After CBSE, ICSI, University of Delhi, ICMAI, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India has now implemented the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in the case of ICSI Vs. Paras Jain, Civil Appeal No. 5665/2014, relating to providing copies of Answer-Scripts under RTI.
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India now provides access to certified copies of answer sheets under the RTI Act,2005 at Free of cost and ICMAI provides the same at Rs. 2 per page.
On behalf of the students’ community, my sincere thanks to Adv. Paras Jain sir, Adv. Kumar Shanu sir and Whistle For Public Interest- WHIP, whose tireless efforts are benefiting millions of students to access information of answer-scripts under RTI at nominal cost.
Also Read- Get CA/CS/CMA Exam Answer Sheet copies for free or at nominal Fee
I have received/receiving many queries and most of them are very similar. After analyzing 100’s of queries received through comments to our article, mails and WhatsApp messages, we prepared 15 FAQ’s – Frequently Asked Questions with respect to certified copies under RTI. 15 FAQ on certified copies of answer sheets under RTI are as follows:-
1. Whether ICAI will provide certified copies under RTI?
Yes!
To establish and follow the law laid down by Supreme Court in the judgement ICSI Vs. Paras Jain, ICAI appointed CPIOs exclusively for providing certified copies under RTI dated 29th Aug 2019.
Source: https://www.icai.org/post.html?post_id=12152
ICAI provided certified copies at Free of Cost on 9th of Sept, ICMAI provided certified copies on 6th of Sept by charging Rs. 2 per page and postal charges, ICSI also provided the same by charging Rs. 2 per page.
2. How many days it will take to get certified copies under RTI?
As per RTI act, information to an applicant shall be supplied within 30 days from the receipt of application by the public authority.
3. Can we seek certified copies of another student under RTI?
No, we cannot make an application for answer sheets other student, as Sec 8(1)(j) of RTI Act exempts the disclosure of personal information of an individual which has no relationship to any public interest or activity.
4. Whether we are required to upload handwritten application like in case of ICAI process?
Application need not be in handwritten. ICAI process and RTI process both are different platforms.
5. What documents are to be uploaded under supporting document?
To prove the identity, I suggest you upload Admit card/ hall ticket/ any other supporting document like student card, exam form etc.,
And upload your Food security card or Ration card, if you are falling under Below Poverty Line Category, to claim exemption from application fee of Rs. 10.
6. Whether we should send print-out of the RTI application physically to the institute?
No, there is no such requirement to send the application form physically. Once you have filed application at RTI portal, the same will reflect under CPIO’s dashboard and he will take further action to provide certified copies.
7. Can we get certified copies of previous attempt?
As per the RTI act, 2005 information can be sought as far as it is available with the public authority.
As per ICAI regulations 39(4) answer books are retained for a period of four months (120) days from the date of declaration of result. But I suggest you apply at the earliest as suo-moto verification MAY be done, and there may be a scope for revision of marks.
8. Whether Institute will do suo-moto verification of marks for certified copies sought under RTI and student can report discrepancies, if any?
As per RTI Act, there’s no such provision which mandates suo-moto verification. But, as per the sources it was informed that Institute is carrying out suo-moto verification of marks like retotaling errors for applications under RTI Act and if there are any discrepancies, student can bring it to the notice of the Institute. So, if you have passed with border marks, I suggest not to apply for the same.
I suggest you apply for Verification as per Institute process, as you can know the outcome of the same either it is positive or negative.
And, you can report the discrepancies, if any within 30days from the date of receipt of certified copies.
Click here to Download Application format
Latest Update dated 14 th February, 2020:
Reference: Page 49/Para 7.1 of High-level independent committee draft report dated 14th of Feb, 2020 states that, as a matter of policy, ICAI does not reduce marks already awarded, in the process of verification.
Link for the ICAI report: https://taxguru.in/chartered-accountant/draft-committee-report-ca-exam-processes-regulations.html
Those Students who didn’t apply for certified copies as they passed examination exactly with 200/400 marks or secured exemption exactly with 60 marks, can now apply happily without worrying about the decrease in marks.
