ePIO

Applications seeking information under the Act may be sent along with the prescribed fee in Seychelles Rupees, equivalent to Indian Rs.10/- in cheque or demand draft favouring High Commission of India, Victoria (The official rate of exchange between Seychelles Rupee and India Rupee for the month of May 2021 is 1 SCR = 4.79 INR

Payment of RTI fee online - Electronic Indian Postal Order (eIPO)

The scheme of Electronic Indian Postal Order (eIPO) has been launched by the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in association with Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). This would enable the Indian citizens abroad to pay the RTI fee online.

An Indian Postal Order can be purchased electronically by paying a fee on-line through e-Post Office Portal or through India Post website. The web-links for payment are:

• www.indiapost.gov.in
• https://www.epostoffice.gov.in

Procedure

The RTI applicant is required to register on the website to create his/ her profile. Then he has to select the Ministry/ Department from whom he desires to seek information under the RTI Act. The eIPO is generated which can be used to seek information from that Ministry/ Department only. A printout of the eIPO is required to be attached with the RTI application sent in hard copy. In case RTI application is filed electronically, the eIPO is enclosed as an attachment. The profile is required to be created during the first time only.

The RTI application accompanied by an eIPO is similar in all respects to the RTI application accompanied by fees through any other approved mode. All the provisions regarding eligibility, time limit, exemptions etc., as provided in the RTI Act, 2005 will continue to apply

Currently, this facility is available only for Indian Citizens living anywhere other than in India. By this measure, those living abroad would be facilitated to seek information under the RTI Act, 2005. Any public authority which accepts a postal order should also accept an eIPO, if facility for receiving fees through electronic means is available with the public authority.