Filing RTI Application Online - Part 2

In case you are looking for step-by-step procedure of filing online RTI application, please follow my earlier post at this link: http://bit.ly/1eBPTcQ

This post is to provide you further information on RTI applicable once you have successfully submitted an RTI application:

1. The application filed through this Web Portal would reach electronically to the "Nodal Officer" of concerned Ministry/Department, who would transmit the RTI application electronically to the concerned CPIO.  
   
   
   
   2.     In case additional fee is required representing the cost for providing information, the CPIO would intimate the applicant through this portal. This intimation can be seen by the applicant through Status Report or through his/her e-mail alert.
   
   
   3.     For making an appeal to the first Appellate Authority, the applicant has to click at "Submit First Appeal" and fill up the page that will appear.
   
   
   4.     The registration number of original application has to be used for reference.
   
   
   5.     As per RTI Act, no fee has to be paid for first appeal.
   
   
   6.     The applicant/the appellant should submit his/her mobile number to receive SMS alert.
   
   
   7.     Status of the RTI application/first appeal filed online can be seen by the applicant/appellant by clicking at View Status
   
   
   8.     All the requirements for filing an RTI application and first appeal as well as other provisions regarding time limit, exemptions etc., as provided in the RTI Act, 2005 will continue to apply
   
   
   
   
   Further, Indian Citizens can now buy postal orders online to file RTI applications after payment of fee through a postal department website.
   
   
   Reference: https://rtionline.gov.in/guidelines.php?request as on March 23, 2014

Filing RTI Application Online - Part 1

Applications for Right to Information act can be filed online using the web portal https://www.rtionline.gov.in/.

This portal as of today (i.e. 23rd March 2014) can be used to file Right to Information (RTI) applications online in all central government ministries and departments in the national capital.

It is not to be used for filing RTI applications for the public authorities under the State Governments, including Government of NCT Delhi. If filed, the application would be returned, without refund of amount.

Detailed step-by-step guide to filing online RTI application:

1. Open https://rtionline.gov.in in your web browser. There are two options available for filing RTI applications:
a) By registering yourself or
b) Submitting the request directly.

However, in both options, user will be asked to provide his/her email id.

2. Click on the Submit Request link as shown in the below picture:

3. On clicking 'Submit Request' you will be taken to a new page named 'GUIDELINES FOR USE OF RTI ONLINE PORTAL'. Read the instructions given on this page carefully. After that click on the check box that reads ' I have read and understood the above guidelines.' and click 'Submit'

4. This will take you to a new page as shown below. The applicant has to fill the required details on this page. The fields marked * are mandatory while the others are optional.

5. The text of the application may be written at the prescribed column. At present, the text of an application that can be uploaded at the prescribed column is confined to 3000 characters only.

 6.    In case an application contains more than 3000 characters, it can be uploaded as an attachment, by using column "Supporting document".

7.    After filling the first page, the applicant has to click on "Make Payment" to make payment of the prescribed fee.

8.    The applicant can pay the prescribed fee through the following modes:
(a) Internet banking through SBI and its associated banks;
(b) Using credit/debit card of Master/Visa.

9.    Fee for making an application is as prescribed in the RTI Rules, 2012.

10.    After making payment, an application can be submitted.

11.    No RTI fee is required to be paid by any citizen who is below poverty line as per RTI Rules, 2012. However, the applicant must attach a copy of the certificate issued by the appropriate government in this regard, alongwith the application.

12.    On submission of an application, a unique registration number would be issued, which may be referred by the applicant for any references in future.


For further query/feedback related to this portal, users may call 011-24622461, during office hours (9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday to Friday except Public Holidays) or write an email to helprtionline-dopt@nic.in

Apply for Passport Online Uttarakhand Uttaranchal

As the number of international travelers is increasing more and more people are applying for passports. And like most other tasks mentioned in this blog, applying online for passport is very very easy. All you need to do is follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Your application process starts at the website:
http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/welcomeLink

2. Click on the New User "Register Now" button shown on the website and create your User Id. Email-Id is mandatory as the registration confirmation mail is sent to your email id.

3. Fill in the required details and click on register.

4.  You will get a confirmation mail in the inbox of your email id that you mentioned while registering. Once registration has been done successfully proceed to Login.

5. After successful Login, select the required service from the following screen:

6. You have two options at this stage. You can either

• Alternate 1: Download the e-form and upload it later
• Alternate 2: Fill the application form online

7.  Once you have submitted your form successfully you need to schedule your appointment using the option highlighted below.

