Master10 Proprietary Question Bank - Automated scraping, spidering, or harvesting is strictly prohibited.
Governance & Society Cluster46 Verified Questions
Right to Information Act (RTI 2005) & Information Commissions GK Questions & Answers
The Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005), enacted on June 15, 2005, and fully operational from October 12, 2005, operationalizes the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, as recognized in State of U.P. v. Raj Narain (1975). The statute mandates public authorities to designate Public Information Officers (PIOs) and maintain proactive disclosures under Section 4(1)(b). PIOs are legally bound to provide requested information within 30 days of application receipt, reduced to 48 hours when information concerns the life or liberty of an individual.
Section 8(1) enumerates specific exemptions from disclosure, protecting state sovereignty, strategic defense interests, cabinet papers, trade secrets, and judicial privilege, subject to a Public Interest Override under Section 8(2). Chapter III establishes the Central Information Commission (CIC), comprising the Chief Information Commissioner and up to ten Information Commissioners appointed by the President. The Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 amended Sections 13 and 16, transferring the authority to determine salaries, allowances, and tenure of Information Commissioners from fixed statutory terms to executive rules notified by the Central Government.
High-yield conceptual summaries for competitive exams and rapid revision.
Enacted in 2005 to enforce citizens' right to know under Article 19(1)(a), affirmed in State of U.P. v. Raj Narain (1975).
Section 4(1)(b) requires proactive disclosure; Section 7 sets a 30-day response timeline (48 hours for life and liberty matters).
Section 8(1) lists 10 specific exemptions from disclosure, subject to the Public Interest Override in Section 8(2).
Established the Central Information Commission (CIC) and State Information Commissions (SICs) as quasi-judicial appellate bodies.
The RTI (Amendment) Act 2019 empowered the Central Government to determine the tenure and salary conditions of Information Commissioners.
Showing 25 Curated Questions46 Total in Bank
1ID: GK-LAW-00328
easyBasic Structure, Public Interest Litigation & Precedents
In which landmark February 2024 judgment did a unanimous 5-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court strike down the Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018 as unconstitutional for violating voters' Right to Information under Article 19(1)(a)?
Verified Explanation
In ADR v. Union of India (2024 INSC 113), the 5-judge bench held that anonymous electoral bonds violate voters' right to information about political funding under Article 19(1)(a) and struck down amendments to the IT, RPA, and Companies Acts.
2ID: GK-INST-00405
easyNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under Section 12 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, which statutory body was constituted to adjudicate second appeals and complaints regarding access to information from Central public authorities?
Verified Explanation
The Central Information Commission (CIC) was constituted under Section 12 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 as the apex statutory appellate body for information requests concerning Central authorities.
3ID: GK-INST-00466
easyNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Which apex statutory authority was constituted in 2005 under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to decide second appeals and complaints at the central level?
Verified Explanation
The Central Information Commission (CIC) was constituted under Section 12 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 to hear second appeals and complaints regarding public records.
4ID: GK-INST-00526
easyNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
In which year was the Central Information Commission (CIC) established under the Right to Information Act?
Verified Explanation
The Central Information Commission (CIC) was constituted with effect from October 12, 2005 under Chapter III of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.
5ID: GK-MDIA-00468
easyPrasar Bharati, Press Council & News Agencies
Before the enactment of the national Right to Information Act in 2005, which Indian state became the first in the country to pass a statutory sub-national Right to Information Act in 1997?
Verified Explanation
Tamil Nadu was the pioneer state in India to enact a Right to Information law—the Tamil Nadu Right to Information Act, 1997—passed in May 1997, followed shortly by Goa in 1997 and Rajasthan in 2000.
6ID: GK-INDM-00120
mediumState Facts Capitals
Which Indian State was the first to implement the "Right to Information" (RTI) at the state level in 1997 before the central act was passed?
Verified Explanation
Tamil Nadu was the first Indian state to pass a Right to Information law in May 1997, followed by Goa.
7ID: GK-POL-00749
hardConstitutional & Statutory Bodies of India
Under the Right to Information Act, 2005, the Chief Information Commissioner is appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and which other member?
Verified Explanation
Section 12(3) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, provides that the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of: (i) the Prime Minister (Chairperson), (ii) the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and (iii) a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
8ID: GK-POL-00949
hardConstitutional & Statutory Bodies of India
Under the Right to Information Act, 2005, what is the composition of the committee that recommends the appointment of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC)?
Verified Explanation
Section 12(3) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 provides that the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the Prime Minister (Chairperson), Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
9ID: GK-STUT-00231
hardState Capitals & Formation
Which Indian state was the pioneer to enact a dedicated State Right to Information Act in May 1997, preceding the Central RTI legislation?
Verified Explanation
Tamil Nadu was the first Indian state to pass an official Right to Information legislation in May 1997, followed by Goa in late 1997 and Rajasthan in 2000.
10ID: GK-LAW-00070
easyBasic Structure, Public Interest Litigation & Precedents
In February 2024, a unanimous five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court struck down which funding mechanism as unconstitutional and violative of voters' right to information under Article 19(1)(a)?
