Odisha's RTI portal is rtiodisha.gov.in. Under the Odisha RTI Rules 2005 Schedule, the application fee is ₹20, the first appeal fee is ₹40 and the second appeal fee is ₹50. BPL card holders with valid proof pay no fee. Portal helpline: 0674-2391356. Use the portal to file, track and appeal.
Updated 6 November 2026
If you need a copy of a government order, the status of a scheme file, or the reasons a certificate was delayed in Odisha, the Right to Information Act still works. Odisha runs a state portal called the RTI Central Monitoring Mechanism at rtiodisha.gov.in. This guide explains how to file, what the Rules say about fees, how first and second appeals work, and when BPL applicants skip the fee. Fee figures below are from the Schedule to the Orissa RTI Rules, 2005, as published on the portal's forms section. If the live payment screen shows a different e-payment amount, follow the portal and keep a screenshot.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official portal | rtiodisha.gov.in |
| Helpline | 0674-2391356; email rti-ori@od.gov.in (listed on the portal) |
| Fee | Application ₹20; first appeal ₹40; second appeal ₹50 (Odisha RTI Rules 2005 Schedule). BPL: no fee with proof |
| Deadline | PIO should respond in 30 days under the RTI Act (48 hours when life or liberty is involved). First appeal within the Act's timelines after the PIO reply or silence |
| Documents | ID proof as the form asks; BPL card copy if claiming waiver; clear description of the information you want |
| Law | Right to Information Act, 2005; Orissa RTI Rules, 2005 (and amendments listed on the portal) |
What you can ask
You can seek information from public authorities in Odisha: departments, collectors, municipalities, universities, state PSUs and other bodies covered by the Act. Ask for records that already exist or should exist: copies of orders, file notings that are not exempt, action taken reports, expenditure details, waiting-list numbers, and inspection of documents.
You cannot force an officer to create a new opinion, and some items are exempt under Section 8 and 9 of the Act (personal privacy, cabinet papers still under decision, and other listed exemptions). Still, a well-aimed RTI often unlocks a stuck ration, pension or mutation file because the office must reply on record.
Fees under the Odisha RTI Rules Schedule
From the Schedule (See Rules 4 and 7) hosted with the portal forms:
| Item | Amount | Mode in the Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee seeking information | ₹20 per application | Treasury challan / cash |
| First appeal fee | ₹40 | Court fee stamp |
| Second appeal fee | ₹50 | Court fee stamp |
| Inspection of documents | ₹15 per hour or part | Cash |
| A4 photocopy / typed page | ₹5 per page | Cash |
| Computer printout per page | ₹10 | Cash |
| CD with cover | ₹100 per CD | Cash |
BPL: The Rules say application fee is not payable if your name appears in the latest BPL list and you produce BPL proof. Appeals also say no fee is payable by an applicant holding a BPL card. Upload or attach that proof when the form asks.
FLAG: Some secondary guides still quote older ₹10 / ₹20 figures. The Schedule text we opened lists ₹20 / ₹40 / ₹50. Confirm the amount the portal or PIO receipt shows when you file.
How to file an RTI application on rtiodisha.gov.in
☐ Open https://rtiodisha.gov.in/ ☐ Create a user login if you are new (keep the mobile number active for OTPs) ☐ Choose the option to file a request for information / Form A style application ☐ Pick the correct public authority and Public Information Officer. Wrong department is the number one delay ☐ Write a short, clear request. Number your points. Ask for copies of specific records with date ranges ☐ Pay or upload proof of the ₹20 fee unless you are BPL ☐ Submit and save the acknowledgement / registration number ☐ Download or photograph the acknowledgement the same day
Offline is still allowed: you can hand Form A to the PIO or APIO with the fee. Online is easier to track.
How to write the request so it gets answered
☐ Name the record: "Copy of the order dated …" beats "all information about my case" ☐ Give your file number, plot number, ration card number or acknowledgement if you have one ☐ Ask for the name and designation of the officer sitting on the file if that helps ☐ Avoid arguments in the application. Facts and records work better ☐ Language: English or Odia as the office accepts
Tracking and PIO reply
☐ Use your login to check status on the portal ☐ Note the date of submission; 30 days is the normal outer limit for a reply ☐ If the PIO asks for more fee for copies, pay only against a written intimation and keep the receipt ☐ If you get a partial reply, you can still appeal on the missing parts
First appeal
If the PIO does not reply in time, rejects wrongly, or gives incomplete information, file a first appeal before the First Appellate Authority (usually a senior officer in the same public authority).
☐ Use the online first appeal path on rtiodisha.gov.in when enabled for that office ☐ Attach the original RTI, acknowledgement, and PIO order or note the silence ☐ Pay ₹40 by court fee stamp as the Rules describe, unless BPL ☐ Keep the appeal number
The portal publishes SOP material for First Appellate Authorities. Citizens should still file within the Act's time limit from the PIO order or from when the reply was due.
Second appeal
If the first appeal fails or is not decided, you can go to the Odisha Information Commission with a second appeal (Form E in the Rules), with ₹50 court fee stamp unless BPL. Second appeals take longer. Carry a complete set: original RTI, PIO reply, first appeal, first appeal order, and proof of fees.
BPL applicants
☐ Keep a clear copy of the BPL card / list entry ☐ Upload it where the portal asks for fee exemption proof ☐ Without proof, the office can treat the filing as fee-due and reject or pause it
What RTI will not fix by itself
☐ It will not automatically grant a scheme benefit; it only forces disclosure of records ☐ It will not replace a police complaint for fraud ☐ It will not override a court stay ☐ Vague "give me all files on corruption in your department" requests get Section 7/8 style pushback
Use RTI together with the department grievance portal when you need both information and action.
Inspection and extra copy charges
If you only want to inspect a file in the office, the Schedule allows inspection at ₹15 for each hour or part of an hour, paid in cash. Extra photocopies are ₹5 per A4 page and computer printouts are ₹10 per page. Ask for a proper money receipt; the Rules tell offices to note the cash receipt number on Form A. Do not hand over cash without a receipt, and do not pay "facilitation" money that is not written in the Rules.
Final reminder
Decide the exact record you need, open rtiodisha.gov.in, file against the correct PIO, pay ₹20 unless you are BPL with proof, and diary the 30-day mark. If the reply is missing or wrong, use first appeal with ₹40 court fee stamp. For your MLA or MP while a file is stuck, check NetaSampark Odisha.
FAQ
What is the RTI application fee in Odisha?
The Odisha RTI Rules 2005 Schedule lists ₹20 per application, payable by treasury challan or cash. BPL applicants with proof do not pay this fee.
How do I file an RTI online in Odisha?
Register on rtiodisha.gov.in, select the public authority and PIO, write a clear request for records, pay or claim BPL waiver, and save the acknowledgement number.
What is the first appeal fee in Odisha?
The Schedule lists ₹40 for the first appeal, in the form of a court fee stamp, with no fee for BPL card holders who produce proof.
What is the second appeal fee?
₹50 by court fee stamp under the same Schedule, again waived for eligible BPL applicants.
What is the Odisha RTI helpline?
The portal lists 0674-2391356 and email rti-ori@od.gov.in.
How long does a PIO have to reply?
Under the RTI Act, the normal period is 30 days from receipt (48 hours where life or liberty is involved). Use first appeal if that window passes without a proper reply.
Sources
• Odisha RTI Central Monitoring Mechanism