Right to Information Wiki

The working reference for India's Right to Information Act, 2005.

User Tools

Site Tools


rti-query-builder
Translate:

RTI Query Builder — drafting templates for common subjects

Notice on DPDP Rules, 2025. The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 were notified on 14 November 2025. With this notification, Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 became operational and amended Section 8(1)(j) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The earlier public interest override within clause (j) stands removed. Public interest reasoning now operates through Section 8(2) of the RTI Act, which has not been amended. This page has been reviewed in the light of this change. For the full practitioner note, see DPDP Rules, 2025: The amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.

· 2026/04/19 05:02 · 0 Comments

Did you know? The single biggest cause of RTI rejections is vague drafting, not statutory bars. The query patterns below are phrased the way Public Information Officers cannot easily refuse — specific record, named file, fixed period, one request per sub-paragraph.

In one line. Pick a category, copy the query, paste it into the online filing portal or the first-RTI template. Replace bracketed placeholders with your specifics.

What that means in practice.

  • Ask for documents, not explanations.
  • Name the file number, the date, and the period.
  • One request per sub-paragraph. Number them 1, 2, 3.
  • For personal-data matters post-14 November 2025, frame around your own record or plead Section 8(2) public interest up front.

Copy-paste drafting templates for the twelve most-filed RTI subjects. Tuned for the current post-14 November 2025 DPDP Rules, 2025 landscape. Each template is written to survive the usual Section 8(1)(j), 8(1)(h), and 7(9) objections. Paste into the Central portal at rtionline.gov.in or into the first-RTI template for an offline filing.

How to use this page

  1. Find your subject in the categories below.
  2. Copy the numbered query block as-is.
  3. Replace anything in `[square brackets]` with your actual details (file number, date, etc.).
  4. Paste into the portal's application text box or the printable first-RTI template.
  5. File and wait thirty days.

If a category is missing, read Why RTI Applications Get Rejected for the drafting rules that apply to any subject.

Service records and personnel

1. Your own service record

1. Certified copy of every order, notification, and memorandum relating to
   my appointment, confirmation, posting, promotion, and pay fixation
   between [start date] and [end date], maintained in the personal file
   number [file number or UID].

2. Certified copy of every Annual Performance Appraisal Report communicated
   to me in the above period.

3. The current index of the personal file and the list of documents
   placed on it.

The information relates to my own service record; Section 8(1)(j)
does not arise.

2. Disciplinary proceeding against you

1. Certified copy of the charge memorandum issued to me vide [reference
   number] dated [date], with its annexures I, II, III, and IV.

2. Certified copy of the Inquiry Officer's appointment order and any
   subsequent substitutions.

3. The list of documents relied upon by the Disciplinary Authority in
   framing the charge.

4. Copies of my written statement of defence as received and placed on file.

I clarify that I am not seeking the investigating officer's notes or the
preliminary enquiry report. Should the Public Information Officer maintain
that any item is exempt, I invoke Section 8(2) — disclosure of my own
disciplinary record is in the public interest in the governance of a
public servant.

Tenders, contracts, and procurement

3. A specific tender

1. Certified copy of the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) for tender number
   [tender reference] dated [date] issued by [department/office].

2. Certified copy of the bid evaluation minutes and the evaluation matrix.

3. Certified copy of the letter of acceptance, the performance bank
   guarantee, and the signed contract.

4. The current status of work, including any extensions of time, penalty
   orders, or revised payment schedules.

4. Payment records under a specific contract

1. Certified copy of every Running Account bill and Final bill passed under
   contract number [contract reference] dated [date] between [start date]
   and [end date].

2. The measurement book entries corresponding to each bill.

3. The list of variations ordered, with the approving authority and date.

File notings and policy files

5. File noting on your own matter

1. Certified copy of the complete file noting on file number [file number]
   relating to [describe subject], between the date of first entry and the
   date of final order.

2. Certified copy of the order passed on the file, with any annexures.

File notings are disclosable under Section 2(f); see //CBSE v. Aditya
Bandopadhyay//, (2011) 8 SCC 497.

6. Policy file on a specific decision

1. Certified copy of the file noting and all documents placed on file
   number [file number] of the [department] leading to the issue of
   [name of notification/circular/order] dated [date].

2. The list of officers who processed the file, with designations and
   dates of noting.

Section 8(2) public interest override is pleaded: the resulting policy is
of general application and its underlying reasoning is a matter of public
accountability.

Vigilance and complaints

7. Your own vigilance complaint

1. The file noting and the action taken report on complaint number
   [complaint reference] dated [date] filed by me with the Vigilance
   Officer of [organisation].

2. The current status of the complaint and the name and designation of
   the dealing officer.

3. If the complaint has been closed, the date of closure and the closure
   order.

8. Aggregate vigilance data (no individual names)

1. The total number of complaints registered under the [applicable conduct
   rules] in the [department] between [start date] and [end date].

2. Of these, the number where enquiry was ordered, the number where the
   Article 311 process was initiated, and the number where penalty was
   imposed.

3. A subject-wise classification of the above (corruption, absenteeism,
   conflict of interest, other).

No individual officer's name is sought.

Public works and local bodies

9. A specific public works project

1. Certified copy of the administrative approval, technical sanction, and
   expenditure sanction for project [name] in [ward/block/district].

2. The list of works executed under the project with contractor name,
   date of start, date of completion, and total payment.

3. Copies of the last three monthly progress reports and the joint
   measurement report.

10. Local-body works in your area

1. Details of works sanctioned and executed by [municipal corporation/
   panchayat] in [ward number/gram-panchayat name] between [start date]
   and [end date], covering:
     a. Name of work
     b. Sanctioned amount
     c. Actual expenditure
     d. Contractor name
     e. Date of start and date of completion
     f. Certifying officer

2. Copies of the joint measurement reports and payment vouchers for each
   work.

Passport, EPF, ration card, pension

11. Your own Central-government claim

1. Certified copy of the file noting and any rejection or deficiency memo
   on my application number [reference number] dated [date] filed at the
   [Passport/EPF/Pension] office.

2. The name and designation of the officer to whom the file currently
   stands marked, and the date of last entry on the file.

3. If the claim has been rejected, certified copy of the rejection order.

12. Status and ageing of pending claims

1. The number of [Passport/EPF/Pension] applications received by this
   office between [start date] and [end date].

2. Of these, the number currently pending beyond thirty days, beyond
   sixty days, and beyond ninety days.

3. The officer-wise distribution of pending claims.

Formatting checklist

Before filing, verify:

  • One request per sub-paragraph, numbered 1, 2, 3.
  • Period confined — no “last few years”; use exact dates.
  • Named file, not generic “all files”.
  • Documents requested, not explanations.
  • Fee stated — “Rs 10 by IPO” or “paid online”.
  • Citizen declaration — “I am a citizen of India.”
  • Signature and date.

Sources

  1. The Right to Information Act, 2005 (No. 22 of 2005), Sections 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 19, 20.
  2. The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005.
  3. The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025.
  4. Central Board of Secondary Education v. Aditya Bandopadhyay, (2011) 8 SCC 497.

Last reviewed on

Discussion

Enter your comment:
 
Download this article as PDFIncludes a link back to the article and to the main website.
Was this page helpful?
rti-query-builder.txt · Last modified: by 127.0.0.1