Gandhinagar: After years of delays and administrative hurdles, seven municipal corporations and 160 municipalities in Gujarat have now been integrated into the state’s online RTI portal, allowing citizens to file Right to Information applications digitally without relying on speed post services or visiting government offices.

The move follows a long campaign that began in 2018, when activists demanded the introduction of an online RTI system in Gujarat. With limited response from the government, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was later filed in the Gujarat High Court, which eventually led to the launch of a limited online portal in 2021.

Rajkot-based RTI activist Shailendrasinh Jadeja played a key role in pushing for the initiative. However, the portal initially covered only 27 Secretariat departments, leaving district and taluka-level offices outside its scope.

After years of efforts, the Urban Development Department has now confirmed that all municipalities and seven municipal corporations have been integrated into the portal. Meanwhile, the Home Department has instructed Inspector General of Police (IGP) offices to bring police units onto the online system. However, uncertainty still remains regarding the inclusion of district and taluka panchayats.

According to the State Information Commission’s annual report, the Revenue, Home, and Urban Development departments receive the highest number of RTI applications. Despite this, these departments, along with the General Administration Department, resisted online integration for several years. Officials only began mapping offices under their jurisdiction from April 2026 onward.

DeshGujarat