8. Schedule your appointment.

• Schedule an appointment to visit the PSK. Simply select Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) location and proceed by pressing Next button.
• On the next screen verify your details i.e. appointment date and PSK location. If everything is correct Pay and Book Appointment.
• After successful payment, Print the Application Receipt that gets generated.
• Carefully read this receipt. It has some important instructions in it.

 9. Visit the Passport Seva Kendra as per the appointment schedule with necessary documents for further steps.


For more details refer:

• http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/welcomeLink
• http://slidesha.re/1dsV1fL

Buy National Savings Certificate (NSC) online using ICICI direct

You can now buy the National Saving Certificates (NSC) online using ICICIdirect.com.

You will need to avail the ICICI Direct Online Demat account facility first for which you need to have an ICICI Bank Savings account. Once you have ICICI Direct Online Demat account facility, you can purchase National Savings Certificates Online without any paperwork.

Step 1: Click on ''Modify Allocation'' after logging into ICICI Direct account 
Step 2: Place order to NSC Online 

You will receive a physical certificate at your home address via courier within a week of applying.
No need to visit the Post Office as the bank does the required work on your behalf.

Some basics information on NSC is as follows:

Investment amount : The minimum investment amount is Rs. 100, while there is no upper limit for investing in NSC
    
Returns & Tenure : National Savings Certificate (NSC) is another assured return scheme of 8% which is compounded half yearly. An investor is required to make a lumpsum investment that matures after 6 years
    
Deductions : The interest income from NSC is paid on maturity; the same is taxable. Interest accrued on NSC is considered to be reinvested; hence, it is eligible for reinvestment under Section 80C.

For more information refer: icicidirect.com

Pay your water bill online Uttaranchal

Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan has started online service for the payment of Electricity Bills.
Currently (as of March 12, 2014) only the residents of following three districts can avail this facility:

Dehradun, Haridwar and Pauri Districs Only

Also, only those who hold a Master Card or a Visa can can avail the service at present.

The payments can be made at following portal:

http://ujsbill.uk.gov.in/

For further steps, please follow the instructions given on the website.

If yours is a new connection and you wish to check the connection status, please use the following link: http://ujsbill.uk.gov.in/Online_Payment/Form_status.aspx

Uttaranchal Transport Corporation Online Bus Booking

Now many people know this but tickets for several long route buses of Uttarakhand Transport Corporation can now be booked in advance online. The facility can be availed at following link:

http://www.utconline.uk.gov.in/

One important catch is that you necessarily need to be a registered user for availing this facility.

Many users directly start searching for the buses and than keep wondering why there is no link for making the reservation.

The catch is that the link for payment and advance reservation is shown only when you are logged in as a registered user.

Wanna know your EPF balance? Now a few clicks away ...

Always wanted to know about your Employee Provident Fund (EPF) balance but didn't know where to check. Well as many other tasks listed on this blog, this information also is easily available on the internet. All you need to do is follow a few simple steps as below:

1. Click on the following link to know the balance in your EPF A/c up to the date:

http://epfoservices.in/epfo/member_balance/member_balance_office_select.php

2. Select your PF Office state from the drop down list e.g. If your office is in Karnataka please select Karnataka from the list

3. Select your EPO Office from the displayed options e.g. for Bangalore City you will Click on "BNG - Bangalore option"

4.  On following the above steps you will be taken to Member Balance Information Page as below:

Establishment code is part of your PF A/c number and it is a 5 digit code.  

e.g. If your PF Account number as per your payslip is KN/49878/997 then establishment code of your PF account is 49878. The establishment code is to be filled in third box i.e. the one after BNG in above picture. Here 997 is the account number which is to be filled in last box in first row. the middle row is to be filled with "EPFO  Extension - Maximum 3 Characters / Can be left blank in case no extension".

The mobile number is of 10 digits. Once you submit the information correctly and successfully the balance information is sent to you via SMS on the mobile number filled in the above form.

For more details refer http://www.epfindia.com/.

Online Money Transfer to PPF Account for Tax Saving

There is a good news for the consumers who don't like to visit their bank branches for small small things like money transfers and similar other services.

Until recently money transfers to PPF Accounts could only be done by physically visiting the bank branch and manually depositing the money at the cash counter. However, following banks have now opened up online money transfer service to PPF accounts: SBI, ICICI Bank and IDBI Bank

Hence, if you own a PPF account with any of SBI, ICICI Bank and IDBI Bank you can deposit money using internet banking service from any of your savings bank account. 

The service is not available, however, in case you have opened up your PPF account in Post Office. 

The procedure of transfer is simple. You can add your PPF account details as a beneficiary by mentioning the account type as 'Savings Account'. Once active, you can easily transfer money using NEFT service.

For claiming the tax you can take a printout of online transaction or else provide the bank statement of the PPF Account as a proof. However, the same may vary from company to company.