Table of Contents
RTI Fees by State and Online Portal Directory (2026)
In one line: The Central Government fee is Rs 10 via rtionline.gov.in. Most States charge Rs 10 (a few charge Rs 50). BPL applicants pay nothing under Section 7(5) of the RTI Act, 2005. Of 28 States and 8 UTs, 10 have a reliable online portal; the rest are postal-only or unreliable. The authoritative direct-filing link for each appears in the table below.
Did you know? Every State Government frames its own RTI fee and format rules under Section 27 of the Act. A fee higher than Rs 10 can be charged only if supported by an existing State notification. If a department asks for more than Rs 10 without basis, that is a Section 19 appealable ground. See our 6 rejection reasons and fixes page.
Central Government
| Item | Fee | Mode of payment | Direct filing link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central RTI (Ministries, Departments, PSUs, Union-list subjects) | Rs 10 (BPL: nil) | UPI, card, net banking, IPO, DD, Banker's Cheque | rtionline.gov.in |
| RTI Rules | - | - | All RTI rules on this site |
| Additional-information copies | Rs 2 per A4 page | Online / DD / cash on collection | - |
| Diskette or CD | Rs 50 | - | - |
| Inspection first hour | Free | - | - |
| Inspection subsequent hour | Rs 5 per hour | - | Inspection guide |
State Governments
| State | Fee | Online portal (direct filing) | Status April 2026 | Detail on this site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Rs 10 | rti.ap.gov.in | Working (slow replies) | Andhra Pradesh |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Assam | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Assam |
| Bihar | Rs 10 | birtips.bihar.gov.in | Partial (few depts onboarded) | Bihar |
| Chhattisgarh | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Chhattisgarh |
| Delhi | Rs 10 | rtionline.delhi.gov.in | Working | Delhi |
| Goa | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Goa |
| Gujarat | Rs 20 | rti.gujarat.gov.in | Working | Gujarat |
| Haryana | Rs 50 | cmoffice.haryana.gov.in/rti | Partial (CM's office route) | Haryana |
| Himachal Pradesh | Rs 10 | admis.hp.nic.in/himrti | Working | Himachal Pradesh |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Jharkhand | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Jharkhand |
| Karnataka | Rs 10 | rtionline.karnataka.gov.in | Working (UPI) | Karnataka |
| Kerala | Rs 10 | keralartionline.gov.in | Working (SMS alerts) | Kerala |
| Ladakh | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Ladakh |
| Madhya Pradesh | Rs 10 | rtionline.mp.gov.in | Intermittent | Madhya Pradesh |
| Maharashtra | Rs 10 | rtionline.maharashtra.gov.in | Working | Maharashtra |
| Manipur | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Manipur |
| Meghalaya | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Meghalaya |
| Mizoram | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Mizoram |
| Nagaland | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Nagaland |
| Odisha | Rs 10 | rtiodisha.gov.in | Working | Odisha |
| Punjab | Rs 50 | rtionline.punjab.gov.in | Working (routing patchy) | Punjab |
| Rajasthan | Rs 10 | rti.rajasthan.gov.in | SIC-side only | Rajasthan |
| Sikkim | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Sikkim |
| Tamil Nadu | Rs 50 | tnsic.tn.gov.in | SIC-side (first filing by post) | Tamil Nadu |
| Telangana | Rs 10 | tsic.telangana.gov.in | SIC-side | Telangana |
| Tripura | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Tripura |
| Uttar Pradesh | Rs 10 | upsic.up.nic.in | Unreliable (prefer post) | Uttar Pradesh |
| Uttarakhand | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post only | Uttarakhand |
| West Bengal | Rs 10 | rti.wbic.in | SIC-side | West Bengal |
Union Territories
| Union Territory | Fee | Online portal | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chandigarh | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post |
| Lakshadweep | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post |
| Puducherry | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Rs 10 | Postal only | Post |
BPL and fee waiver
Below Poverty Line (BPL) applicants pay no fee at any stage under Section 7(5) of the Act. Attach a copy of your BPL card or ration card with the application. States and UTs must respect this at parity with the Central Rules.
The two-channel rule
For any State RTI that matters, file simultaneously:
- Online on the State portal (link in the table), AND
- Speed Post with Rs 10 IPO to the PIO's address.
The portal gives you a digital receipt and SMS alerts. The Speed Post gives you a physical proof of filing that Information Commissions accept. Both costs together: Rs 10 for the fee, Rs 30 for Speed Post. Total Rs 40 for insurance that your RTI reaches the PIO.
Common mistakes
- Paying higher fees without asking why. Demand the notification that supports the higher amount.
- Filing through an unreliable portal only. Always post a parallel Speed Post.
- Not specifying BPL status if eligible. Attach the BPL card copy upfront; do not wait to be asked.
- Using Indian Postal Order made out to the wrong payee. Payee is “Accounts Officer, [department name]” unless the department's own rule says otherwise.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay by UPI?
Yes on rtionline.gov.in and on most modern State portals (Karnataka, Kerala, Delhi, Maharashtra). For postal filing and older State portals, use Indian Postal Order (IPO), Demand Draft, or Banker's Cheque from a nationalised bank.
What if the PIO refuses my IPO?
Rule 3 of the Central RTI Fee Rules and the State rules list accepted payment modes. IPO is universally accepted for Central matters. For State matters, check the State's notification. Refusal to accept a valid IPO is a Section 19 first-appeal ground.
Are fees the same for first and second appeals?
The Central RTI Act does not prescribe a filing fee for first or second appeal. Some States charge a nominal fee for SIC appeals; Kerala and Karnataka are free, Tamil Nadu charges Rs 50. Check the SIC's website.
Can I file RTI in regional language?
Yes. Section 6 allows the official language of the State, Hindi, or English. The PIO has a duty to assist applicants who cannot write in the required language.
Which State portal is most reliable in 2026?
Kerala (keralartionline.gov.in) is the most feature-rich with SMS alerts and strong routing. Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Odisha follow. See the State RTI Portals Directory
- State RTI Portal Rankings (scored 0-50) for full evaluations.
Call to action
Pick your State in the table above. If it shows Working, click the portal URL and file online. If Post only, download the First RTI template, print, attach Rs 10 IPO, and send by Speed Post. For central matters, go directly to rtionline.gov.in.
Related
Sources
- Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 6, 7, 27.
- Central RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005.
- State Government notifications (verified April 2026 on respective Government Gazette portals).
- Central Information Commission, cic.gov.in.
- Government of India, rtionline.gov.in.
- Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005 (2013 updated).
Last reviewed on: 20 April 2026
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