In a country where “file notings” once vanished into mysterious government cupboards, the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) has become one of the most powerful tools in the hands of ordinary Indians. From exposing the Adarsh Housing scam in Mumbai to revealing irregularities in mid-day meal schemes in rural Uttar Pradesh, RTI has forced accountability on everyone from a village sarpanch to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Twenty years after it came into force on October 12, 2005, the RTI Act remains the world’s strongest transparency law for citizens. Here is a clear, step-by-step guide on what RTI is, who can use it, how to file an application, costs involved, and recent developments – everything an Indian citizen needs to know in 2025.
What Exactly is the Right to Information Act, 2005?
The RTI Act gives every citizen the legal right to seek information from any “public authority” – which means almost every government department, ministry, public sector company, university, municipality, panchayat, police station, public hospital, and even bodies substantially funded by the government (such as certain NGOs and cooperative societies).
Key features that make RTI unique:
- Information must be provided within 30 days (48 hours if life or liberty is involved).
- If the application is transferred to another department, it must be done within 5 days.
- No need to give a reason for asking – you just have to say “I want this information under RTI Act, 2005”.
- First appeal is free; second appeal/complaint to Central or State Information Commission is also free.
Who Can File an RTI Application?
Any Indian citizen – rich or poor, student or senior citizen, urban or rural resident – can file an RTI. Even a 12-year-old child can file it (through a guardian). Non-citizens and companies cannot file RTI applications, but an Indian employee or director of a company can file on their own behalf.
What Information Can You Ask For?
You can ask for almost anything held by a public authority in any form:
- Files, file notings, and correspondence
- Certified copies of government orders, contracts, and vouchers
- Details of welfare scheme beneficiaries
- Reasons for administrative or quasi-judicial decisions taken against you
- Samples of material (e.g., a piece of road bitumen for quality testing – yes, courts have allowed this!)
- Electronic data (e-mails, WhatsApp chats of officials if stored on government servers)
What You Cannot Ask Under RTI
The Act has ten specific exemptions under Section 8 and 9:
- Information that affects India’s sovereignty, security, or relations with foreign states
- Information expressly forbidden by a court or whose disclosure may lead to contempt of court
- Cabinet papers including deliberations of Council of Ministers (but decisions and reasons can be given after the decision is taken)
- Commercial confidence, trade secrets, or intellectual property (unless larger public interest is served)
- Information that would harm a third party’s privacy (unless larger public interest)
- Fiduciary information (e.g., answer sheets before evaluation is complete) And a few more – but even exempt information can be disclosed if public interest outweighs the harm.
How to File an RTI Application – Step-by-Step (2025 Updated)
- Identify the Public Authority Every government office has a Public Information Officer (PIO). Their name and contact details are usually displayed on the office notice board and website.
- Write a Simple Application No special format is required. You can write on plain paper or use the sample below:text
To, The Public Information Officer, [Name of Office & Address] Subject: Application under RTI Act, 2005 Sir/Madam, I, [Your Full Name], wish to seek the following information: 1. … 2. … Please provide the information in the form of certified photocopies/inspection/e-mail. Application fee of ₹10 is enclosed/paid online. Yours faithfully, [Name, Address, Mobile No.] - Pay the Fee
- Application fee: ₹10 (cash, demand draft, banker’s cheque, IPO, or online via Bharatkosh/bhugaan portal)
- BPL (Below Poverty Line) applicants: Completely free (attach copy of BPL card)
- Additional fee: ₹2 per page for photocopies, ₹50 per hour for inspection after first hour
- Submit the Application
- By hand (get acknowledgment)
- By post (preferably registered/speed post)
- Online: → Central Government departments: rtionline.gov.in → Many states (Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, UP, etc.) have their own portals → Some departments (Railways, DoPT, Income Tax) accept e-mail RTI
- Timeline
- Normal reply: 30 days
- Life & liberty cases: 48 hours
- If no reply or unsatisfactory reply → First Appeal to First Appellate Authority (FAA) within 30 days (free)
- Still unsatisfied → Second Appeal/Complaint to Central Information Commission (CIC) or State Information Commission within 90 days (free)
Landmark Success Stories That Changed India
- 2G Spectrum scam exposure began with RTI queries on file notings.
- Adarsh Housing Society scam in Mumbai was uncovered through RTI.
- Commonwealth Games 2010 irregularities came to light because of RTI.
- Mid-day meal quality checks across thousands of villages were triggered by parents using RTI.
- In 2024–25, RTI revealed delays in PMAY house allotments in several states, forcing faster action.
Recent Updates & Important Judgments (as of November 2025)
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 does NOT override RTI – personal information can still be sought if public interest is involved (Supreme Court clarification, 2024).
- WhatsApp chats of public servants on government business are disclosable under RTI (Kerala High Court, 2023; upheld in 2025).
- Political parties remain outside RTI purview (CIC order 2013 still holds).
- Online RTI portal now covers over 2,500 central public authorities.
- CIC and most SICs have resumed physical hearings alongside video conferencing post-COVID.
RTI in Numbers (Latest CIC Annual Report 2023–24)
| Year | RTI Applications Received (Central + States) | Disposal Rate | Pending |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | ~35 lakh | 94% | ~3.1 lakh |
| 2023–24 | ~38 lakh | 93% | ~3.4 lakh |
Over 90% of applications are disposed of within the stipulated time when filed correctly.
Final Word: RTI is Your Power
As Justice Rohinton Nariman once said, “RTI is the oxygen of democracy.” Whether you want to know why your ration card was rejected, why a road in your colony is still broken after five years, or how much your MLA spent from the Local Area Development fund – the Right to Information Act puts the power directly in your hands.
Last Updated on: Wednesday, November 19, 2025 7:39 pm by Sakethyadav | Published by: Sakethyadav on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 7:39 pm | News Categories: News
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