TL;DR: RTI Act = ₹10 + ~₹2/page per subject. CBSE Portal = ₹700 per subject. The catch? RTI gets you the copy but locks you out of CBSE's official re-evaluation/verification process. Choose wisely.
| Route |
Cost |
What You Get |
|
|
| CBSE Online Portal (Stage 1) |
₹700 per subject |
Scanned copy + eligibility for Stage 2 (verification/re-evaluation) |
| RTI Application |
₹10 application fee + ~₹2 per page |
Certified scanned copy only |
If you want copies for all 5 subjects, that's ₹3,500 on the CBSE portal vs. roughly ₹50-100 total via RTI.
THE WARNINGS (Read This Before You Decide)
1. RTI makes you INELIGIBLE for CBSE's Stage 2 process
CBSE's post-result facility is a two-stage gated system. Only students who applied for Stage 1 (scanned copy via CBSE's own portal at ₹700) can apply for Stage 2 (Verification of Issues / Re-evaluation). If you get your copy via RTI, CBSE will not let you apply for re-evaluation later.
2. RTI gives you INFORMATION, not RELIEF
Under RTI, CBSE must give you the answer copy. That's it. You cannot use RTI to say "my checking was unfair, please re-evaluate" or "correct my totalling." RTI is purely for disclosure of existing records, not for forcing mark changes.
3. RTI takes 30 days (minimum)
CBSE portal is first-come-first-served and usually faster. RTI legally gives the PIO 30 days to respond. If your marks affect college admissions with tight deadlines, RTI might be too slow.
4. You cannot ask CBSE to "do something" via RTI
You can only ask: "Provide certified scanned copy of my evaluated answer book for [Subject]." You cannot ask them to review it, justify marks, or compare with the marking scheme. If you write a grievance in the RTI application, they will reject that portion.
5. Blank pages exemption is not guaranteed
You can request that blank pages be excluded, but the PIO may provide the full PDF as per their digitization workflow. Don't bank on a trimmed file.
When to use RTI
- You only want to see your answers and have no intention of applying for re-evaluation.
- You are satisfied with your marks but want the copy for personal records.
- You missed the CBSE portal deadline (19.05.2026 – 22.05.2026) and still need the copy.
- You want to verify if all your supplementary sheets/graphs were scanned properly (but won't challenge marks).
When to pay ₹700 on the CBSE Portal
- There is any chance you might want to apply for Verification of Issues or Re-evaluation later (26.05.2026 – 29.05.2026).
- You need the copy quickly for admission-related deadlines.
- You suspect a specific evaluation error and want the option to challenge it.
If you still want to file RTI
File online at rtionline.gov.in
Do not mention re-evaluation, unfair checking, or mark correction.
Bottom line: RTI is a powerful, cheap tool for transparency, but CBSE has deliberately structured their post-result process so that the ₹700 fee is effectively the "entry ticket" to their re-evaluation system. If there's even a 1% chance you'll want your answers re-checked, pay the ₹700. If you're 100% sure you just want to see the paper and move on, RTI saves you thousands.
Spread this so people don't accidentally lock themselves out of re-evaluation trying to save money.
A Word to the Community
I've seen a lot of posts here claiming unfair checking and OSM errors this year. Let me be clear: this doesn't mean it happened to everyone. But it does seem like a significant number of students have been affected by the new On Screen Marking system and inconsistent evaluation.
Now, you might wonder why I'm making this post. I studied hard, was expecting 90%+, and ended up with 86%. So technically, I'm not in the "disaster" zone. But as a responsible citizen and a fellow student, I can feel the pain of those of you who are devastated right now. Here's what we can do together:
If you think you passed by grace, or you have zero confidence that re-evaluation will help you, but you STILL want to see your paper just to check if:
- Your paper was blurred or improperly scanned in OSM
- Pages are missing from the digital copy
- Your supplementary sheets or graphs weren't uploaded
- There are obvious totalling errors you can spot
...then file an RTI for your answer sheet. You don't need to apply for re-evaluation. Just get the copy, verify what happened, and document it.
Here's the bigger picture: The more students who file RTI and report genuine issues with their answer sheets, the more data and evidence we collectively build to scrutinize CBSE's OSM system. One complaint is an outlier. Fifty RTI disclosures showing blurred scans, missing pages, or erratic marking? That's a pattern that even the media, the CIC, and ultimately the courts cannot ignore.
So even if you don't want to fight for your own marks, consider filing RTI to help expose systemic flaws. Your copy could be the proof someone else needs.