An applicant is required to pay fee to obtain information under the Act. Fee is payable on various account. Fee payable would differ from case to case depending upon the circumstances of each case. Different reasons for which fee is payable are as follows:

• Application fee
• If information is required in electronic media -- floppy, CD, etc charges for the same
• Photocopy charges
• Charges of samples to be taken or inspections to be done
• If information is such that it requires additional work and expenses on the part of the Public Information officer, further fee is payable by the applicant depending upon the processing expenses incurred by the Public Information officer. The amount is decided by the Public Information Officer. Appeal can be filed if the applicant feels that this fee is unreasonable

Application fee is payable alongwith application, and, for the remaining the Public Information Officer will inform the applicant alongwith details of fee payable. The information would be provided to applicant only after payment of the fee required to be paid by the Public Information officer. The applicant if so desires can confirm whether the fee demanded is reasonable or not and can verify the perscribed rates of photocopy, floppy, CD, inspection etc. from the office from where the information is sought. Remember, different rates of fee are applicable to different organizations.

Fee in case of applicant being below the poverty line

Applicants who are in the category of ‘below the poverty line' are exempt from payment of fee to a certain extent. The following fee is payable by them

• If they request an information which requires processing by Public Information officer involving expenses to be incurred by the Public Information Officer, fee for the same can be charged.
• If such a person requires any information in printed form, photocopy, CD, floppy etc., may be certified copies thereof,  which the concerned office has already made public, then fee for the same is payable.