read on 30-10-2026
- Guidelines for use of RTI Online PortalDepartment of Personnel and Training, Government of India (RTI Online portal) · read on 30-10-2026
- RTI Online Frequently Asked QuestionsDepartment of Personnel and Training, Government of India (RTI Online portal), Which public authority; payment; wrong public authority (state public authorities); first appeal · read on 30-10-2026
- Notice: online filing of Second Appeals and ComplaintsCentral Information Commission, Items (i) and (v) · read on 30-10-2026
- Right to InformationEmbassy of India, The Hague (Ministry of External Affairs), Opening paragraph (available to citizens of India only; application fee equivalent to INR 10/-); Payment of RTI fee online (eIPO; its printout goes with an application sent in hard copy) · read on 02-11-2026
- Notification S.O. 1050(E), 4 March 2021: rights of an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, under section 7B(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (Gazette of India Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3(ii), No. 962)Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, Rights (1)–(4); right (5) (in all other economic, financial and educational fields not named, the same rights and privileges as a foreigner); Explanation (1) (an OCI cardholder is a foreign national holding a foreign passport and is not a citizen of India) (04-03-2021) · read on 30-10-2026