Right to Information

Right to Information

1. The RTI Act was enacted in 2005 to provide a practical mechanism for citizens to access information held by public authorities, thereby promoting transparency and accountability. It aims to ensure that citizens have simple and easy access to information of public importance, while also protecting sensitive information that could harm national interests. Applications seeking information under the RTI Act, 2005 may be sent along with the prescribed fee i.e., Indian Rs 10/- in cheque or demand draft favoring Consulate General of India, Erbil, or in equivalent US Dollars/local currency. (The rate of exchange for a particular month may be ascertained from the Consulate.) There is also policy to file RTI through the RTI online portal.

2. The information provided under the Act is available to citizens of India only. Applications should be submitted along with the documentary proof of Indian citizenship [like copy of personal particulars pages of passport]. More information is available at https://rtionline.gov.in/.

3. 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 Consulate only when the subject matter can reasonably be presumed to pertain to the Consulate. 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 Consulate, the application may be addressed to the concerned PIO directly.

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

The scheme of Electronic Indian Postal Order (e-IPO) 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:
1. https://www.indiapost.gov.in
2. https://www.epostoffice.gov.in

The contact details for addressing applications under Right to Information Act, 2005 are given below:

Central Public Information Officer (CPIO)	First Appellate Authority (FAA)
Mr. Hitesh Singh Mehra Vice Consul Email : admn.erbil@mea.gov.in	Mr. Brijesh Kumar Consul General Email : cg.erbil@mea.gov.in

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

Vision, Mission and Key Objectives

The Consulate is headed by Consul General and has following Wings: (1) Consular, (2) Political/Administration/Commercial/Education and Culture. The vision of the Post is to function within the norms of India’s Foreign Policy formulated by the Ministry of External Affairs. The key objective is to provide all consular related assistance like providing passport, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) to the people of Indian Origin, consular facilities to the Indian diaspora present in the Erbil in Kurdistan Region and VISA services to the Foreign Nationals to visit India.

Function and Duties

The functions of the Consulate, inter alia, include development of relations between India and Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Cultural exchanges, promotion of economic, trade and commercial relations, issue of Passports, Visas, Consular services and OCI cards. 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 and under the supervision of the Embassy of India, Baghdad

Powers and duties of 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 Consulate have been detailed in the Delegated Financial Powers of the Government of India’s Representative Abroad. Powers regarding Consular and Passport, Visa, etc. are derived from the Consular, Passport and Visa Manuals. The officers/officials of the Post function under the guidance and supervision of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India through the Embassy of India, Baghdad.

Procedure followed in the decision making process, including

Decisions are taken under the extant Rules and supervision of the Consul General.

Channels of supervision and accountability

The Consulate operates under the instructions and supervision of the Consul General.

Norms set for discharge of functions

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

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, Delegated Financial Powers of Government of India’s Representative Abroad, Consular Manual, Passport Manual, Visa Manual, Manuals on Office Procedures, and other Central Government Rules and manuals published by the Government of India. The Rule-making power vests with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

Categories of documents held by authority under its control

Documents/files relating to bilateral relations, Cultural and Commercial activities, Passport and Consular services, including records of Passports, Consular and Visa services rendered, and related circulars, as well as matters pertaining to the administrative issues with the Post.

Categorise

The following documents are held by the Post:
1. Consular services application forms and related circulars
2. Telephone List of Indian Missions/Posts in other countries and of the Ministry of External Affairs.

Boards, Councils, Committees and other Bodies constituted as part of the Public Authority

CGI Erbil is not part of any Boards, Council and Committee etc. under its purview/jurisdiction. However Consulate interacts regularly with Indian diaspora including an association of constituted by Indians known as ‘Association of Indians in Kurdistan’.

A directory of its officers and employees;

The directory of officials is available at link

Monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation

A statement of monthly remuneration is at Annexure-I.

No. of employees against whom Disciplinary action has been proposed/take

No disciplinary proceedings has been proposed or pending against any officer/official of CGI, Erbil

Programmes to advance understanding of RTI

All officers/officials of the Post are regularly sensitized about the RTI Act 2005. Members of the Post are regularly encouraged to participate in the online courses conducted by the Ministry of External Affairs from time to time. The Post also spreads awareness about the RTI mechanism while interacting with Indian community members in the Kurdistan Region.

Transfer policy and transfer orders

Transfer policies/orders are dealt in by the Ministry of External Affairs

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 2024-25 are given in the statement at Annexure-II.

Budget utilization during Financial Year 2024-25:

Budget allocation during FY 2024-25 (Rs. in thousands only)	99,890
Expenditure during FY 2024-25 (Rs. in thousands only)	98,857 (tentative figures)

Foreign and domestic Tours by ministries and officials of the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government and above, as well as the heads of the Department (a) Places visited, (b) The period of visit, (c) The number of members in the official delegation, (d) Expenditure on the visit

There is no Joint Secretary level officer posted at the Post. Moreover, no such official visit has been undertaken during the financial year 2025-26.

Manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programme

The Consulate does not have any subsidy programme.
Details of scholarships offered by the Government of India are made available on the Consulate’s website.

Discretionary and non-discretionary grants

Consulate has no discretionary and non-discretionary grants

Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by the public authority

No concessions/permits are granted by the Consulate.

CAG & PAC Paras

No such para in place

Particulars for any arrangement for consultation with or representation by the members of the public in relation to the formulation of policy or implementation thereof

The Consulate General of India, Erbil, functions under the policies made by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. The Consulate is not engaged in Policy formation.

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

The website of the Consulate General of India maintains detailed information about the various services rendered by the Post. The website is always updated with relevant information, policies, trade trade-related information from time to time.

Dissemination of information widely and in such form and manner which is easily accessible to the public

Information is accessible to the public on Consulate’s website www.cgierbil.com and social media handles.

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;

All relevant information is made available through the Consulate’s website, social media, email, and telephone calls. The Post has not maintained any library or reading room due to the local conditions.

Annual Report

Published by the Ministry of External Affairs and available at
https://mea.gov.in/Annual_Reports.htm?57/Annual_Reports

Receipt & Disposal of RTI applications & appeals

Application received- 5
Response sent - 5

Replies to questions asked in the Parliament

The Consulate General of India, Erbil, does not directly send replies to Parliament questions.

Name & details of –
(a) Current CPIO & FAA,

(b) Earlier CPIOs & FAAs from 1.1.2015

Central Public Information Officer (CPIO)
Mr. Hitesh Singh Mehra, Vice Consul
E-mail: admn.erbil@mea.gov.in

First Appellate Authority (FAA)
Mr. Brijesh Kumar
Email: cg.erbil@mea.gov.in

The Consulate opened in 2016 only. Details of CPIO and FAA since opening of the Consulate are at Annexure - V

Data in respect of deaths in Kurdistan Region of Iraq as on 15th May 2025

Year	No. of deaths	Sex of deceased		Cause of death
Year	No. of deaths	Male	Female	Natural	Accident	Suicide
2017	08	08	Nil	04	04	Nil
2018	08	08	Nil	05	03	Nil
2019	08	08	Nil	04	04	Nil
2020	17	17	Nil	15	02	Nil
2021	17	17	Nil	15	01	01
2022	8	8	Nil	02	06	Nil
2023‍	10	10	Nil	07	03	Nil
2024	10	09	01	06	04	Nil
2025 (as of May)	04	04	Nil	03	01	Nil