RTI Fee Guide: How Much to Pay, How to Pay, and BPL Exemptions

You've decided to file an RTI. You know what information you want. Then comes the question most people quietly Google at 11 pm: how much does this cost, and how exactly do I pay?

The short answer is ₹10, and there are a handful of ways to pay it. The longer answer — which is what actually matters — involves BPL exemptions, additional fees for copies and inspections, what happens when the government takes too long, and some practical habits that stop your application from being returned on a technicality.

This is that longer answer.

The ₹10 Application Fee — Where It Comes From

The Right to Information Act, 2005 does not itself fix the exact fee amount. Instead, Section 27 of the Act gives the Central Government the power to make rules specifying the fee. The Central Government exercised that power through the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005, notified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

Under these Rules, the application fee for a request to a Central Government public authority is ₹10.

This fee is not a tax or a fine. It is simply a nominal processing charge for filing an information request under Section 6 of the RTI Act. It applies to every adult Indian citizen filing a request to any central public authority — unless they fall into the BPL exemption (more on that below).

One important point upfront: the ₹10 rule covers Central Government bodies only — central ministries, departments, PSUs, autonomous bodies under the Centre, Delhi Police, NDMC, and similar central authorities. State governments have their own RTI rules, and the fee varies. Some states charge ₹5, some charge ₹20, and a few have other structures. If you are filing with a state government authority, check your state's specific RTI rules. The rest of this guide focuses on Central Government rules.

BPL Exemption — Free RTI for Below Poverty Line Applicants

The RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005 provide a complete exemption from all fees — both the application fee and any additional fees for information — for applicants who are Below Poverty Line (BPL) cardholders.

This means if you hold a valid BPL card issued by a state or Union Territory government, you pay nothing at all. No ₹10 application fee, no ₹2 per photocopy, no fee for inspections or diskettes. Zero.

What proof do you need?

You must attach a copy of your BPL card to your RTI application. Simply claiming BPL status in the application text is not enough — the Rules specifically require the applicant to furnish proof. A self-attested photocopy of the card is the standard practice.

When filing online through rtionline.gov.in, there is an option to indicate BPL status and upload a scanned copy of the BPL card. For postal or in-person applications, staple the photocopy to your application letter and mention it clearly in the body: "I am a BPL cardholder. A copy of my BPL card is enclosed. I am therefore exempt from all fees under the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005."

What if the authority wrongly charges a BPL applicant?

This happens occasionally — an officer processes the application without noticing the BPL card copy, or the card is overlooked at the receiving end. If a public authority demands a fee from a BPL applicant who has already furnished proof of BPL status, that demand is not valid under the Rules.

Your practical move is to write back to the CPIO pointing out the BPL exemption, referring specifically to the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005, and re-attaching the BPL card copy. If the authority persists, this is a valid ground for a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act — the First Appellate Authority (FAA) can direct the CPIO to process the application without the fee.

Additional Fees for Information — The ₹2 Photocopy Rule

The ₹10 application fee only covers the act of registering your request. If the PIO actually has to provide information in a physical or electronic form, the Rules specify additional charges. These vary by the format of the information:

Photocopies (A4 and A3 size)

₹2 per page. This is the standard rate for most information requests — documents, files, records, meeting minutes, inspection reports, and so on. If you ask for 50 pages of records, the PIO can charge ₹100 (50 × ₹2) over and above your initial ₹10.

The PIO is required to inform you of the additional fee before providing the information. They will typically send an intimation letter specifying how many pages the information runs to and the exact amount payable. You then have the option to pay, or to narrow your request if the volume (and cost) is more than you expected.

Inspection of Records

No fee for the first hour. If you prefer to inspect records in person at the public authority's office rather than receive photocopies, the first hour of inspection is completely free.

After the first hour, the charge is ₹5 for every subsequent hour (or part thereof). Inspection can be an efficient approach when you want to review a large set of documents and identify only the specific pages worth photocopying — it lets you avoid paying ₹2 per page for material you don't actually need.

Information on Diskette or Floppy

₹50 per diskette/floppy. This is the rate prescribed in the original 2005 Rules for electronic media — the format reflects when the Rules were written. In practice, most authorities providing electronic information today use other media or email, and the actual charge may be applied on a comparable basis. If an authority quotes a different rate for a USB drive or similar, it is worth questioning whether it aligns with the Rules.

Printed Publications (Priced Material)

If the information you requested is already available in a priced publication — a government report, a gazette notification booklet, a statistical publication with a cover price — the PIO will charge the actual price of that publication rather than the per-page rate. This is typically noted in the intimation letter along with where to purchase the publication.

How to Pay — Every Method Accepted

The RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005 specify several payment modes. Which ones are available to you depends on how you are filing.

Online Filing (rtionline.gov.in)

The RTI Online Portal run by the Central Government accepts electronic payments directly. When you submit your application online, you are immediately directed to the payment gateway where you can pay using:

• Net banking (all major banks)
• Debit card
• Credit card
• UPI (Unified Payments Interface — GPay, PhonePe, Paytm, and similar apps work)

Online payment is instantaneous, generates a digital receipt, and your application is automatically forwarded to the relevant CPIO after payment. This is by far the most convenient method, and the one to use if the authority you are targeting is listed on the portal.

Note: NDMC and ECI are not on rtionline.gov.in — they have their own separate portals. NDMC RTIs are filed at online.ndmc.gov.in/rti and ECI at eci.gov.in/rti-online-portal. Payment methods for those portals follow those authorities' own procedures.

