The Central Government’s Right to Information Fellowship (RTI Fellowship) is for people who research the Right to Information (RTI). It is run by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), the nodal ministry for the RTI Act, 2005. It offers four short-term fellowships, each lasting 3 months, with up to ₹2 lakh in total support. One important point — this fellowship does not open every year; DoPT invites applications from time to time, and the last call was in 2021. So do not treat it as an “apply now” scheme — always check the current position on DoPT’s website.
How many fellowships and how much money
DoPT awards the fellowship to four people. Each fellow gets up to ₹2,00,000 in total for 3 months of research (subject to TDS). This includes a grant of up to ₹50,000 for books, research material, travel, printing and production of creative material, paid against actual bills. The money comes in three instalments — ₹50,000 on acceptance of the first monthly progress report, ₹50,000 on the second, and ₹50,000 on acceptance of the final output.
Who can apply
Applicants must be aged 25 to 40 years. Three kinds of people are eligible — journalists (newspaper, magazine, radio or TV), civil society organisations working on RTI, and RTI researchers or trainers. Applicants need proven credentials in their professional area, some prior RTI-related work, and research aptitude.
What fellows have to research
Fellows carry out field-based research on RTI themes — such as RTI awareness and access in remote areas, the role of civil society in RTI implementation, the successes and constraints of RTI, best practices, and suo motu disclosure. The output must be a monograph of about 10,000 words, publishable features or investigative stories, or short video films. The copyright of the output vests in the Government of India.
How to apply
There is no online application for this fellowship — applications are sent by post only. Five sets of the application in the prescribed proforma must be sent to: Under Secretary (IR), Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India, North Block, New Delhi – 110001. New calls are notified on DoPT’s website, dopt.gov.in. No call has been issued since 2021, so check the DoPT site for fresh information before sending an application. Never pay anyone for this fellowship — there is no fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How many people get the RTI Fellowship?
A: Four fellowships in total — each one lasts 3 months.
Q2: Are applications for the RTI Fellowship open now?
A: No — the last call was in 2021. A new call, if any, will appear on DoPT’s website, dopt.gov.in.
Q3: How much money does the fellowship give?
A: Up to ₹2 lakh in total, including a grant of up to ₹50,000 for books, travel and printing.
Q4: How do I apply?
A: Send five sets of the application in the prescribed proforma by post to DoPT, North Block, New Delhi. There is no online application.
Useful links
- DoPT official website: https://dopt.gov.in/
- RTI Fellowship guidelines (DoPT): https://documents.doptcirculars.nic.in/D2/D02rti/RTI_fellowship_guidelines-2014.pdf
- RTI Fellowship on MyScheme: https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/rtif
- Next Action: see all 726 Central Government schemes — /english/kendra-sarkar-ki-yojnayen-2/
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