What can I ask for through RTI?

RTI stands for Right to Information. Its basic purpose is access to information held by public authorities, subject to the applicable law. The Act's definitions include documents and other recorded material, and forms of access such as inspection or copies. 1

For a citizen trying to understand a public decision, the practical question is: which existing record would answer this?

Turn a broad question into a records request

Compare these hypothetical examples:

“Why is the road terrible?” asks for an explanation of a broad problem.

“Please provide the existing inspection reports and repair work orders for [road stretch] between [dates]” identifies records and a period.

“Please provide the recorded reasons, if held, for closing complaint [reference]” is different from demanding that an officer invent a fresh justification.

DoPT's information-seeker guide explains that an authority is not required to create information or answer hypothetical questions. The guide is historical; that distinction is the limited point for which it is used here. 2

Check what is already public

Look for the authority's own disclosures, orders, reports or published work details. Section 4 of the Act provides for proactive disclosure. Finding a document that already answers your question can save a separate request. 1

Do not assume an absent search result proves the record does not exist. It may be unpublished, poorly indexed or held by another authority.

Keep the scope manageable

Name the project, location, file or decision. Use a relevant date range. Ask for identifiable records and specify the form of access you need where the current process allows.

Avoid requesting unnecessary personal information about other people. Records access has legal limits. This introductory page does not give a complete, current account of exemptions, fees or deadlines.

Select the right authority

The Central RTI Online portal serves the authorities within its published scope and warns against using it for state-authority requests. A citizen in a state may still need the central route for a Central public authority; a locally situated authority is not automatically covered. 3

Save the submitted request and acknowledgement. The portal's FAQs explain registration-number and status-tracking arrangements. Follow the current route's instructions for later steps rather than treating a generic template as an appeal guide. 4

Getting a record does not guarantee a service will be fixed. It gives you evidence with which to ask the next, better-supported question.