Offline / Postal Filing

If you are filing by post or in person, the accepted payment modes are:

Indian Postal Order (IPO) — This is the most widely used and recommended method for postal RTI applications. Purchase a postal order for ₹10 (or the required amount) at any post office. The IPO must be made out in favour of the Accounts Officer of the public authority you are writing to. The name of the Accounts Officer (and the full payee name) is typically listed on the authority's website under its RTI disclosure section. If you cannot find it, address it to "Accounts Officer, Name of Ministry/Department" — most authorities will accept this.

Demand Draft (DD) — A bank-issued demand draft in favour of the Accounts Officer. More formal and traceable than an IPO. Suitable for higher additional fees (e.g., a large number of photocopies) where the amount exceeds what a postal order conveniently covers.

Banker's Cheque — Similar to a demand draft; issued by a bank branch against cleared funds. Treated the same way as a DD.

Court Fee Stamps — Accepted where permitted by the rules applicable to that particular authority. Not universally applicable; some authorities do not accept stamps. Check the authority's RTI guidelines before using this method.

Cash — Cash payment is accepted at the office of the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) where allowed. This applies when you visit the CPIO's office in person to submit your application. You pay at the cashier or accounts section, collect a receipt, and attach the receipt to your application.

Practical Habit: Always Attach a Copy of Your Payment Proof

Whether you are sending an IPO, a DD, or a court fee stamp — always attach it to your application and keep a photocopy or scan of the payment instrument for your own records. If a dispute ever arises about whether the fee was paid, your copy of the postal order or DD is your documentation. Similarly, for online payments, download or screenshot the payment confirmation and keep it with your application copy.

What If You Pay the Wrong Amount?

This happens. You miscalculate the additional fee, or the authority has a different interpretation of how many pages the information spans. The RTI Act and Rules do not authorise a public authority to simply reject your application or withhold information because the fee is slightly off.

The correct procedure is for the authority to inform you of the exact shortfall and give you the opportunity to pay the balance. The time taken for this back-and-forth is excluded from the 30-day response deadline — the clock pauses while the fee is outstanding. Once you pay the balance, the clock resumes.

If an authority returns your entire application as invalid because of a fee discrepancy without giving you a chance to pay the difference, that is not a lawful response. A First Appeal under Section 19(1) would be the appropriate next step.

Section 7(6) — When the Government's Delay Wipes Out Your Fee Obligation

This is a provision many applicants don't know about, and it is one of the most important.

Section 7(6) of the RTI Act, 2005 states that where a public authority fails to comply with the time limits for responding to an RTI request — that is, it does not provide the information within the statutory period — it must provide the information free of charge.

In plain terms: if the PIO misses the 30-day deadline (or the 48-hour deadline for matters involving the life or liberty of a person under the proviso to Section 7(1)), the authority cannot charge you any fees at all when it eventually provides the information. The delay itself wipes out the fee obligation.

This applies to both the ₹10 application fee (if not yet paid — as in cases where the authority requests fee payment after the deadline has already passed) and any additional fees for photocopies or other information formats.

Practically, if you receive an intimation asking for additional charges for photocopies after the 30-day period has already expired, you are entitled to point out Section 7(6) and request that the information be provided at no cost. Reference it directly: "The 30-day response period prescribed under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 expired on date. Under Section 7(6), the information must now be provided free of charge."

First and Second Appeals — No Fee Required

Good news here: the appeals process is completely free.

There is no fee for filing a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act. The First Appeal goes to the First Appellate Authority (FAA), who is an officer senior to the CPIO within the same public authority. You write a letter, attach your supporting documents, and file it — no payment required.

Similarly, there is no fee for filing a Second Appeal under Section 19(3). The Second Appeal goes to the Central Information Commission (CIC) for Central Government bodies, or the relevant State Information Commission (SIC) for state government bodies. The CIC's online portal accepts Second Appeals without any charge.

This matters because it means the appeals process has no financial barrier. If you are a BPL applicant who paid no fees at the application stage, you continue to pay nothing at the appeal stage too.

A Quick Summary of the Fee Structure

Practical Tips Before You File

Check the Accounts Officer name before writing the IPO. The payee on a postal order must match the designated Accounts Officer of the authority. A mismatch can delay processing. Most central ministries publish this on their RTI disclosure page.

Keep the fee receipt or IPO stub. Your post office will give you a receipt or a counterfoil when you buy a postal order. Hold onto it — it is your proof that the fee was paid.

If filing by post, send by Speed Post or registered post. This gives you a tracking number and delivery confirmation. The 30-day response clock starts from the date the CPIO receives your application, not the date you sent it. You need proof of delivery to pin that date down.

If you're a BPL cardholder, say so explicitly in your application and attach the card copy. Don't assume the officer will notice without clear prompting.

For state government RTIs, check your state's specific rules. The Central fee schedule described in this guide does not apply to state bodies. Every state has its own RTI rules — look up your state government's official RTI page or DoPT equivalent before filing.

Fees are one of the more mechanical parts of filing an RTI, but getting them wrong is a common reason applications stall or get returned. If you'd rather not deal with postal orders, Accounts Officer names, and additional fee calculations, RTI Sathi handles all of it — we prepare your application, manage the payment, and follow up on your behalf. You focus on what information you need; we handle the paperwork.