Your right to information
Much of what a government does is supposed to be public. When it isn't — a broken portal, a dead link, a contract with no named winner, a document you can't read — you have a legal tool to demand it: the Right to Information Act, 2005. This page explains it plainly, and helps you use it.
What an RTI is
An RTI is a written request to a public authority for information it holds. Any Indian citizen can file one. The authority must reply within 30 days. You do not have to give a reason for asking.
| Who can file | Any citizen of India. |
| Fee | ₹10 (by the mode the authority accepts). People below the poverty line are exempt. |
| Time limit | 30 days for a reply (48 hours if it concerns life or liberty). |
| If they don't reply | You can file a First Appeal to the appellate authority, then a second appeal to the Information Commission. |
What the government must publish without being asked
Under Section 4, every public authority must proactively disclose its functions, budgets, and — importantly — the contracts it awards and to whom. When that information is missing from a body's own portal, that failure is itself a finding. Our Transparency Ledger tracks where this breaks down — and each entry can be turned into an RTI.
How to file
- Online (central-government bodies): rtionline.gov.in — pay ₹10 online and type your request. Many states have their own portals.
- By post: write to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the authority, attach a ₹10 Indian Postal Order, and keep proof of posting.
- Be specific, ask for facts and documents (not opinions), and reference the exact tender/report/scheme.
On any tender page here, use “Draft an RTI” and we'll generate a ready-to-file request for that specific record — you just add your details.