Below is the extract from aforesaid report for your reference:
9. Whether we can choose any option like softcopy/hardcopy format of certified copy?
No, we don’t have any such option. It solely depends upon the institute in which format they want to provide.
ICMAI and ICSI- Decided to provide in Hard copy format by charging Rs. 2 per page and
ICAI – Decided to provide in soft copy format at free of cost.
10. Whether we can seek MCQ paper and answers under RTI?
ICAI mentioned that “only copies of OMR answer sheet will be provided upon receipt of an application in this regard, under this scheme. Neither MCQ paper booklet nor the answer keys thereon will be provided, and the certified copy of OMR answer sheets will not bear the Mark’s awarded since the same are awarded in the System.” But, the RTI Act has over-riding effect vis-à-vis other laws and ICAI must disclose the same under RTI Act, 2005.
11. Where we can check the status of our application? Whether we will receive certified copies on mail or post?
You can check the status of your application on RTI portal through below link:
https://rtionline.gov.in/request/status.php
If you are applying with ICAI, you will get certified copies with downloadable link and login credentials on the email provided at the time of filing RTI application.
If you are applying with ICMAI, you will receive certified copies through Speed Post at the address mentioned at the time of filing RTI application, after making prescribed fee at RTI portal.
12. On ICAI portal it is showing still Rs. 500 per paper and you are saying free of cost?
ICAI procedure and RTI process both are different platforms. The existence of these two avenues is not mutually exclusive and it is up to the candidate to choose either of the routes.
ICAI can still charge Rs.500 as per ICAI guidelines for the application made at ICAI portal and Institute will provide certified copies at free of cost (ICAI) or at nominal cost of Rs. 2 per page (ICMAI) for an application under RTI Act, 2005.
13. Refund of fee paid through ICAI portal? And whether ICAI will take any action if we apply under RTI?
As I said earlier ICAI procedure and RTI process both are different platforms. The existence of these two avenues is not mutually exclusive. You won’t get any refund of the application made for certified copies at ICAI portal. ICAI can still charge Rs. 500 per subject for application for certified copies received through https://icaiexam.icai.org portal.
Providing certified copies under RTI act, 2005 is as per law laid down by the supreme court, ICAI wont take any action.
14. What is the exact process to get certified copies under RTI? Whether we have to make any payment through DD? Rs. 2/- page or free of cost?
Please, refer to our article for complete information. I will summarize the entire process quickly for your reference.
Firstly, file an application seeking certified copies at RTI portal. At the time of filing application, you are required to make payment of Rs. 10 towards application fee and if you fall below poverty line category the same is not required.
Just relax and wait for 30days. You are not required to contact CPIO/ Send mail/ Physical copy of your application.
Within 30days Institute will reply on RTI portal itself.
In the case of ICAI, you will receive a link to download the PDF copy of your answer sheet and no fee is required to be paid.
Whereas, in the case of ICSI and ICMAI, you will receive a notification by SMS and Email that institute has responded to your application. Login to RTI portal, make the payment and you will receive hardcopy of the answer sheet within 7-15 days by speed post.
15. To whom we should contact if we haven’t received certified copies within 30days?
You can contact CPIO of the respective institute. There may be no timely response on e-mail, try to reach the CPIO over Telephone during the office hours.
| Body | CPIO Name | Mail Id | Telephone |
| ICAI | For CA Final level | ||
| Shri Alok Malhotra | [email protected] | 0120 3894808 | |
| For CPT/ Foundation/ IPCC/ Intermediate | |||
| Shri Chatar Singh | [email protected] | 0120 3054840 | |
| ICMAI | Shri Prajato Mukherjee | [email protected] | 033 40364710 |
| ICSI | Shri Surya Narayan Mishra | [email protected] | 011 45341015 |
(Amendments been carried out in the article on 15.02.2020)
I hope, your queries were addressed through below FAQ. Still, if you have any queries feel free to reach me on below mentioned details:
B Vinay Reddy, CA Aspirant, Hyderabad, Mail: [email protected]
Author Bio
Hello Sir, can we apply for verification of copies after placing a request for extraction of copies through RTI?
