How to File an RTI Online in Uttar Pradesh: rtionline.up.gov.in, the ₹10 Fee and a Free First Appeal
Want to know how a government department spent public money, whether your application has been processed, or what action was taken on a complaint? The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 allows Indian citizens to request information held by public authorities, subject to the Act’s exemptions.
If your question concerns a department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, you can submit an RTI request online through the state’s official portal. The standard application fee for a non-BPL applicant is ₹10, and filing a first appeal is free.
Official portal: rtionline.up.gov.in
This guide explains how to select the right department, pay the fee, write a useful application, track the response and appeal if the information does not arrive.
1 What can you use RTI for?
RTI can help you request existing records held by a public authority, such as:
- The status of a government application or service request
- Copies of government orders, circulars, rules or notifications
- Records of expenditure, sanctioned works or project progress
- Action-taken reports on a complaint
- Copies of inspection reports, registers or relevant file records
- Reasons recorded in official documents for a decision
- Details of the officer or office responsible for a particular matter
For example, you could ask a municipal authority for a copy of a road-work order, the sanctioned amount, the contractor’s name and the recorded completion status.
The key is to request records or specific information, rather than asking broad questions or demanding that an officer take action. RTI is an information-access mechanism; it is not itself a complaint-resolution or appeal process for every government service.
2 Check that you are using the correct RTI portal
The Uttar Pradesh RTI Online portal is intended for requests to departments and public authorities of the Uttar Pradesh Government.
Use the correct route before paying any fee:
- Uttar Pradesh Government departments: rtionline.up.gov.in
- Central Government ministries and public authorities: rtionline.gov.in
- Allahabad High Court and subordinate courts: Use the separate court RTI facility linked from the state portal.
The Uttar Pradesh portal specifically warns that requests intended for Central Government departments, other state governments, the Uttar Pradesh Legislature and the Allahabad High Court or subordinate courts should not be filed through its ordinary department-request service.
If you need records from a district-level Uttar Pradesh office other than the District Magistrate or Senior Superintendent of Police, the portal instructs applicants to select the appropriate Directorate/Commissioner level and then choose the relevant district.
Official reference: Uttar Pradesh RTI Online portal and instructions
3 What is the RTI application fee in Uttar Pradesh?
For a standard online RTI request, the fee depends on the applicant’s BPL status.
| Applicant category | Application fee |
|---|---|
| Non-BPL applicant | ₹10 |
| Applicant below the poverty line (BPL) | No application fee, subject to the prescribed proof |
Applicants claiming the BPL exemption must attach the required certificate issued by the appropriate government authority.
The portal supports online payment through the available payment gateway, including listed options such as net banking, debit card, credit card and UPI. Follow the payment options actually displayed when submitting your application.
Are there any additional charges?
The initial ₹10 fee does not necessarily cover every cost of supplying records. If the public information officer determines that an additional fee is payable for copies, inspection or another permitted service, the officer should communicate the details under the applicable rules.
Check the portal’s status page and any official communication before making an additional payment.
Official fee and payment guidance: Uttar Pradesh RTI Online
4 How to file an RTI online in Uttar Pradesh
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Step 1: Open the official website
Visit https://rtionline.up.gov.in/.
Select Submit Request and read the guidelines. You can also consult the portal’s citizen user manual if you need help navigating the form.
Step 2: Register or sign in as required
Follow the portal’s instructions for creating or using a citizen account. Provide a valid email address and mobile number if requested, so you can receive relevant communication and alerts.
Enter your details accurately and do not use someone else’s contact information without permission.
Step 3: Select the correct public authority
Choose the appropriate office level, department or public authority. If your request relates to a district office, follow the portal’s instructions for selecting the district and office level.
Take care not to choose a department merely because its name sounds similar. The request must reach the public authority likely to hold the records.
Step 4: Fill in the RTI request
Write exactly what information you need. Identify the relevant period, project, application number or record where possible.
