Electronic Indian Postal Order

To seek informaton from the Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) under the RTI Act, 2005 by the Indian citizens aborad, Department of Posts had launched a service called “ePO” (Electornic Indian Postal Order) w.e.f. 22nd March, 2013. This is a faciltiy to purchase an Indian Postal Order electronically by paying a fee online through e-Post Office Portal http://www.epostoffice.gov.in or www.indiapost.gov.in.

The same facilty for purchasing Postal Order electronically by paying a fee only through e-Post Office Portal has now been extended  to Indian citizens residing in India w.e.f. 13th February, 2014  to seek information from the CPIOs under the RTI Act, 2005. Please visit http://www.epostoffice.gov.in or www.indiapost.gov.in for more details.

Click here to know more about RTI Act

Click here to access official website for RTI Information

The e-IPO service to enable Indian citizens abroad seek information underthe RTI Act, 2005.
Click here to know more about e-IPO

In Brief

1. The Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005, which came into force w.e.f. 12.10.2005, 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 http://righttoinformation.gov.in/RTI-Act.pdf. Detailed information on this Act is available on the DoPT website http://www.persmin.nic.in. It has been recently decided to bring the Embassies of India abroad also under the purview of the Act.

2. In pursuance of the implementation of the RTI Act 2005 in the Consulate General of India, Frankfurt, one of the officers has been designated as Public Information Officer (PIO) who is entrusted with the task of providing information to the citizens of India, requesting for information under the Act.

3. Application for requesting information, relevant to the functioning of the Consulate General of  India, Frankfurt, can be made in writing or through electronic means on payment of the prescribed fee for obtaining such information.

4. The application fee is Rs 10/- only and this can be paid in equivalent amount in Euros (cents 15 only at the current rate of exchange) to the Consulate General of India, Frankfurt.

5. In case the applicant is not satisfied with the information provided by the PIO, he/she can appeal to the Appellate Authority.

6. Please note that the information under RTI Act can be sought only by CITIZENS OF INDIA, holding Indian passports. Persons of Indian Origin and Citizens of Indian origin are not covered by this Act.

Central Public Information Officer

Under the Right to Information Act 2005 of the Government of India, application for seeking information relevant to Consulate General of India, Frankfurt, may be addressed to the Central Public Information Officer in writing through a letter, fax or E-Mail. Particulars of the Central Public Information Officer in the Consulate General of India, Frankfurt are as follows:

Shri Vinod Kumar
Central Public Information Officer (CPIO)
Consulate General India
Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage. 26
60325 Frankfurt am Main
Tel. 0049 69 15300553
Fax. 0049 69 554125
E-Mail:  hoc.frankfurt@mea.gov.in

Appellate Authority

Under Right to Information Act 2005 Government of India, the application for seeking information should be addressed to Public Information Officer. However, if the applicant is not satisfied with the response, he/she may approach the Appellate Authority:

Dr. Amit Telang
Consul General of India
Consulate General India 
Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage. 26 
60325 Frankfurt am Main
Tel. (069) 15300500
Fax. (069) 554125
E-Mail: cg.frankfurt@mea.gov.in

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

(i) The particulars of its organization, functions and duties:

The Consulate General of India is headed by Consul General and has the following Wings: (a) Chancery Wing (b) Commercial Wing (c) Press, Culture, and Information Wing and (d) Consular Wing.  These Wings are headed by a Consul rank officer.

The functions of the Consulate inter alia, include political and economic cooperation, trade and investment promotion, cultural interaction, press and media liaison, scientific cooperation in bilateral and multilateral and contexts: community affairs and providing passport, visa and consular services in the four States of Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, under its jurisdiction.

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, 1961as amended from time to time.

Financial powers of the Officers of the Consulate General 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 Consulate function under the guidance and supervision of the Consul General.

(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 Consul General.

(iv) The norms set by it for the discharge of its functions:

Norms are set under the instruction and supervision of the Consul General.

(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, 1961 and its annexures giving decisions taken by the Government under the Rules, Delegated Financial Powers of Government of India's Representatives abroad, The Passport Act, Manuals on Office Procedures, Other Central Government Rules and Manuals published by the 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:

Consulate General of India functions within the norms of India's foreign policy formulated by the Ministry of External Affairs. 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:

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

(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 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 for the current financial year are given in the statement at Annexure-III

(xii) The manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes:

Consulate General of India does not have any subsidy programme.

(xiii) Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by it:

a) No concessions/permits are granted by Consulate General of India.

b) Processing of visa services has been outsourced to M/s Indo-German Consultancy Services with effect from 11 May 2007.

Contact details of M/s Indo-German Consultancy Services and the procedure for obtaining visa has been given in the Consulate web site.

(xiv) Details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form:

The Consulate's website has the required information. Consulate also makes available to interested individuals various CDs and DVDs 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 Consulate has a well-stocked Library and books are made available to interested individuals on request.

(xvi) The names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers:

Shri Vinod Kumar
Central Public Information Officer (CPIO)
Consulate General India
Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage. 26
60325 Frankfurt am Main
Tel. 0049 69 15300553
Fax. 0049 69 554125
E-Mail: hoc.frankfurt@mea.gov.in

Appellate Authority:

Dr. Amit Telang
Consul General of India
Consulate General India 
Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage. 26 
60325 Frankfurt am Main
Tel. (069) 15300500
Fax. (069) 554125
E-Mail: cg.frankfurt@mea.gov.in

(xvii) The List of the Appellate Authority (FAA) and Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) w.e.f. 2016 till date in terms of provisions of section 5 (1) of the RTI Act 2005 is at Appendix-I

(xviii) Such other information as may be prescribed and thereafter update these publications every year:

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