How to Get a Copy of Your Answer Sheet Through RTI
Sarkari Naukri Khabar • All India
If you believe your written exam was marked wrongly, you have a legal right to see your own evaluated answer sheet. The Supreme Court settled this in 2011 in CBSE versus Aditya Bandopadhyay: an evaluated answer book is information under the Right to Information Act, 2005, and an examining body must let you inspect it or give you a certified copy unless an exemption applies. This guide explains how to write the application, what it costs, the time limits, how to appeal, and the one thing RTI will not do for you.
Your answer sheet is information you can ask for
The Supreme Court decided this in Central Board of Secondary Education versus Aditya Bandopadhyay, Civil Appeal No. 6454 of 2011. The Court reasoned that when you write your answers and submit the book, it is a document or record; once an examiner marks it, it becomes a record containing the examiner's opinion. So an evaluated answer book is information under the RTI Act.
The Court held that unless the examining body can show the answer book falls under one of the exemptions in Section 8(1) of the Act, it is bound to give access, and you may inspect it, take notes or extracts, or get certified copies. It also rejected the argument that an examining body holds answer books in a fiduciary relationship, which is the exemption examining bodies had relied on.
What RTI will not do
RTI gives you access to information. It does not give you re-evaluation. The Supreme Court said so in the same judgment: re-evaluation is not a relief available under the RTI Act, and whether it is allowed depends on the rules of the examining body.
So the copy is evidence. It lets you see whether an answer was left unmarked, marks were totalled wrongly, or a page was missed. What you can do with that depends on whether the recruiting body has a re-evaluation or grievance process, which its notification will state.
Who to write to
Every recruiting body is a public authority under the Act and has a Public Information Officer (PIO). Address your application to the PIO of the body that conducted the exam: the commission or board whose name is on your admit card. Most bodies publish their PIO's name and address on the RTI page of their website.
How to write the application
Section 6(1) of the Act says you make the request in writing, with the prescribed fee. Section 6(2) says you do not have to give any reason for asking. Keep it precise and specific, as the Department of Personnel and Training's own guidance advises.
- The name of the examination, the post and the advertisement number.
- Your roll number, registration number and the date of the exam.
- Exactly what you want: a certified copy of your own evaluated answer sheet (or OMR sheet) for that paper, and the marks awarded.
- Your name, postal address and signature.
- Proof of fee payment, or proof of below-poverty-line status if you claim the exemption.
The fee
For a Central Government public authority, the fee is ₹10, paid by demand draft, banker's cheque or Indian Postal Order payable to the Accounts Officer of that authority, according to the Department of Personnel and Training. If you belong to the below poverty line category, you pay no fee but must submit proof.
State bodies such as a state public service commission follow the fee rules made by their own state government, which the Act allows under Section 27. The amount and payment method can differ, so check the RTI page of the body you are writing to. Copies of documents may also carry a small additional charge.
How long they have to reply
Under Section 7(1), the PIO must give the information or reject the request, with reasons, within thirty days of receiving it. The clock starts when they receive the application, so send it by a method that gives you proof of delivery.
If they refuse or do not reply
Under Section 19(1), you can file a first appeal within thirty days, to the officer senior to the PIO in the same body, called the First Appellate Authority. The appeal is to be decided within thirty days, or in exceptional cases forty-five.
Under Section 19(3), if you are still not satisfied, a second appeal lies within ninety days, to the Central Information Commission for a central body or the State Information Commission for a state body.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a copy of my answer sheet through RTI?
Yes. In CBSE versus Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011), the Supreme Court held that an evaluated answer book is information under the RTI Act, and the examining body must give inspection or a certified copy unless an exemption applies.
Will RTI get my paper re-evaluated?
No. The Supreme Court said re-evaluation is not a relief available under the RTI Act. Whether re-evaluation is allowed depends on the recruiting body's own rules.
What is the RTI fee?
₹10 for a Central Government public authority, by demand draft, banker's cheque or Indian Postal Order. State bodies follow their state's fee rules. Below poverty line applicants pay no fee with proof.
Do I have to give a reason for asking?
No. Section 6(2) of the RTI Act says an applicant is not required to give any reason for requesting information.
How long does the reply take?
Within thirty days of the PIO receiving the application, under Section 7(1).
What if they do not reply?
File a first appeal within thirty days under Section 19(1), and if needed a second appeal within ninety days to the Central or State Information Commission under Section 19(3).
ℹ️ Government rules, fees and processing times can change. Always confirm the current position on the official portal or at your block office before acting.
Last updated: 11 Sep 2026