For example, rather than writing “Why has my road not been repaired?”, request:
- A copy of the sanction or work order for the specified road
- The sanctioned project amount
- The name of the implementing agency or contractor
- The recorded start and completion dates
- Copies of inspection reports or completion records available with the department
Do not include unnecessary personal details or unrelated questions.
Step 5: Attach documents if necessary
Attach only relevant supporting documents if the form or your request requires them. Avoid uploading sensitive information that is not needed to identify the record.
BPL applicants seeking a fee exemption must follow the portal’s instructions for submitting the required BPL certificate.
Step 6: Review and pay
Check the public authority, request wording and applicant details before submitting. Non-BPL applicants will be directed to pay the prescribed ₹10 application fee.
Confirm that the payment is successful. If money is deducted but the application registration number is not generated, check the portal’s payment/status instructions and contact the technical helpdesk if necessary. Avoid immediately submitting duplicate paid applications.
Step 7: Save the registration number
After successful submission, save or print the acknowledgement and registration number. Keep the payment receipt and a copy of the text you submitted.
You will need the registration number to check the status and, if required, file a first appeal.
5 How to write an effective RTI application
A clear RTI request makes it easier for the public information officer to identify the records you want.
Use this simple structure:
Subject: Request for information under the Right to Information Act, 2005
Information requested:
- Please provide a copy of the relevant order, register entry or record for the specified subject.
- Please provide the recorded status of the matter as of the date of this application.
- Please provide copies of relevant correspondence or action-taken records available with the public authority.
- Please provide the name/designation of the office responsible for maintaining these records, if available in the requested records.
Period covered: State the dates or financial year, where relevant.
Preferred format: Request electronic copies where the records are available electronically, or specify another permitted form.
Adapt these points to your subject. Do not ask for records that are unrelated to one another simply to make the application longer.
Example: Asking about a delayed government service
Instead of asking, “Why is my certificate delayed?”, you could request:
- The recorded status of application number [your application number]
- Copies of any deficiency notice or communication issued in relation to it
- The date on which the application was received and the current recorded stage
- A copy of the applicable service rules or published processing timeline held by the authority
An RTI response may provide records that help you understand the delay. If you need the certificate issued urgently, use the relevant service-grievance or appeal mechanism as well.
6 How long does the department have to reply?
Under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, the normal response period is 30 days from receipt of the request.
Certain cases have different time limits. For example, where information concerns the life or liberty of a person, the Act provides a 48-hour response period. If a request is submitted to the wrong public authority and transferred under Section 6(3), the transfer provisions and applicable timelines matter.
A department may also communicate a lawful additional fee or refuse information under a relevant exemption. If you receive no response within the applicable period, or are dissatisfied with the response, you can consider a first appeal.
The portal’s online submission does not remove the time limits and other provisions of the RTI Act.
Official reference: Right to Information Act, 2005 — Government of India
7 How to file a free first appeal online
If you receive no response within the applicable time limit, receive incomplete information, or believe the response is not justified, you may file a first appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act.
There is no fee for filing a first appeal.
When can you file?
Generally, the first appeal should be filed within 30 days from the date on which you receive the decision, or from the date the response should have been received if no decision was made. The First Appellate Authority may admit an appeal after the deadline if sufficient cause for the delay is established.
Check the dates in your acknowledgement and any response before filing.
Steps to submit the appeal
- Open the Uttar Pradesh RTI Online portal.
- Sign in if required and select Submit First Appeal.
- Read the appeal guidelines and proceed to the form.
- Enter the original RTI registration number and other required details, including the email address requested by the portal.
- Select the relevant ground of appeal, such as no response within the time limit, refusal of information or incomplete information.
- Explain briefly what happened and what information or remedy you are seeking.
- Attach relevant documents in the permitted format and size.
- Submit the appeal and save the appeal registration number.
The portal explains that the online appeal reaches the concerned department’s nodal officer, who forwards it to the First Appellate Authority. The appeal is not necessarily delivered directly to the First Appellate Authority at the moment you press Submit.
What should you include in the appeal?
