RTI application (right to information)

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 you get no answer.
For whom: Citizens who want information, or copies of records, from a Telangana state 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.

Only if

Which office holds the information you want? A Telangana state government office · How will you send the application? On paper, by hand or by post
1.
Write the application to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the office, "under section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005". Say clearly what information you want; you need not give a reason. Add your name and address for the reply.
✋ You do this yourself
2.
You may write in Telugu, English or Hindi. 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? A Telangana state government office · How will you send the application? Online
3.
On the Telangana RTI portal, open "New Application" and choose the department and the office. Write your request in up to 3000 characters; if it is longer, attach it as a PDF.
💻 Online
rti.telangana.gov.in ↗
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? A Telangana state government office · At what level is that office? Village level (for example the gram panchayat) · Are you below the poverty line, with government proof of it? No
4.
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? A Telangana state government office · At what level is that office? Mandal level (for example the Tahsildar office) · Are you below the poverty line, with government proof of it? No
5.
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? A Telangana state government office · At what level is that office? District level, state level or any other office · Are you below the poverty line, with government proof of it? No
6.
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? A Telangana state government office · 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, with government proof of it? No · How will you send the application? On paper, by hand or by post
7.
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.
✋ You do this yourself

Only if

Which office holds the information you want? A Telangana state government office · 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, with government proof of it? No · How will you send the application? Online
8.
Pay the fee on the portal with "Make Payment": net banking, a debit or credit card, a RuPay card or UPI.
✋ You do this yourself

Only if

Which office holds the information you want? A Telangana state government office · Are you below the poverty line, with government proof of it? Yes, and I have proof
9.
White ration card holders need not pay the application fee. Attach a copy of the card to the application (upload it if you apply online).
✋ You do this yourself
📎 Copy of your white ration card
💰 Fee: Free

Only if

Which office holds the information you want? A Telangana state government office · How will you send the application? On paper, by hand or by post
10.
Give the application to the office's PIO by hand, or send it by post. You may also give it to the Assistant PIO (APIO); then 5 days are added to the time limit. Keep a copy: you will need it for an appeal.
🏛️ The Public Information Officer (PIO) of the office

Only if

Which office holds the information you want? A Telangana state government office · How will you send the application? Online
11.
After you submit online, keep the registration number (it comes by SMS and e-mail). You can check the status on the portal under "Application Status".
💻 Online
rti.telangana.gov.in ↗

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
12.
On the RTI Online portal, open "Submit Request" and choose the ministry or office. Write your request in up to 3000 characters; if it is longer, attach it as a PDF. Do not upload Aadhaar or PAN copies (only a BPL card). This portal is for central offices only.
💻 Online
rtionline.gov.in ↗

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
13.
Write the application and give it, or post it, to the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the office. Keep it normally under 500 words, though it cannot be rejected only for being longer. Include the CPIO's address and yours.
🏛️ The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the office

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, with government proof of it? No
14.
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, with government proof of it? No · How will you send the application? Online
15.
Pay the fee on the portal with "Make Payment": net banking, a debit or credit card, a RuPay card or UPI. If money is taken but no number comes, do not pay again; wait 24 to 48 working hours.
✋ 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, with government proof of it? No · How will you send the application? On paper, by hand or by post
16.
Pay the fee in cash against a receipt, or by 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, with government proof of it? Yes, and I have proof
17.
People below the poverty line pay no fee. Attach a copy of the BPL certificate issued by the government to the application.
✋ You do this yourself
📎 Copy of your below-poverty-line (BPL) certificate
💰 Fee: Free

For everyone

18.
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.
✋ You do this yourself
⏱️ within 30 days · 30 days from receipt (35 days if given through an APIO); 48 hours for life or liberty.
19.
If copies cost more, the PIO must tell you in writing, with the calculation. It is ₹2 a page for A4 or A3 paper. The information is given once you pay.
✋ You do this yourself
💰 Fee: ₹2 a page (A4/A3)
20.
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). If you applied online, you can appeal on the same portal under "First Appeal".
🏛️ The First Appellate Authority in the same office (senior to the PIO)
💰 Fee: Free · There is no fee for a first appeal.
⏱️ within 30 days · Within 30 days of the reply, or of the day the time limit ran out.
21.
The First Appellate Authority must decide within 30 days, or within 45 days in all if it records its reasons for the delay.
✋ You do this yourself
⏱️ within 30 days · Up to 45 days if reasons are recorded.

Only if

Which office holds the information you want? A Telangana state government office
22.
If you are not satisfied with the first appeal decision, or none comes, file a second appeal with the Telangana Information Commission (TGIC). You can do it online on the Commission's website, attaching your identity proof, RTI application and first appeal as one PDF of up to 1 MB.
💻 Online
tgic.telangana.gov.in ↗
📎 Copies of your application, the reply, your first appeal and its decision, Copy of an identity proof
⏱️ 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 Samachara Hakku Bhavan, behind Mozam-Jahi Market, Hyderabad 500001; phone 040-24740240. 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? A central government office (for example a central ministry, the railways, the post office)
23.
If you are not satisfied with the first appeal decision, or none comes within 45 days, 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.
💻 Online
dss.cic.gov.in ↗
📎 Copies of your application, the reply, your first appeal and its decision
⏱️ within 90 days · Within 90 days of the first appeal decision, or of the day it was due.

Documents you need

Not confirmed: The rules treat "White Card" holders as below the poverty line. Ask the office's Public Information Officer (PIO) whether your current ration card counts.

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 First 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 a Telangana office, you can also complain directly to the Information Commission.
Telangana Information Commission: online complaint
tgic.telangana.gov.in ↗📞 04024740240
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)
dss.cic.gov.in ↗📞 01126183053
If you are asked for more money
If the fee asked seems unreasonable, you can ask the First Appellate Authority to review it, or complain to the Information Commission.
Telangana Information Commission: online complaint
tgic.telangana.gov.in ↗📞 04024740240
Also
If the PIO or APIO will not accept your application, or the office has no PIO, complain to the Information Commission.
Telangana Information Commission: online complaint
tgic.telangana.gov.in ↗📞 04024740240
Also
If something goes wrong on the Telangana RTI portal, call the helpdesk on working days, or e-mail rti-helpdesk@telangana.gov.in.
Telangana RTI portal helpdesk
rti.telangana.gov.in ↗📞 9581821471
Updated on 30-10-2026
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