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Q: What is the single most common reason RTI applications get rejected?

Asking a question or an opinion instead of asking for a document. The Act gives access to existing records. A "why" question can almost always be rephrased as a request for the file noting, the order, or the decision letter.

Q: Is there a time limit to file a first appeal after rejection?

Yes. Thirty days from the date of the Officer's reply or from the date the reply was due in case of deemed refusal. The First Appellate Authority may condone delay for sufficient cause under Section 19(1).

Q: Can the Public Information Officer reject for asking too much information?

Yes, under Section 7(9) if compliance would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority. The remedy is to split the request into multiple narrower applications.

Q: If Section 8(1)(j) is invoked, can I still get the information?

Possibly, through Section 8(2) of the Act — the public-interest override. After the 14 November 2025 amendment, Section 8(2) is the sole route for an override on personal-information matters.

Q: How do I know which public authority has my information?

Check the public authority's Section 4(1)(b) suo motu disclosure on its website for the subject-wise list of records. If unsure, file with the most proximate authority and rely on the transfer rule under Section 6(3).

The following pages were changed recently:

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2026/04/22 03:35 Forum Policy — DPDP & IT Rules Compliance – [1. Who we are and what the forum is] Shrawan +1 B
2026/04/21 16:25 Why trust this course – [The instructor] Shrawan +1 B
2026/04/20 08:30 Right to Information Act, 2005 — India's Working Reference – [RTI Wiki — The working reference for the Right to Information Act, 2005] Shrawan ±0 B
2026/04/20 01:31 Delhi High Court PhD Theses Ruling: A Landmark RTI Decision on Academic Transparency vs Privacy (2024) – Shrawan -4 B
2026/04/19 09:55 What Indians file RTI applications about — the subjects filed, satisfied, and appealed – Shrawan ±0 B
2026/04/19 09:38 The Right to Information Act, 2005 — a decade of change, 2015 to 2025 – Shrawan ±0 B
2026/04/19 03:33 Right to Information at twenty: the Information Commissions' report card for 2024-25 – created Shrawan +8.2 KB
2026/04/19 03:32 Raj Kumar Goyal sworn in as Chief Information Commissioner; CIC reaches full strength – created Shrawan +7.8 KB
2026/04/19 03:31 DPDP Rules, 2025: The amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act – created Shrawan +10.4 KB
2025/03/04 03:34 RTI Act vs Privacy: How the 2023 Amendment Redefined Personal Information and Sparked a Transparency Crisis – Shrawan +77 B
2026/04/22 10:01 blog:4_transparency-and-governance-broader-impacts.png – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 ±0 B
2026/04/22 10:01 blog:5_stakeholder-concerns-and-future-directions.png – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 ±0 B
2026/04/22 10:01 blog:3_information-officers-and-rti-applicants.png – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 ±0 B
2026/04/22 10:01 blog:2_section-81j-a-legislative-amendment.png – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 ±0 B
2025/03/04 03:34 blog:1_rti-vs-privacy-indias-critical-transparency-dilemma.png – created Shrawan +613.3 KB
2025/03/04 02:57 The Current State of Right to Information in India: Challenges, Judicial Interpretations, and Future Direction – Shrawan +39 B
