Consulate General of India
Phuentsholing, Bhutan

Right to Information

Right to Information Act 2005 mandates timely response to requests of citizens of India for information held by the Government:

Under the Right to Information Act 2005, citizens of India may send applications seeking information of public interest relevant to Consulate General of India, Phuentsholing to the following officers:

Appellate Authority	Shri G. Ajith Kumar, Consul General Consulate General of India, Phuentsholing, Bhutan	Tel:  05-251588 Fax:  05-252992 Email: hop.pslingmea.gov.in
Central Public Information Officer	Ms. Ankita Jain, PA to Consul General Consulate General of India, Phuentsholing, Bhutan	Tel:  05-252101, Ext: 103 Email: hop.pslingmea.gov.in

Please also note that:

(i)    Under the RTI Act, information can be sought only by Indian citizens.  For this, copy of applicant’s passport as proof of Indian citizenship has to be provided by eligible applicants.  More information is available at https://rtionline.gov.in/ 
(ii)    Postal address of applicant needs to be provided.
(iii)    Application seeking information under the Act has to follow prescribed procedure in the Act, including payment of prescribed fee.  Please bring a Demand Draft/Cheque of Rs. 10 made in favour of Controller of Accounts, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi along with each application (Indian Citizens below the poverty line are exempted from payment of fee)

It may also be pointed out that as per section 6(10 (a) of the RTI Act, 2005, a person who desires to obtain information under the Act is required to submit the application to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the “concerned public authority”.  Applicants are therefore, advised to send their requests under the RTI Act to the Consulate General of India, Phuentsholing only when the subject matter can reasonably be presumed to pertain to the Consulate. Where the information required obviously does not pertain to the Consulate General of India, Phuentsholing, the application may be addressed to the concerned PIO directly.

(iv)    The Government of India (Department of Posts) have launched a service called e-IPO (Electronic Indian Postal Order) to enable Indian Citizens residing in India and abroad to purchase an Indian Postal Order electronically by paying fee on-line through e-Post Office Portal i.e. http://www.epostoffice.gov.in   . This facility has been provided for Indian Citizens residing in India and abroad to enable them to purchase a Postal Order electronically to seek information under the RTI Act, 2005. The detailed instructions for using the e-IPO service for payment of RTI fee on-line are available at https://www.epostoffice.gov.in/  (under the head Circulars).  The facility of e-IPO has been extended to all the Indian Missions/Posts abroad. The RTI applicants may, therefore, pay the RTI fee/cost of information, also on-line using the said e-IPO service, for seeking information.     The applicant needs to get himself 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 e-IPO so generated can be used to seek information from that Ministry/Department only. A printout of the e-IPO is required to be attached with the RTI application. If the RTI application is being filed electronically, e-IPO is required to be attached as an attachment

Information about the Consulate General of India required under Section 4(1) (B) of the RTI Act, 2005

(i)	The particulars of the organization, functions and duties	The Consulate General of India is headed by Consul General and has the following Sections: (a) Administration Section (including Protocol) (b) Consular & Welfare Section (including Trade issues); and (c) Information and Cultural Section. The functions of the Consulate, inter alia, include economic and trade cooperation, people to people contacts, tourism and cultural activities, community affairs and providing passport, visa and consular services to applicants living in the six states of Chhukha, Samtse, Dagana, Sarpang, Pemagatshel and Samdrup Jongkhar of Bhutan. The Consulate 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, 1961 as amended from time to time .Financial powers have been detailed in the Delegated Financial powers of the Government of India’s Representatives Abroad. Other powers are derived from the Passports Act of India. The Officers of the Consulate function under the guidance and supervision of the Consul General.  Consul General functions under the overall guidance of Ambassador.
(iii)	The procedure followed in the decision-making process, including channels of supervision and accountability	This Consulate follows procedures as indicated in the “Manual of Office Procedure” for decision-making process under the supervision of the Consul General.
(iv)	The norms set by it for the discharge of its functions	As prescribed by the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi.
(v)	The rules, regulations, instructions, manuals, etc. held in its control	IFS(PLCA) Rules, Financial Powers of Government of India’s Representatives Abroad, Passport Act, Consular and Visa Manual, Other Central Government Rules and manuals published by Central Government.
(vi)	Statement of categories of documents that are held	Classified documents/files relating to India’s external relations Classified and unclassified documents on economic and trade issues Classified and unclassified documents on Consulate’s administration matters Unclassified documents relating to educational, cultural and community issues. 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	The Consulate functions within the norms of India’s foreign policy formulated by the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi.  This policy is implemented by the Consulate under the guidance and supervision of the Consul General.
(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.	The Consulate has not constituted any such bodies.
(ix)	A directory of its officers and employees	A directory is given at Annexure-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 given at Annexure-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 and expenditure for the last two financial years are given in the statement is given at Annexure-III
(xii)	The manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes.	This Consulate does not have any subsidy programmes.
(xiii)	Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by it	No concessions/permits are granted by Consulate General of India. It may kindly be noted that Entry Permit by Immigration Authorities in Bhutan is issued only on production of Passport (having more than six months validity) and Voter ID card.
(xiv)	Details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form	Citizens can access information held by the Consulate in the electronic form through our website www.consulatephuentsholing.nic.in.  Further information can also be obtained from the following website held by Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi Websites  Details www.mea.gov.in    Main website of the Ministry of External Affairs www.mealib.nic.in  Website of the library of the Ministry of External Affairs www.mea.gov.in  Web link to access websites of various Indian Missions and Posts abroad www.passportindia.gov.in  Website of the Passport Seva Project of the Consular, Passports and Visa (CPV) Division of Ministry of External Affairs https://meaprotocol.nic.in/  Website of the Protocol Division of the Ministry of External Affairs. www.meafsi.gov.in  Website of the Foreign Services Institute of Ministry of External Affairs www.indiandiplomacy.in   Website of the Public Diplomacy Division of Ministry of External Affairs www.iccrindia.net  Website of Indian Council of Cultural Relations.  A body under Ministry of External Affairs www.icwa.in  Website of Indian Council of World Affairs.  A body under Ministry of External Affairs www.itec.mea.gov.in  Website of Technical Corporation of the Ministry of External Affairs Information held by the Embassy of India, Thimphu can be obtained from their website www.indianembassythimphu.bt
(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:	Sl. no. Programmes & Services Timings     Morning Evening  1.  Library 9.30 am to1 pm 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm  2. Reading Room having Indian newspapers in Hindi & English and also a TV. 9.30 am to  1 pm 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm
(xvi)	The names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers	Appellate Authority Shri G. Ajith Kumar, Consul General Consulate General of India Phuentsholing Tel:  05-251338 Fax:  05-252992 Email: hop.pslingmea.gov.in Central Public Information Officer Ms. Ankita Jain, PA to Consul General Consulate General of India Phuentsholing Tel:  05-252101 Ext: 103 Email: hop.pslingmea.gov.in
(xvii)	Such other information as may be prescribed and thereafter update these publications every year	The Consulate’s website has information which is updated on regular basis
(xviii)	Data regarding death of Indians in Bhutan under consular jurisdiction of CGI Phuentsholing	Annexure-IV