How to File RTI for KVIC Khadi Village Industries Grants, Loans and Certification

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is a statutory body established under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956, operating under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). KVIC is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005 and is fully subject to all RTI obligations.

KVIC administers some of India's largest self-employment and rural livelihood schemes — most prominently the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), which provides credit-linked subsidies for new manufacturing and service enterprises. KVIC also certifies and promotes genuine Khadi fabric, disburses grants to artisans and clusters, and channels funds to state-level Khadi and Village Industries Boards (KVIBs).

RTI is an essential tool for applicants whose PMEGP applications are stuck without explanation, entrepreneurs waiting for Khadi mark certification, and citizens who want accountability for how KVIC's scheme funds are distributed in their district.

What Can You Achieve with RTI to KVIC?

Where to File: The Right Authority

KVIC vs DIC vs State KVIB — Who Processed Your Application?

PMEGP is implemented by three agencies, and directing your RTI to the wrong one will cause delay:

KVIC State / Divisional Offices process PMEGP applications from rural areas (villages and towns with population below 20,000 as per PMEGP guidelines) and are the right authority for RTI about KVIC's recommendation or rejection of an application.

District Industries Centres (DICs) process PMEGP applications from urban areas and are administered by the respective state government's industries department. If your application went through a DIC, file RTI with the DIC's APIO/SPIO — these are state government offices, so the second appeal goes to the State Information Commission, not the CIC.

State Khadi and Village Industries Boards (KVIBs) are separate state statutory bodies — not part of KVIC — that implement Khadi and village industries schemes under state government authority. KVIBs have their own PMEGP quota and disburse their own grants. RTI against a KVIB must be filed with the KVIB's SPIO, and second appeal goes to the State Information Commission.

KVIC Headquarters, Mumbai should be approached for national-level policy documents, aggregate data across states, and KVIC Board decisions. For district-specific application status, the State / Divisional Office is the correct authority.

Locating the Right KVIC Office

KVIC has State Offices (one per major state) and Divisional Offices covering clusters of districts. On rtionline.gov.in, navigate to Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and then select Khadi and Village Industries Commission. The CPIO listed there is typically at KVIC HQ. For State / Divisional Office CPIOs, it is advisable to also call or visit the office to confirm the correct CPIO name and address before filing a physical application.

How to File: Step by Step

Online (Recommended)

1. Visit rtionline.gov.in and register or log in.
2. Click Submit Request and select Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) from the ministry dropdown.
3. Select Khadi and Village Industries Commission as the public authority.
4. Draft your application specifying your PMEGP application number, Khadi mark application reference, or grant reference — the more precise your reference, the quicker the response.
5. Pay ₹10 online via net banking, debit card, or UPI. BPL cardholders are exempt and must attach a copy of the BPL card.
6. Submit and note the registration number — you will need it for follow-up and appeals.

By Post (for State / Divisional Offices)

Address your application to the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Khadi and Village Industries Commission, State / Divisional Office address. Attach an Indian Postal Order (IPO) for ₹10 drawn in favour of the Accounts Officer, KVIC, or a demand draft as specified. Send by speed post and retain the receipt.

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

PMEGP Application Status and Selection

1. The current status of PMEGP application number XXXX submitted on date — specifically the stage of processing (whether it is at KVIC scrutiny, bank appraisal, or returned), the officer(s) responsible for each stage, and the reason for any pending or held status.
2. Whether the application was forwarded to Bank Name, Branch by KVIC, and if yes, the date of forwarding and the loan amount recommended. If not forwarded, the ground for non-recommendation, citing the relevant clause of the PMEGP guidelines.
3. The selection criteria and scoring methodology applied by KVIC to evaluate and rank PMEGP applications in District for FY 20XX-XX — including weightage given to category (SC/ST/OBC/Women/Minority/General), area (rural/urban), project viability, and any other criteria.
4. The number of PMEGP applications received, recommended, rejected, and pending by KVIC's State/Divisional Office for FY 20XX-XX, broken down by category and district.
5. The list of PMEGP beneficiaries approved by KVIC for District in FY 20XX-XX, with the enterprise type, project cost, sanctioned loan amount, and subsidy amount for each (beneficiary names may be withheld under Section 8(1)(j) if claimed by the CPIO, but aggregate data and project types must be disclosed as they serve larger public interest).

Subsidy and Grant Disbursement

6. Whether the PMEGP subsidy against application number XXXX has been released by KVIC to Bank Name, Branch. If yes, the date of release, amount released, and the reference number of the subsidy transfer. If not released, the reason and the pending requirement.
7. The total PMEGP subsidy disbursed by KVIC's State/Divisional Office to banks in District during FY 20XX-XX — broken down by bank and amount.
8. Whether any subsidy amounts disbursed by KVIC to banks in District during FY 20XX-XX have been returned or adjusted on account of beneficiary loan defaults or project non-implementation — if yes, the number of cases and amounts involved.

Khadi Mark Certification

9. The current status of Khadi mark certification application submitted by Enterprise Name, Address — date of receipt, date of inspection, findings of the inspection report, and present stage of the certification process.
10. If the Khadi mark application was rejected, the specific grounds of rejection citing the relevant clause(s) of the Khadi Mark Regulations, and a copy of the inspection report prepared for the unit.
11. A copy of the Khadi Mark Regulations and the published criteria for grant of the Khadi mark — minimum production requirements, yarn sourcing standards, and fabric test parameters.
12. The list of enterprises in District/State currently holding valid Khadi mark certification, with the enterprise name, certification number, and validity period.

Scheme Guidelines and Implementation Instructions

13. Copies of any operational guidelines, circulars, or instructions issued by KVIC HQ to the State/Divisional Office for implementing PMEGP in FY 20XX-XX, including target allocations by district and category.
14. The PMEGP target (number of projects and subsidy amount) assigned to KVIC's State/Divisional Office for FY 20XX-XX and the achievement as of date.
15. Whether any funds allocated to KVIC's State/Divisional Office under PMEGP for FY 20XX-XX were surrendered unspent — if yes, the amount and reason.

First Appeal and Second Appeal

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): If the CPIO does not respond within 30 days, gives an incomplete reply, or denies information without adequate grounds, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at KVIC (typically a senior officer at the State/Divisional Office or HQ) within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): If the First Appellate Authority does not respond within 30 days or the response remains unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days. KVIC is a Central Government statutory body under the Ministry of MSME — the second appeal authority is the CIC, not any State Information Commission.

Exception: If your RTI was filed with a state KVIB (not KVIC) or a DIC (District Industries Centre), those are state government bodies. The second appeal for those RTIs goes to the relevant State Information Commission, not the CIC.

The CIC has consistently held that public authorities must disclose PMEGP beneficiary lists and selection criteria, as these involve public funds and serve the public interest in transparency of government spending. Denial citing Section 8(1)(j) (personal information) is not a blanket exemption for beneficiary lists — only genuinely personal details such as individual bank account numbers need protection; selection outcomes and subsidy amounts are disclosable.