Yes, you can apply for verification of marks under the ICAI procedure. Both are different.
Sir , I received a mail from RTI that my request has been disposed of but there is no mail for answer sheets not any link
Sir i have applied through both icai and rti , i heard that i will not be getting copies at all , is it so ,are there ,any consequences?? I’m really scared sir , please help me
Hi Vanshika,
Under RTI you will get copies for sure.
If you haven’t received copies in 30 days, please refer below article for more info:
https://vinayrti.blogspot.com/2022/08/icai-disposed-rti-application-but.html
I had applied for certified copies for may 2022 intermediate exams and it has been more than 30 days now.. It is still showing that tha request has been forwarded to CPIO what should I do? I applied on 27/7/2202- it was forwarded to cpio on 17/8/2022 and now it’s 30/8/2202
Hi Manasha,
Please refer below article for more information on this:
https://vinayrti.blogspot.com/2022/08/icai-disposed-rti-application-but.html
can we apply for inspection of answer sheets on ICAI portal and Certified copies via RTI Act simultaneously?
Yes you can.
I have got the links to my certified copies but when I open the link it says site under maintenance. Please help.
Sir i want certified copies of Jan 2021 CA Final Exams whose result was declared in March 2021. My next attempt is due in May 2021. So, Can I apply for certified copies of Jan 2021 exams after May 2021 exams are held.
I got the sms and email from rti that your request is disposed off but i didn’t get any pdf file or any user id pass for getting papers.can anyone help me
Sir I received the email from RTI and text message from ICAI that your copy have been sent to your email registered with icai but sir I haven’t recieved my scanned copies yet.
Sir please help….
same here , i have got msg but didn’t received the copies yet . what to do next , its more than 30 days now
Same here..i also received mail of copies sent to your mail but didn’t received till now! What to do!?
Can I apply for certified copies as well as verification for different subjects??
Hello sir I want to apply under RTI for certified copies of nov 20 CA final papers. Can I apply for my friend as well ? Amd can this application be made by my father’s name ? After applying under RTI for copies can I apply through ICAI portal for recertification of marks for Rs. 100 per paper and not certified copies ??? Can RTI and rs. 100 revaluation
Mutually used ??
Hello sir I want to apply under RTI for certified copies of nov 20 CA final papers. Can I apply for my friend as well ? Amd can this application be made by my father’s name ? After applying under RTI for copies can I apply through ICAI portal for recertification of marks for Rs. 100 per paper and not certified copies ???
Dear Sir / Madam
I received certified copies of icai(CMA) final – Paper 20 of December 2019 attempt. I inspect and checked my certified answers with the suggested answers.
In the certified copy examiner allot me “zero” mark for question no. 7(b) whereas my solution to the question, that I wrote is exactly matched with the institute suggested answers they provided on the website.
Please help me in this regard, how can I approach to the institute for this mistake done by them.
Sir, I am a CS student. I have applied for certified copy. Is there any chance of reduction of marks or the same condition is applicable for ICSI too as ICAI ? Eagerly waiting for your response.
Hi,
can i get response from the application made through RTI
even though i did not attached any supporting document
will my application be considered valid and will ICAI respond to that
As i have provided all details with regard to Attempt, year , month and hall ticket and No. of subjects in the application itself.
kindly please confirm , whether it will be accepted or i need to make another application??
Sir, I have applied for my CA Final certified copies through rti on 18th Jan, 2020 , after 45 days also status is “forwarded to CPIO” . I have mailed to CPIO also but no reply I get. What should be my next step sir?
