The government has facilitated electronic Indian Postal Order (eIPO) for payment of RTI fees in 2,496 central government public authorities. Earlier this facility of paying Right to Information (RTI) fee online, for e-RTI applications was available only to Indians living abroad. Now all the citizens can use online RTI by paying the fee through eIPO. For the state government public authorities, one can pay the RTI fees online but has to attach a print-out of the eIPO with the RTI application.
The eIPO facility would reduce down the costs of filing RTI application because the operational cost of a postal order was Rs 37.45/- whereas an eIPO comes virtually free. It will also relieve the citizens of the inconvenience of standing in long queues at Post Offices to procure an IPO.
The Department of Post has created a link to purchase the eIPO online. Both Debit and Credit cards of any Bank powered by Visa/ Master can be used. The applicant will have to get himself registered at ePost office portal of India Post i.e. https://www.epostoffice.gov.in or through India Post web site www.indiapost.gov.in. A unique number for each transaction would be generated by the system which is to be used as eIPO number. A printout of the eIPO is required to be attached with the RTI application. If the RTI application is being filed electronically, eIPO is required to be attached as an attachment
All the requirements for filing an RTI application as well as other provisions regarding eligibility, time limit, exemptions etc., as provided in the RTI Act, 2005 will continue to apply.