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Everyday tasks

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.
For whom: Indian citizens who want information, or copies of records, from an Andhra Pradesh government office or a central government office.
Published on 30-10-2026. Not every fact has been checked against its official source yet: confirm at the office.
Answer a few questions to see which steps apply to you. The whole guide is below.

Documents you need

•
Copy of your white ration card
copy
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.
•
Copy of your below-poverty-line (BPL) certificate
copy
A certificate issued by the government
•
Copies to attach to the appeal
copy
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

Steps

Only if
Which of these are you? Indian citizen living abroad (NRI) · Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)
1.
Indian citizens living abroad have the same right. You can send an application to an Andhra Pradesh office online or by post; the steps below apply to you too.
✋ You do this yourself
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.
Only if
Which of these are you? Indian citizen living abroad (NRI) · Which office holds the information you want? A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office) · Are you below the poverty line? (For an Andhra Pradesh office: do you hold a white ration card?) No
2.
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.
✋ You do this yourself
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level) · How will you send the application? On paper, by hand or by post
3.
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.
✋ You do this yourself
4.
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.
✋ You do this yourself
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level) · How will you send the application? Online
5.
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.
💻 Andhra Pradesh RTI Online portal
Open the official page ↗
rtionline.ap.gov.in · opens in a new tab
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level) · Are you below the poverty line? (For an Andhra Pradesh office: do you hold a white ration card?) Yes, and I have proof · How will you send the application? Online
6.
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.
💻 Andhra Pradesh RTI Online portal
Open the official page ↗
rtionline.ap.gov.in · opens in a new tab
💰 Fee: Free
Not 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.
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level) · How will you send the application? Online
7.
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".
💻 Andhra Pradesh RTI Online portal
Open the official page ↗
rtionline.ap.gov.in · opens in a new tab
Not confirmed: You can only choose offices on the portal's list. If your office is not listed, send the application on paper.
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level) · At what level is that office? Village level (for example the gram panchayat) · Are you below the poverty line? (For an Andhra Pradesh office: do you hold a white ration card?) No
8.
There is no application fee for a village-level office.
✋ You do this yourself
💰 Fee: Free
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level) · At what level is that office? Mandal level (for example the Tahsildar office) · Are you below the poverty line? (For an Andhra Pradesh office: do you hold a white ration card?) No
9.
The application fee for a mandal-level office is ₹5.
✋ You do this yourself
💰 Fee: ₹5
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level) · At what level is that office? District level, state level or any other office · Are you below the poverty line? (For an Andhra Pradesh office: do you hold a white ration card?) No
10.
The application fee for a district-level, state-level or other office is ₹10.
✋ You do this yourself
💰 Fee: ₹10
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level) · At what level is that office? Mandal level (for example the Tahsildar office) / District level, state level or any other office · Are you below the poverty line? (For an Andhra Pradesh office: do you hold a white ration card?) No · How will you send the application? On paper, by hand or by post
11.
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).
✋ You do this yourself
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level) · At what level is that office? Mandal level (for example the Tahsildar office) / District level, state level or any other office · Are you below the poverty line? (For an Andhra Pradesh office: do you hold a white ration card?) No · How will you send the application? Online
12.
Pay the fee online on the portal. An application whose fee is unpaid shows under "Pending Payment"; click "Pay" there and complete the payment.
💻 Andhra Pradesh RTI Online portal
Open the official page ↗
rtionline.ap.gov.in · opens in a new tab
Not confirmed: The papers we read do not list which payment methods (UPI, card, net banking) work.
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level) · Are you below the poverty line? (For an Andhra Pradesh office: do you hold a white ration card?) Yes, and I have proof · How will you send the application? On paper, by hand or by post
13.
White ration card holders need not pay the application fee. Attach a copy of the card to the application.
✋ You do this yourself
📎 Copy of your white ration card
💰 Fee: Free
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level) · How will you send the application? On paper, by hand or by post
14.
Hand the application in at the office or send it by post, and ask for a receipt. 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.
🏛️ The office's Nodal Officer (RTI) or Public Information Officer (PIO)
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level) · How will you send the application? Online
15.
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.
💻 Andhra Pradesh RTI Online portal
Open the official page ↗
rtionline.ap.gov.in · opens in a new tab
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office) · How will you send the application? Online
16.
On the RTI Online portal, open "Submit Request" and choose the ministry or office. Write your request in up to 3000 characters; if longer, attach it as a PDF. 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.
💻 RTI Online (Government of India)
Open the official page ↗
rtionline.gov.in · opens in a new tab
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office) · How will you send the application? On paper, by hand or by post
17.
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.
🏛️ The office's Central Public Information Officer (CPIO)
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office) · Are you below the poverty line? (For an Andhra Pradesh office: do you hold a white ration card?) No
18.
The application fee for a central office is ₹10.
✋ You do this yourself
💰 Fee: ₹10
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office) · Are you below the poverty line? (For an Andhra Pradesh office: do you hold a white ration card?) No · How will you send the application? Online
19.
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.
💻 RTI Online (Government of India)
Open the official page ↗
rtionline.gov.in · opens in a new tab
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office) · Are you below the poverty line? (For an Andhra Pradesh office: do you hold a white ration card?) No · How will you send the application? On paper, by hand or by post
20.
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.
✋ You do this yourself
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office) · Are you below the poverty line? (For an Andhra Pradesh office: do you hold a white ration card?) Yes, and I have proof
21.
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).
✋ You do this yourself
📎 Copy of your below-poverty-line (BPL) certificate
💰 Fee: Free
For everyone
22.
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 another office holds the information, your application must be sent there within 5 days and you must be told.
✋ You do this yourself
⏱️ within 30 days · 30 days (35 through an APIO). In Andhra Pradesh offices, counted from receipt by the Nodal Officer. 48 hours for life or liberty.
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)
23.
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.
✋ You do this yourself
💰 Fee: ₹2 a page (A4/A3); inspection free for the first hour, then ₹5 an hour
Not confirmed: The Act (section 7(5)) says no such fee is charged to people below the poverty line; the Andhra Pradesh order exempts White Card holders from the application fee only. Ask the PIO whether you must pay.
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office)
24.
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.
✋ You do this yourself
💰 Fee: ₹2 a page
For everyone
25.
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.
🏛️ The First Appellate Authority in the same office (senior to the PIO)
⏱️ within 30 days · Within 30 days of the reply, or of the day the time limit ran out.
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level) · How will you send the application? Online
26.
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.
💻 Andhra Pradesh RTI Online portal
Open the official page ↗
rtionline.ap.gov.in · opens in a new tab
Not 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.
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office) · How will you send the application? Online
27.
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.
💻 RTI Online (Government of India)
Open the official page ↗
rtionline.gov.in · opens in a new tab
💰 Fee: Free
For everyone
28.
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.
✋ You do this yourself
⏱️ within 30 days · Up to 45 days if reasons are recorded.
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level) · How will you send the application? Online
29.
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.
💻 Andhra Pradesh RTI Online portal
Open the official page ↗
rtionline.ap.gov.in · opens in a new tab
⏱️ within 90 days · Within 90 days of the first appeal decision, or of the day it was due.
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level) · How will you send the application? On paper, by hand or by post
30.
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.
🏛️ Andhra Pradesh Information Commission (APIC)
📎 Copies to attach to the appeal
⏱️ within 90 days · Within 90 days of the first appeal decision, or of the day it was due.
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.
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? An Andhra Pradesh government office (village, mandal, district or state level)
31.
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, but not a lawyer. The Commission also holds hearings by video conference, and the decision is shared on the portal.
🏛️ Andhra Pradesh Information Commission (APIC)
Only if
Which office holds the information you want? A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office)
32.
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.
💻 Central Information Commission (CIC)
Open the official page ↗
dss.cic.gov.in · opens in a new tab
📎 Copies to attach to the appeal
⏱️ within 90 days · Within 90 days of the first appeal decision, or of the day it was due.

