According to the RTI Act, the head of each public authority is designated as the Public Information Officer (PIO).

The primary responsibility of a PIO is to provide information to the public upon request, as per the provisions of the RTI Act.

Under the RTI Act, citizens can request information related to the functioning of public authorities, including their policies, decisions, and activities.

As per the RTI Act, a PIO is required to respond to an RTI application within 30 days from the date of receipt of the application.

RTI applications can be filed online, sent by post, or submitted in person at the designated office of the public authority.

There is no fee for filing an RTI application in India.

An RTI application can be rejected if the information requested is classified as secret or confidential, if it is related to personal privacy, or if it is voluminous and would disrupt the functioning of the public authority.

If a PIO fails to respond to an RTI application within the stipulated time limit, they may be liable to pay a fine of Rs. 250 per day until the information is provided.

The Central Information Commission (CIC) is the appellate authority for RTI applications at the national level, while the State Information Commission (SIC) is the appellate authority at the state level.

An appeal against the decision of a PIO must be filed with the appellate authority within 30 days from the date of receipt of the decision.

Appeals against the decision of a PIO can be filed online, sent by post, or submitted in person at the designated office of the appellate authority.

There is no fee for filing an appeal with the appellate authority.

An appeal may be rejected by the appellate authority if it is not filed within the stipulated time limit, if it is not accompanied by the prescribed fee, or if it is frivolous or vexatious.

If the appellate authority fails to respond to an appeal within the stipulated time limit, it may be liable to pay a fine of Rs. 250 per day until the decision is made.

Public Information Officers (PIOs) play a crucial role in promoting transparency and accountability in governance by facilitating the flow of information between citizens and public authorities, ensuring the timely and accurate dissemination of information, and promoting a culture of openness and transparency in government.