Include:
- The original RTI registration number and date
- The date on which the response was due, or the date of the reply
- The specific information not supplied or the part of the reply you dispute
- Copies of the original request, acknowledgement and department response, if any
- A clear statement of what you want the authority to review
Keep the appeal factual and focused. Avoid adding unrelated allegations or new requests that were not part of the original application.
Under Section 19(6), a first appeal is ordinarily to be disposed of within 30 days of receipt, or within a further period not exceeding 45 days in total where reasons for the extension are recorded in writing.
Official instructions: Uttar Pradesh RTI Online FAQ
8 What if the first appeal does not resolve the issue?
If you remain dissatisfied with the First Appellate Authority’s decision, or the first appeal is not decided within the applicable period, you may be able to file a second appeal with the Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission, subject to the RTI Act.
A second appeal is generally to be filed within 90 days from the date on which the decision should have been made or was received, as applicable. The Commission may admit a delayed appeal if sufficient cause is shown.
Use the Commission’s official website for the applicable filing process and current instructions. Do not assume that the state online portal’s first-appeal facility automatically files a second appeal.
9 Technical help for the Uttar Pradesh RTI portal
For technical problems with the portal, the website lists the following contact details:
- Telephone: 0522-7118629
- Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on working days
- Email: onlinertihelpline.up@gov.in
The portal states that this helpdesk handles technical queries and feedback. For a pending RTI request or a question about the substance of a department’s response, contact the concerned public authority rather than relying on the technical helpdesk.
If the department or public authority you need is not available on the portal, the website asks users to notify the helpdesk by email.
10 Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the wrong portal: Confirm that the record belongs to a Uttar Pradesh Government public authority.
- Writing a vague request: Identify the records, dates, project or application number.
- Expecting RTI to resolve the original grievance: Use the relevant complaint or service-appeal process as well, if necessary.
- Forgetting the BPL certificate: Attach the required proof if claiming exemption from the application fee.
- Losing the registration number: Save the acknowledgement, payment record and submitted request.
- Missing the appeal deadline: Record the response date or the date the reply became due.
- Paying for the first appeal: The first appeal is free under the RTI Act.
- Sharing sensitive data publicly: Do not post full identity documents, bank details or private contact information in public forums.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RTI application fee in Uttar Pradesh ₹10?
Yes. The standard online application fee for a non-BPL applicant is ₹10. Applicants eligible for the BPL exemption must provide the prescribed proof.
Is the first appeal free?
Yes. No fee is payable for a first appeal under the RTI Act.
Can I file an RTI against a private company?
The RTI Act applies to public authorities as defined by law. A private company is not automatically subject to RTI simply because it operates in India. Depending on the circumstances, information held by a public authority about a private entity may be accessible, subject to the Act.
Can I use Uttar Pradesh’s portal to ask a Central Government department for information?
No. Use the Central Government’s RTI Online portal for participating Central Government ministries and public authorities.
What if I do not receive a reply in 30 days?
Check whether a special timeline or transfer rule applies. If the applicable response period has expired, you can generally file a first appeal with the designated First Appellate Authority. Keep your original registration number and submission acknowledgement.
Does filing an RTI guarantee that the information will be provided?
No. The public authority must process the request under the RTI Act, but certain information may be exempt, unavailable in the requested form or subject to lawful additional charges. A refusal or incomplete response can be challenged through the applicable appeal process.
Final checklist before submitting your RTI
- Confirm that the records belong to a Uttar Pradesh Government public authority.
- Identify the correct department and office level.
- Write a specific request for existing records.
- Attach the BPL certificate if claiming the fee exemption.
- Pay the ₹10 fee if applicable.
- Save the application registration number and acknowledgement.
- Track the response and note the relevant deadline.
- If necessary, submit the first appeal online without paying a fee.
Start here: Official Uttar Pradesh RTI Online portal
This guide is for general information. Follow the current portal instructions, the applicable Uttar Pradesh RTI Rules and the Right to Information Act, 2005. The official rules and portal notices prevail if any procedure changes.