You cannot get this

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. If you are not an Indian citizen, you cannot apply under this Act.
Instead, see:
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.
Not confirmed: We found no official paper that speaks of OCI cardholders by name; the Act speaks only of citizens. If in doubt, ask the office's PIO.

Fees and time limits

Step 6
💰 Free
Step 8
💰 Free
Step 9
💰 ₹5
Step 10
💰 ₹10
Step 13
💰 Free
Step 18
💰 ₹10
Step 21
💰 Free
Step 22
⏱️ within 30 days · 30 days (35 through an APIO). In Andhra Pradesh offices, counted from receipt by the Nodal Officer. 48 hours for life or liberty.
Step 23
💰 ₹2 a page (A4/A3); inspection free for the first hour, then ₹5 an hour
Step 24
💰 ₹2 a page
Step 25
⏱️ within 30 days · Within 30 days of the reply, or of the day the time limit ran out.
Step 27
💰 Free
Step 28
⏱️ within 30 days · Up to 45 days if reasons are recorded.
Step 29
⏱️ within 90 days · Within 90 days of the first appeal decision, or of the day it was due.
Step 30
⏱️ within 90 days · Within 90 days of the first appeal decision, or of the day it was due.
Step 32
⏱️ within 90 days · Within 90 days of the first appeal decision, or of the day it was due.

If something goes wrong

If it is rejected
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)
If it is late
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 ↗
rtionline.ap.gov.in · opens in a new tab
📞 08632387345
If it is late
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 ↗
dss.cic.gov.in · opens in a new tab
📞 01126183053
If you are asked for more money
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 ↗
rtionline.ap.gov.in · opens in a new tab
📞 08632387345
Also
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 ↗
rtionline.ap.gov.in · opens in a new tab
📞 08632387345
Also
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 ↗
rtionline.ap.gov.in · opens in a new tab

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Updated on 30-10-2026
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