Under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, the time limit to receive information depends on the nature of the request and the authority involved. Here are the key timelines: 1. General Time Limit: If the application is filed with the Public Information Officer (PIO) of a public authority, the information must be provided within 30 days from the date of receipt of the application. 2. If Information Concerns Life or Liberty: If the information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, the PIO must provide the information within 48 hours. 3. Application to Assistant PIO: If the application is submitted to an Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO), an additional 5 days are added to the above timelines. 4. Third-Party Information: If the request involves a third party and the PIO must consult them under Section 11 of the Act, the reply must still be given within 40 days from the date of receipt of the application. 5. Information from Another Public Authority: If the application is transferred to another public authority under Section 6(3), the timeline still starts from the original date of application, not from the date of transfer. 6. If the Applicant is Below Poverty Line (BPL): No application fee is charged, but the time limits remain the same. Failure to respond within the stipulated time is deemed as a refusal to provide information, and the applicant has the right to file a first appeal to the appellate authority. So, the standard time limit is 30 days, but it can be as short as 48 hours in urgent cases related to life or liberty.

सामान्य समय-सीमा: 30 दिन: जब कोई सामान्य नागरिक किसी सार्वजनिक सूचना अधिकारी (PIO) से RTI के तहत सूचना माँगता है, तो PIO को 30 दिनों के भीतर सूचना प्रदान करनी होती है। विशेष समय-सीमाएँ: 48 घंटे: यदि मांगी गई सूचना किसी व्यक्ति के जीवन या स्वतंत्रता से संबंधित है, तो सूचना 48 घंटे के भीतर दी जानी चाहिए। 5 दिन अतिरिक्त: यदि RTI आवेदन किसी असिस्टेंट पब्लिक इंफॉर्मेशन ऑफिसर (APIO) को दिया गया है, तो सूचना देने की समय-सीमा में 5 दिन अतिरिक्त जुड़ जाते हैं। 35 दिन: यदि आवेदन दूसरे राज्य की किसी केंद्रीय सार्वजनिक प्राधिकरण को भेजा गया है, तो सूचना देने की सीमा 5 दिन अतिरिक्त मिलाकर 35 दिन हो जाती है। 40 दिन: यदि RTI आवेदन तृतीय पक्ष से संबंधित सूचना है और उसे नोटिस दिया गया है, तो सूचना देने की सीमा 40 दिन हो सकती है (10 दिन तृतीय पक्ष को जवाब देने के लिए + 30 दिन कुल समय सीमा)। पहली अपील का निपटारा: पहली अपील (First Appeal) का निर्णय 30 दिनों के भीतर देना अनिवार्य है, जिसे अधिकतम 45 दिनों तक बढ़ाया जा सकता है, लेकिन इसके लिए कारण दर्ज करना होगा।

Dear Client, General Time Limit to Receive Information under RTI According to Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, the Public Information Officer (PIO) must provide the information within 30 days from the date of receiving the application. Different Time Limits Under Various Scenarios --RTI Application filed to PIO of a public authority: 30 days from receipt of application --RTI Application filed with Assistant PIO: 35 days from receipt of application --Information concerns life or liberty of a person: 48 hours from receipt of application --RTI request is transferred to another public authority under Section 6(3): 30 days from date of receipt by transferee PIO --RTI application made by a citizen belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL): 30 days from receipt (no fee charged) --First Appeal to the First Appellate Authority (FAA): Decision to be given within 30 days (extendable to 45 days with reasons) --Second Appeal to Information Commission: No fixed time, but should be disposed of as expeditiously as possible I hope this answer helps. In case of future queries please feel free to contact us. Thank you.