Most States and Union Territories in India operate an official public grievance redressal system, either through a Chief Minister Helpline, a state grievance portal, or another government grievance mechanism. These portals and apps are free to use, available 24 hours a day on most platforms, and do not require a lawyer, agent, or fee of any kind. This guide lists the official portal for each state and union territory, explains how the system works, and tells you exactly what kind of complaints you can and cannot file.
For complaints against central government departments such as Income Tax, EPFO, Railways, Passport, Post Office, or Aadhaar, use the central CPGRAMS portal at pgportal.gov.in instead of the state portals listed here.
What is a CM Helpline
A CM Helpline is a grievance redressal system set up by a state government that lets any citizen directly file a complaint about a government department, service, or official. The complaint is registered on a portal or app, assigned a unique reference number, and routed to the responsible department for resolution within a defined time period.
Most state CM Helplines are separate from the police helpline (100), medical emergency (108), or disaster response (112). They handle administrative and service delivery complaints, not emergencies.
What You Can File a Complaint About
CM Helplines typically accept complaints across all departments of the state government. Common categories include:
- Delays or denial in government certificates such as caste, income, domicile, birth, or ration card
- Problems with government welfare scheme benefits not being received
- Corruption or bribery by a government official
- Poor condition of roads, streetlights, drainage, water supply, or other civic infrastructure
- Issues with electricity supply, billing errors, or connection disputes at the state electricity board level
- Problems related to land records, encroachment, or revenue department services
- Delays in school admissions, scholarship payments, or education department services
- Complaints against state police (separate from criminal FIR)
- Healthcare-related grievances at government hospitals and dispensaries
What You Cannot File Through a CM Helpline
CM Helplines do not handle certain categories. Filing these will result in rejection or redirection:
- Service matters of government employees such as transfer, promotion, or disciplinary cases
- Court-related matters or pending judicial proceedings
- Matters under central government departments such as Income Tax, Railways, EPFO, Passport, Post Office, or Aadhaar
- Complaints that are already pending in court
- RTI (Right to Information) requests
- Emergency situations requiring immediate police, fire, or medical response
For central government complaints, use CPGRAMS at pgportal.gov.in.
How the CM Helpline Process Works
- You register your complaint on the state portal, app, or toll-free number with your name, mobile number, address, and a clear description of the issue.
- A unique complaint or grievance reference number is generated and sent to your registered mobile number by SMS.
- The system routes your complaint to the responsible department or officer based on the category and location you selected.
- The assigned officer reviews the complaint, conducts an inquiry if needed, and takes action.
- You receive SMS updates at each stage of the complaint processing.
- Once the officer marks the complaint as resolved, you receive a closure notification.
- If you are not satisfied with the resolution, most portals allow you to reopen the complaint or escalate it to a higher authority.
How to File a Complaint: General Steps
While each state portal has its own interface, the basic process is the same across all platforms.
- Go to the official portal for your state from the table above.
- Look for the option to register a new complaint, file a grievance, or lodge a complaint.
- Enter your name, mobile number, and complete address including district, block or tehsil, and village or ward.
- Select the department or category your complaint belongs to. Choose as accurately as possible for faster routing.
- Write a clear, factual description of the issue. Include dates, names of officials involved (if known), and previous attempts at resolution.
- Upload any supporting documents such as a photograph, previous complaint copy, or relevant certificate, if available.
- Submit the complaint. Note down the complaint or reference number shown on screen.
- Track the status using this reference number on the same portal or through the helpline number.
Tips for Getting Your Complaint Resolved Faster
- Be specific about the department and location. Vague complaints take longer to route.
- Attach a photo or document if the problem is visible, such as a broken road or a rejected certificate.
- Use the correct channel. File state complaints on the state portal. File central complaints on CPGRAMS at pgportal.gov.in.
- Follow up after 7 to 10 working days if no action has been taken. Use the reminder or escalation option on the portal.
- If the portal resolution is unsatisfactory, reopen the complaint and request escalation to a senior officer.
- Filing a parallel RTI application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 at rtionline.gov.in can create an additional paper trail for serious cases.
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