2025/03/04 02:57 blog:rtiwiki-analysis.png – created Shrawan +527.4 KB
2025/03/04 02:51 The Impact of Delhi High Court's Ruling on %%PhD%% Theses Under RTI Act: Balancing Academic Freedom and Research Transparency in India – Shrawan -25 B
2025/03/02 13:03 blog:delhi-hc-ruling-phd-theses-and-rti_1_.pdf – created Shrawan +1.1 MB
2025/03/02 12:56 blog:8_conclusion-a-step-towards-open-science.png – created Shrawan +881.5 KB
2025/03/02 12:56 blog:7_challenges-and-considerations.png – created Shrawan +129.5 KB
2026/04/22 10:01 blog:4_courts-reasoning.png – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 ±0 B
2025/03/02 12:56 blog:6_impact-on-research-ecosystem.png – created Shrawan +963.4 KB
2025/03/02 12:56 blog:5_implications-for-academic-freedom.png – created Shrawan +1.6 MB
2025/03/02 12:56 blog:1_delhi-hc-ruling-phd-theses-and-rti.png – created Shrawan +769.3 KB
2025/03/02 12:56 blog:3_key-issues-addressed.png – created Shrawan +687 KB
2025/03/02 12:56 blog:2_background-of-the-case.png – created Shrawan +104.1 KB
2025/03/02 12:35 blog:the_current_state_of_right_to_information_in_india_1_.pdf – created Shrawan +304.1 KB
2025/03/02 12:27 RTI Act, 2005 (Amended 14 Nov 2025): Full Text – [Section 16: Term of office and conditions of service] Shrawan -758 B
2025/03/02 12:23 rti_act_2005_amended_-english_version.pdf – created Shrawan +1 MB
2025/03/02 12:22 rti_act_2005_amended_-english_version.docx – created Shrawan +93.3 KB
2023/04/16 03:29 Sending whatsapp Notice is valid in Court – Shrawan -775 B
2023/04/16 03:28 CIC does not allow disclosure of the dissent note of Ashok Lavasa over complaint received against Prime Minister during Lok Sabha elections 2019 – Shrawan -1.2 KB
2023/04/15 11:57 RTI can’t be Denied on the Ground that Information sought is Irrelevant – Shrawan -388 B
2023/04/15 11:56 Girish Deshpande: What is Personal Under RTI? – Shrawan -1.1 KB
2023/04/15 11:55 Supreme Court- ICAI Vs Shaunak H.Satya – Shrawan -2.7 KB
2023/04/15 11:54 Supreme Court- Thalappalam Coop. Vs State of Kerala – Shrawan -2.3 KB
2023/04/15 11:53 Power of Review by CIC – Shrawan -393 B
2023/04/15 11:51 Important Decisions – Shrawan -389 B
2023/04/15 11:50 RTI Cell – Shrawan -776 B
2023/04/15 11:49 How to File First Appeal under RTI – Shrawan +38 B
2023/04/15 11:49 Fundamental Facts about RTI – Shrawan -382 B
2023/04/15 11:48 How to file a Complaint to CIC – Shrawan -3.4 KB
2023/04/15 11:47 How to file a Second Appeal under RTI — a practical guide for 2026 – Shrawan -2.7 KB
2023/04/15 11:44 Where You cannot get Information – Shrawan -775 B
2023/04/15 11:44 What are the Penalty and Compensation – Shrawan -1.2 KB
2023/04/15 11:42 When to supply information free of Cost? – Shrawan -393 B
2023/04/15 11:40 How to Fill an RTI Application Form — The 2026 Practitioner's Guide – Shrawan -393 B
2023/04/15 11:39 How to locate Public Information Officer under RTI – Shrawan -775 B
2026/04/22 10:01 How to use your Right to Information – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 -136 B
2023/04/15 11:38 Guidelines for First Appellate Authority (FAA) under the RTI Act, 2005 – Shrawan -2.3 KB
2023/04/15 11:37 Guidelines for Public Information Officer – Shrawan -3.8 KB
2023/04/15 11:36 Inspection of Records under RTI: Your Rights, the PIO's Playbook, and How to Win – Shrawan -1.5 KB
2023/04/15 11:11 Who can ask for information under Right to Information? – Shrawan -393 B
2023/04/15 11:10 Vicarious Liability under RTI — Who Actually Pays – Shrawan -379 B
