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Right to Information Right to Information

Right to Information

Right to Information 

(Updated as on 08.02.2024)

The Right to Information under the provisions of the RTI Act is available to the citizens of India only. RTI Act is an important legislation designed to promote transparency and accountability in the functioning of public authorities.

The full text of the RTI Act is available on the website: RTI-Act.pdf

The RTI Act also provides for appeals by aggrieved persons to the Central Information Commission of the Government of India.

Indian citizens may seek information in writing on payment of requisite fee during office hours on working days as per procedure laid down in the RTI Act, 2005.

Contact details of officers for addressing applications under Right to Information Act, 2005:

Central Public Information Officer

Mr. Rajesh Kumar Pippal

Second Secretary

Telephone:+381 11 367-4209
Email: pic[dot]belgrade[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

First Appellate Authority

Mr. Sandeep Kumar

Counsellor
Telephone:+381 11 367-4209
Email: hoc[dot]belgrade[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

Applications seeking information under the Act may be sent along with fee as prescribed in the Act favoring Embassy of India, Belgrade.

It may be noted that information provided under the Act is available to citizens of India only. Applications should be submitted along with documentary proof of Indian Citizenship (like copy of personal particulars pages of passport). More information is available at http://rti.gov.in. The mailing address is Embassy of India, Malog Radojice 20, Dedinje, 11 040 Belgrade, Serbia.

It may also be pointed out that as per section 6(1) (a) of the RTI Act, 2005, a person who desires to obtain information under the Act is required to submit the application to the Information Officer of the “concerned public authority”. Applicants are, therefore, advised to send their requests under the RTI Act to the Embassy only when the subject matter can reasonably be presumed to pertain to the Embassy. While section 6 (3) provides for the transfer of an application by a receiving PIO to another [concerned] PIO, this is clearly meant to cover situations where the application is addressed to a PIO on the assumption that it has been directed to the concerned PIO. Where the information required obviously does not pertain to the Embassy, the application may be addressed to the concerned PIO directly.

Payment of RTI fee online - Electronic Indian Postal Order (eIPO)

The scheme of Electronic Indian Postal Order (eIPO) has been launched by the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in association with Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). This would enable the Indian citizens abroad to pay the RTI fee online.

An Indian Postal Order can be purchased electronically by paying a fee on-line through e-Post Office Portal or through India Post website. The web-links for payment are:

www.indiapost.gov.in

www.epostoffice.gov.in

The Credit Card or Debit Card of any bank powered by Visa/ Master can be used for this purpose.

Procedure

The RTI applicant is required to register on the website to create his/ her profile. Then he has to select the Ministry/ Department from whom he desires to seek information under the RTI Act. The eIPO is generated which can be used to seek information from that Ministry/ Department only. A printout of the eIPO is required to be attached with the RTI application sent in hard copy. In case RTI application is filed electronically, the eIPO is enclosed as an attachment. The profile is required to be created during the first time only.

The RTI application accompanied by an eIPO is similar in all respects to the RTI application accompanied by fees through any other approved mode. All the provisions regarding eligibility, time limit, exemptions etc; as provided in the RTI Act, 2005 continue to apply.

Currently, this facility is available only for Indian Citizens living anywhere other than in India. By this measure, those living abroad would be facilitated to seek information under the RTI Act, 2005. It is hoped that in future, this facility would be extended to all citizens within the country too. Any public authority which accepts a postal order should also accept an eIPO.

Extension of IPO Facility to Indians citizens residing in India 

The Department of Posts has extended the “eIPO” (electronic Indian Postal Order) service to Indian citizens residing in India also w.e.f. 13.02.2014, for purchasing Indian Postal Order electronically by paying a fee online through e-Post Office Portal i.e www.epostoffice.gov.in. It can also be accessed through India Post website www.indiapost.gov.in

This facility has been provided for Indian citizens to facilitate them to seek information from the Central Public information Officers (CPIOs) under the RTI Act, 2005. Debit or Credit Cards of any Bank powered by Visa/ Master can be used to purchase e-IPO.

The user needs to get registered at the website. He has to select the Ministry/ Department from whom he desires to seek the information under the RTI Act and the eIPO so generated can be used to seek the information from that Ministry/Department only. A printout of the eIPO is required to be attached with the RTI application. If the RTI application is being filed electronically, eIPO is required to be attached as an attachment.

This facility is only for purchasing an Indian Postal Order electronically. All the requirements for filling an RTI application as well as other provisions regarding eligibility, time limit, exemptions etc. will continue to apply.

An eIPO so generated must be used only once with an RTI application.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE EMBASSY, REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 4(1)(B) OF THE RTI ACT, 2005


(i)


the particulars of its organization, functions and duties;

Embassy of India is headed by Ambassador.

The functions of the Embassy inter alia, include political and economic cooperation, trade and investment promotion, cultural interaction, press and media liaison, and scientific cooperation in bilateral and multilateral contexts.
Embassy functions within the purview of business allocated to the Ministry of External Affairs under the Government of India's Allocation of Business Rules and Transaction of Business Rules.

(ii)

the powers and duties of its officers and employees;

General Administrative powers are derived from IFS (PLCA) Rules, as amended from time to time.

Financial powers of the Officers of the Embassy of India have been detailed in the Delegated Financial powers of the Government of India's Representatives Abroad.

Other powers are derived from the Passport Act of India.


The Officers of the Embassy function under the guidance and supervision of the Ambassador.

(iii)

the procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability;

Decisions are taken under the instruction and supervision of the Ambassador.

(iv)

the norms set by it for the discharge of its functions

Norms are set under the instruction and supervision of the Ambassador.