I have filled application for ca intermediate copies(RTI) and my application status is showing that it has been forwarded to CPIO , I want to know how much more time it will take to receive my certified copies ???
sir,
i had applied for my certifies copies for nov 2019 on 04.02.2020 but till now i have not received them, should i file the appeal or wait little more?
sir i am applying for cs certified copies from icsi .but the issue is coming that when i am clicking on payment option the again same log in box appears . please let me know what are the serious problem occuring
sir i have made rti application for obtaining certified copies of ist group of ca final but not received even after 30 days and get a response from other side still in process on e_sahayata.
is there any need to submit 1st appeal which need to be filled within 30 days if we have not obtained any information from other side even after 30 days of filling rti.
please help
Hello sir
I have applied for the certified copies of Nov 19 exams through RTI and more than 30 days has lapsed but still didn’t get any update regarding this. So what should I do now?
Sir, What should we attached as pdf for supporting document – The attested original admit card or take a photocopy of it and than attest it and than scan and upload the pdf? Kindly guide.
I have received the CA Final Nov 2019 certified copies through rti today, there was no change of marks. I have also applied for verification of answer sheets at icai, the status is under process.Is there any chance of increase in marks by icai ? I was not satisfied with the correction and i deserve more marks, can i have any hope for increase in marks by icai through verification process?
Sir, I have applied for the certified copies under RTI Act and I have passed group 1 with exactly 40 marks in costing .is there any chance of reducing marks in costing ???
Sir, I cleared CA this nov19 and one of my friend wants my answersheets copy so I applied through RTI but, I’m bit worried now that can ICAI reduce my marks because I’m awarded 40 marks in AMA
Please give your thought in this matter.
Hello sir,
I had make application through RTI and in the same time i had also made application for verification at institute portal, the result of verification came out and in that it said that no discrepancy found, whether it is possible that under RTI application the marks could increase???
Sir certified copies under RTI or under ICAI system which one is better..? and is there any increase in marks under RTI? if so how much percentage ICAI do suo moto?
What is time limit within which rti to be applied for certified copies after result ?
What is the time limit within which rti to be applied after result. ?
Hi. After applying through rti and made payment , i have received your application is forbidden and you do not have access to this resource. what could be the possible scenario for that and can i again apply for it since rti registration number is not generated.
Sir icai allows verification only upto 30 days from results . (Correct me if wrong) If RTI sends answer sheets thru mail very late from day we applied and our marks increase , it would be very tensed situation bcoz as per icai 30 days may end soon
Sir, can I apply for RTI and verification (as per ICAI rules ) both together?
Sir i have cleared my Group I of CA Final and i got 200 in the same, so if i apply for certified copies of Group II now, Is there any chances of reduction of my marks in Group I?
Sir i cleared my 1st group of CA Final and i got 200 in same, so if i apply now for certified copies of Group II only, Is there any chances of reduction of my marks in Group I ?
What is the ministry I have to select for ICAI?
I applied certified copies in RTI, Whether RTI Can give only certified copies or will do Re-verification also
How to cancel the RTI Submitted application?
Sir,
Can we apply for verification through icai portal (not certified copies-just verification) and copy of answer sheet through RTI?
How much time it will take? As RTI is 30 days and verification takes 6-8 weeks.
I want to file rti for 4 subjects i.e a group. I have to file separately for each subject or only one application is enough. A what fee i have to pay for 4 subjects
Sir I applied for certified copies through RTI but in that I didn’t specify any subject names of both groups but my intention to group1 only and I got 40 in DT is there any case for revision of marks so I may fail group 2
Sir there is rumour that if we apply certified copies through RTI then ICAI make ineligible to that student for verification of copies form ICAI portal, Is it correct?
I recently applied for certified copies through RTI but in that I didn’t specify any subject name,Whether icai react or not through RTI and also on both group subjects or any in one group and my main issue is I just got 40 in DT is there any scope for revision of marks
Sir, the RTI site considering the text in format as provided by you via mail is as invalid characters even when there is no invalid characters in application. What should be done?
I have cleared my ipcc in may 2018.Now can i get those answer sheet copies through RTI act
I have cleared my ipcc in may 2018….Now can i get those answer sheet copies through RTI
I have cleared my ipcc in may 2019….Now can i get those answer sheet copies through RTI
Can we apply for verification of answer sheets/certified copies on ICAI’s portal after we have recieved copies through RTI?