About RTI Act 2005

• It provides citizens right to secure access to information under control of Public Authorities (PAs).
• It promotes transparency and accountability in Government working, contains corruption, and enhances people’s participation in democratic process.
• Nodal agency: Department of Personnel and Training under MoPPG&P.
• It replaced Freedom of Information Act, 2002.

Key Features

• Deals with constitution, composition, and functions of Central and State Information Commissions. 
• Puts obligations on PAs for designation of Central/State Public Information Officers (CPIO/SPIOs) to provide requested information to citizen.
• Provides for a system of appeals to aggrieved person:
  • Appeal can be made to 1^st appellate authority (an officer senior in rank to CPIO/SPIOs) within 30 days of filing RTI application.
  • Provision for second appeal to Central/State Information Commissioner (CIC/SIC) within 90 days of order by 1^st appellate authority.
  • The onus to prove that denial of request was justified lies on CPIO/SPIOs.
  • Disposal of appeals within 30 days (extended to 45 days) from date of filing. 
  • Decision of CIC/SIC is binding.

Achievements

• Increased coverage (including offices CJI, CAG etc.).
• Online portal for easy filing of RTI (RTI Online).
• Reduced Pendency of appeals (from approximately 35,000 (2019-20) to 23,000 (2023-24)).