(v)

the rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions;

IFS PLCA rules and Annexures

Delegated Financial Powers of Government of India's Representatives abroad Rules

Passport Act

Manuals on Office Procedures

Other Central Government Rules and manuals published by Central Government.

(vi)

a statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control;

Classified documents/files relating to India's external relations

Unclassified documents/files including joint statements, declarations, agreements and MoUs. Passport and consular services application forms

(vii)

the particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof;

Embassy of India functions within the norms of India's foreign policy formulated by the Ministry of External Affairs. Policy is implemented by the Embassy under the guidance and supervision of the Ambassador.


Embassy interacts regularly with representatives of think tanks, academic community and others.

(viii)

a statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public;

(ix)

a directory of its officers and employees;

A directory is given at Annex-I

(x)

the monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation as provided in its regulations;

A statement of monthly remuneration is at:
Annex-II

(xi)

the budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made;

The Budget figures for the current financial year are given in the statement at Annex-III

(xii)

the manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes;

Embassy of India does not have any subsidy programme.

(xiii)

particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by it;

No concessions/permits are granted by the Embassy of India.

(xiv)

details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form;

The Embassy's website has the required information. The Embassy also makes available to interested individuals various CD's and DVD's containing information on India, its people and culture.

(xv)

the particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use; 

The Embassy of India has a Library which is open to the public during 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00

(xvi)

the names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers;

Mr. Rajesh Kumar Pippal

Second Secretary

Telephone:+381-11-266-1089
Email: pic[dot]belgrade[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

(xvii)

such other information as may be prescribed and thereafter update these publications every year;

The Embassy's website has information which is updated on a regular basis.

ANNEX I

Embassy of India

Belgrade

Chancery:   Malog Radjice 20, Dedinje, 11 040 Belgrade, Serbia

Telephones: ( +381 11 ) 367-4201, 367-4209

Website: eoibelgrade.gov.in 

Time difference: ( Winter ) -4.30 IST( Summer ) -3.30 IST 

Working hours: 0830 hrs to 1700 hrs ( Monday to Friday )

Sl. No.

Designation

Name

Email

1.

Ambassador

Ms. Subhdarshini Tripathi 

amb[dot]belgrade[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

2.

Counsellor

Mr. Sandeep Kumar

hoc[dot]belgrade[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

3.

Second Secretary

Mr. Rajesh Kumar Pippal

pic[dot]belgrade[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

4.

Attache (PS)

Ms. Rini Denial

admn[dot]belgrade[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

5.

PA

Mr. Avinash Sinha

admn[dot]belgrade[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

6.

ASO

Mr. Nikhil Saini

cons[dot]belgrade[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

7.

ASO

Mr. Sharath S Menon

acctts[dot]belgrade[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

8.

IBSA

Mr. Rakesh Kumar

---

ANNEX II

Monthly Remuneration of Officers and Staff (India-Based) of Embassy of India, Belgrade

Sl. No.

Sanctioned Post

No. of Posts

Pay Band

 (6th CPC)

Pay Scale

 (7th CPC)

Pay Level as per 7th CPC

1

Ambassador

1

67000-79000

Rs. 182200-224100

Level 15

2

FS/SS

1

15600-39100

Rs. 78800-209200

Rs. 67700-208700

Level 12 

Level 11

3

Attache

1

9300-34800

15600-39100

Rs. 47600-177500

Level 8 to10

4

ASO

2

9300-34800

Rs. 44900-167800

Level 7 to 9

5

PS/PA/Stenographer

2

5200-20200

9300-34800

Rs. 25500-167800

Level 4 & 7 to 9

6

IBSA

1

5200-20200

Rs. 18000-81100

Level 1to 4

Note : Apart from basic pay, India based Officers/staff are paid Foreign Allowance as fixed by Ministry of External Affairs from time to time.

Annex III

Budget utilization during Financial Year 2023-24:

Financial Year

Chancery Wing

Commercial Wing

Budget allocation during FY 2023-24

(Rs. in thousands only)

74527

25619

Expenditure during FY 2023-24

(Rs. in thousands only)

74548

24977

THE APPROVED FIGURES OF RE 2024-25 IN RESPECT OF EMBASSY OF INDIA, BELGRADE ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Financial Year

Chancery Wing

Commercial Wing

Budget allocation during FY 2024-25 (VoA)

(Rs. in thousands only)

40980

11595

HEAD OF ACCOUNTS

AMOUNT (RUPEES IN THOUSANDS)

CHANCERY

COMMERCIAL

1. SALARIES

a. Salaries 

b. Rewards

c. Allowances

d. LTC

 

8000

267

19000

26

 

2400

0

6600

0

2. WAGES

16

0

3. MEDICAL TREATMENT

250

100

4. TRAVEL EXPENSES (LOCAL)

238

20

5. TRAVEL EXPENSES (OTHERS)

1781

450

6. OFFICE EXPENSES

a. Office Expenses

b. Motor Vehicle

c. Furniture & Fixture

d. Fuel & Lubricants

e. Bank & Agency Charges

f. Repair & Maintenance

g. Other Charges (Other Revenue Expenditure)

 

1821

0

15

238

21

88

58

200

7. ADV & PUBLICITY

281

0

8. Rent, Rates & Taxes for Land and Building

8510

17

9. Minor Works – Minor Civil & Electric Works

50

5

10. Information Technologies

a. Information, Computer, Telecommunication equipment (ICT)

b. Digital Equipment

 

113

78

50

11. Swachhata Action Plan (SAP)

7

70

(Trade Promotion)

12. Training expenses

40

0

13. Materials & Supplies

16

0

TOTAL

40980

11595

RTI - Self Appraisal Report / Transparency Audit Report 2022-23 - EoI, Belgrade :