2023/04/15 11:09 Transfer of Application to other PIO – Shrawan -786 B
2023/04/15 11:08 Third-party information under RTI — Section 11 procedure, 2026 – Shrawan -1.5 KB
2023/04/15 11:07 Suo Motu Disclosure under Section 4 — The Proactive Duty – Shrawan -1.5 KB
2023/04/15 11:06 "Substantially Financed" under RTI — The Section 2(h) Test – Shrawan -1.5 KB
2023/04/15 11:05 Severability – Shrawan -1.1 KB
2023/04/15 11:04 Refund of Fees – Shrawan -379 B
2023/04/15 11:04 What is Public Interest under the RTI Act — updated April 2026 – Shrawan -786 B
2023/04/15 11:03 Public Authority – Shrawan -2.7 KB
2023/04/15 10:59 Prescribed – Shrawan -1.1 KB
2023/04/15 10:58 Missing Files under RTI Act – Shrawan -1.1 KB
2023/04/15 10:58 Justification for Denial is Mandatory — Speaking Order Requirement – Shrawan -786 B
2023/04/15 10:57 Investigation/Inquiry reports under RTI – Shrawan -393 B
2023/04/15 10:57 What is Information under RTI Act – Shrawan -2.3 KB
2023/04/15 10:56 RTI Grounds for Rejection — The 10 Valid Refusals Under Section 8(1) (2026) – Shrawan -5.3 KB
2023/04/15 10:54 File Notings under RTI — What They Are and How to Get Them – Shrawan -393 B
2023/04/15 10:54 What is Fiduciary Relationship – Shrawan -1.5 KB
2023/04/15 10:53 Disproportionate Diversion of Resources – Shrawan -1.9 KB
2023/04/15 10:52 Deemed CPIO — Section 5(5) Explained – Shrawan -772 B
2023/04/15 10:51 Composite Petition under RTI Act – Shrawan -1.5 KB
2023/04/15 10:51 Competent Authority under RTI — Section 2(e) – Shrawan -775 B
2023/04/15 10:50 Citizenship under RTI Act 2005 – Shrawan -3.1 KB
2023/04/15 10:48 Annual Confidential Report – Shrawan -786 B
2023/04/15 10:46 RTI Wiki – Shrawan -726 B
2023/04/15 10:44 RTI Application for EPF transfer Status – Shrawan -36 B
2023/04/15 10:43 Sample RTI applications – Shrawan -758 B
2023/04/15 10:42 RTI Forms – Shrawan -764 B
2023/04/15 10:42 Guide for applicants – Shrawan -764 B
2023/04/15 10:41 What is Right to Information – Shrawan -1.5 KB
2023/04/15 10:40 Guides — Right to Information Act, 2005 – Shrawan -1.1 KB
2023/04/15 10:34 Common Terms – Shrawan -382 B
2020/07/19 11:02 important-decisions:court:4228_2015_5_1501_21164_judgement_04-mar-2020.pdf – created Shrawan +149.8 KB
2020/07/12 16:20 explanations:delhi_high_court_judgment.pdf – created Shrawan +362.9 KB
2020/07/12 16:19 explanations:composite_petitions_cic_ky_c_2015_000152_m_180880.pdf – created Shrawan +216.5 KB
2020/07/12 11:59 explanations:composite_petitions_cic_ky_c_2015_000208_m_180890.pdf – Shrawan ±0 B
2020/07/12 11:59 explanations:composite_petitions_cic_ky_c_2015_000183_m_180896.pdf – Shrawan ±0 B
2020/07/12 11:58 explanations:composite_petitions_cic_ky_a_2015_001099_m_180064.pdf – Shrawan ±0 B
2020/07/12 11:58 explanations:composite_petition_cic_ky_a_2015_000175_m_155699.pdf – Shrawan ±0 B
2020/07/12 11:57 explanations:composite_petition_000542___543___544___545.pdf – created Shrawan +113 KB
2020/07/12 11:52 explanations:composite-application.png – created Shrawan +1004.8 KB
2020/07/07 15:09 wiki:logo.png – created Shrawan +4.1 KB
2020/07/07 15:08 wiki:wiki.png – removed Shrawan -52.3 KB
2020/04/21 12:56 blog:cic-ashok-lavasa.pdf – created Shrawan +220.1 KB
2026/04/22 10:01 blog:cic-ecomm-a-2019-150996-bj.pdf – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 ±0 B
2020/02/14 03:56 important-decisions:court:information_cannot_be_denied.png – created Shrawan +16.5 KB
2020/01/04 14:47 important-decisions:pdf_upload-367812.pdf – created Shrawan +158.5 KB

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