Right to Information Act, 2005
- 1
Every citizen has the right to request information from any public authority.
- 2
Public authorities must respond within 30 days (48 hours for life/liberty matters).
- 3
A Central Information Commission (CIC) and State Information Commissions (SICs) oversee implementation.
- 4
Certain information is exempt — national security, cabinet proceedings, third-party commercial secrets.
- 5
Non-compliance can result in penalties up to ₹25,000 against the Public Information Officer.
Level-Based Learning
Choose your depthSimple Explanation
The RTI Act gives every Indian citizen the power to ask questions to the government. Think of it as a 'truth tool' — you can ask why a road hasn't been built, why your ration card wasn't issued, or how public money was spent.
Why This Law Exists
Before RTI, government offices operated like black boxes. Citizens had no way to know how decisions were made or where public money went. RTI was created to bring sunlight into governance.
Real-Life Example
Suppose a government school in your village hasn't received books for two years. You can file an RTI asking the education department: 'How many books were allocated to School X in 2023–24, and where were they delivered?' The department must reply within 30 days.
Real-World Impact
For Citizens
What this means for you
Can demand accountability from any government body — municipal, state, or central.
Can track status of their applications, benefits, ration cards, pensions.
Can expose corruption at local levels — ration shops, block offices, hospitals.
Can challenge arbitrary government decisions with documented evidence.
For Businesses & Startups
Compliance & opportunities
Can access public procurement data, tender documents, and project approvals.
Useful for competitive intelligence on government contracts.
Startups in GovTech can build RTI filing and tracking tools as products.
Cannot use RTI to extract commercially sensitive info about competitors from regulatory bodies.
Timeline / Change Tracker
Supreme Court Precedent
SC in State of UP v. Raj Narain ruled that citizens have a right to know about public affairs — the philosophical seed of RTI.
Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan
MKSS in Rajasthan pioneered Jan Sunwais (public hearings) demanding wage records — grassroots pressure for transparency.
Freedom of Information Bill
Government introduces a weak Freedom of Information Bill — civil society calls it toothless.
Freedom of Information Act
Watered-down version passed — never notified, never enforced.
RTI Act Enacted
Parliament passes the robust Right to Information Act on June 15. It comes into force on October 12, 2005.
RTI Amendment Act
CIC and SIC tenures and salaries made government-determined — critics call it an attack on independence.
RTI Online Portal Expansion
rtionline.gov.in expanded; first appeals and second appeals now file-able online for most central ministries.
Test Yourself
4 questionsWithin how many days must a Public Information Officer respond to an RTI request for general information?
Which of the following is NOT exempt from disclosure under Section 8 of the RTI Act?
What is the maximum penalty that can be imposed on a PIO for non-compliance?
In the 2019 RTI Amendment, what significant change was made?
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