Verified Explanation
In Association for Democratic Reforms v. Union of India (February 2024), the Supreme Court struck down the Electoral Bond Scheme and related amendments to the IT Act and RPA as violative of Article 19(1)(a).
11ID: GK-INST-00265
mediumNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under Section 12(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, who heads the Central Information Commission (CIC) along with not more than ten Information Commissioners?
Verified Explanation
Section 12(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 mandates that the Central Information Commission shall consist of the Chief Information Commissioner and such number of Central Information Commissioners, not exceeding ten, as may be deemed necessary.
12ID: GK-INST-00345
easyNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Who was appointed as the first Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of India under the Right to Information Act, 2005 in October 2005?
Verified Explanation
Wajahat Habibullah, a senior IAS officer, was sworn in as India's first Chief Information Commissioner on 26 October 2005, heading the Central Information Commission.
13ID: GK-INST-00419
hardNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Through which significant amendment did the Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 alter the terms of service of the Central and State Information Commissioners?
Verified Explanation
The RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 amended Sections 13 and 16, replacing the statutory 5-year fixed term and salary parity with Election Commissioners, giving the Central Government rulemaking powers to prescribe tenure and salaries.
14ID: GK-INST-00593
mediumNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under Section 12 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, the Central Information Commission (CIC) consists of the Chief Information Commissioner and how many Information Commissioners at most?
Verified Explanation
Section 12(2) of the RTI Act, 2005 provides that the Central Information Commission shall consist of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and such number of Central Information Commissioners, not exceeding ten, as may be deemed necessary.
15ID: GK-INST-00171
hardNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under the Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019, how are the salaries, allowances, and other terms of service of the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners fixed?
Verified Explanation
The RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 amended Sections 13 and 16 to remove parity with the Election Commission, providing that the tenure and salaries of Information Commissioners shall be as prescribed by the Central Government.
16ID: GK-INST-00483
hardNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under Section 20(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, what is the maximum financial penalty that the Central or State Information Commission can impose on a Public Information Officer (PIO) for unjustified delay or refusal of information?
Verified Explanation
Section 20(1) of the RTI Act empowers the Information Commission to impose a penalty of ₹250 each day till the application is received or information is furnished, subject to a total maximum limit of ₹25,000 on the defaulting PIO.
17ID: GK-POL-01047
hardConstitutional & Statutory Bodies of India
What significant alteration was made to the Central Information Commission by the Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019?
Verified Explanation
The RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 amended Sections 13 and 16 of the RTI Act, 2005, removing the statutory fixed 5-year term and pay parity with Election Commissioners, and empowered the Central Government to determine the tenure, salaries, and service conditions of Information Commissioners through executive rules.
Which provision of the Right to Information Act, 2005 allows disclosure of information despite exemptions or the Official Secrets Act, 1923, if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to protected interests?
Verified Explanation
Section 8(2) of the RTI Act, 2005 contains a non-obstante clause overriding the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and Section 8(1) exemptions, stating that a public authority may allow access to information if the public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests.
Following the enactment of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, how was Section 8(1)(j) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 amended regarding disclosure of personal information?
Verified Explanation
The DPDP Act, 2023 amended Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act to simply state that information which relates to personal information is exempt from disclosure, deleting the previous public interest qualification.
20ID: GK-INST-00539
hardNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under the Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019, how are the tenure, salaries, and allowances of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioners determined?
Verified Explanation
The RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 amended Sections 13 and 16 of the parent Act, replacing fixed 5-year terms and salary parity with Election Commissioners with terms, salaries, and allowances 'as may be prescribed by the Central Government'.
21ID: GK-INST-00063
hardNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under Section 13 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act amended in 2019, how are the term of office and salaries of the Chief Information Commissioner determined?
Verified Explanation
The RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 amended Section 13 so that the tenure, salaries, and allowances of the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners are prescribed directly by the Central Government rather than being fixed statutorily on par with Election Commissioners.
22ID: GK-INST-00293
hardNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under Section 12(3) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, who constitutes the high-level Selection Committee that recommends the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners to the President?
Verified Explanation
Section 12(3) of the RTI Act, 2005 specifies that the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners are appointed by the President upon the recommendation of a Committee consisting of the Prime Minister (Chair), Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister.
23ID: GK-INST-00478
hardNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under the Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019, how was the determination of salary, allowances, and tenure of the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners modified?
Verified Explanation
The RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 amended Sections 13 and 16, replacing the statutory parity with Election Commissioners and granting the Central Government the power to prescribe the terms of office, salaries, and allowances by executive rules.
24ID: GK-INST-00599
hardNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under Section 20(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, what daily penalty (up to a statutory maximum of Rs 25,000) can the Central Information Commission impose on a defaulting Public Information Officer (PIO)?
Verified Explanation
Under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act, 2005, where the Information Commission finds that a PIO has without reasonable cause refused or delayed an RTI response, it shall impose a penalty of Rs 250 each day until the application is received or information is furnished, not exceeding Rs 25,000 in total.
Under the proviso to Section 7(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, within how many hours must information requested by a citizen be provided by the Public Information Officer if it concerns the life or liberty of a person?
Verified Explanation
Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 mandates that where the information sought concerns the life or liberty of an individual, the Public Information Officer must provide the information within forty-eight hours of receipt of the request.