To introduce the Right to Information Act, 2005 as a primary transparency and accountability statute enabling citizens to seek information from public authorities in India.
Overview #
The Right to Information Act, 2005 establishes the statutory regime through which citizens may obtain access to information held by or under the control of public authorities. It gives practical effect to transparency in public administration by requiring public authorities to disclose information, appoint information officers, respond to requests, and face appellate and penalty consequences for non-compliance.
The Act is especially relevant for lawyers, law students, journalists, researchers, civil society organisations, pharmacists and healthcare professionals dealing with government departments, regulators, public hospitals, universities, licensing authorities and other bodies covered as public authorities.
Object of the legislation #
The stated object of the Act is to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority, to support an informed citizenry, and to help contain corruption by making government and its instrumentalities answerable to the governed.
At the same time, the preamble recognises that disclosure may sometimes conflict with other public interests such as efficient government operations, limited fiscal resources, and confidentiality of sensitive information. The Act therefore creates a structured disclosure regime along with exemptions, severability, third-party procedures, appeals and penalties.
Scope and relevance #
The Act extends to the whole of India as reflected in the updated text, following omission of the earlier exception relating to the State of Jammu and Kashmir by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. It applies to public authorities established or constituted under the Constitution, laws made by Parliament or State Legislatures, and authorities or bodies notified or substantially financed by government.
In practical legal work, RTI applications are used to obtain copies of government records, orders, circulars, inspection reports, file notings where disclosable, licensing information, public procurement records and regulatory correspondence. In the healthcare and drug-regulatory context, the Act may be relevant for seeking information from public drug control departments, public hospitals, statutory authorities and government-funded institutions, subject to the exemptions under the Act.
Selected important provisions and themes #
- Section 2 defines key expressions such as information, record, right to information, public authority, appropriate Government, competent authority and Public Information Officer.
- Section 3 confers the right to information on citizens.
- Section 4 imposes proactive disclosure and record-management obligations on public authorities.
- Section 5 requires designation of Central or State Public Information Officers and Assistant Public Information Officers.
- Sections 6 and 7 deal with making an RTI request and disposal of the request by the public authority.
- Sections 8 and 9 set out exemptions from disclosure and grounds for rejection in specified cases.
- Section 10 incorporates severability, allowing exempt portions to be separated where possible and the remaining information to be supplied.
- Sections 18, 19 and 20 deal with the Information Commissions’ powers and functions, appeals, and penalties.
How to use this Bare Act #
- Use this Bare Act text to identify the correct statutory provision before drafting an RTI application, first appeal, second appeal or complaint.
- Check Section 2 definitions carefully, because terms such as information, record and public authority determine whether the Act can be invoked.
- For disclosure disputes, read the request and reply with Sections 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 to assess timelines, exemptions, severability and third-party issues.
- For remedies, refer to the appeal and complaint structure under Sections 18 and 19 and the penalty provision under Section 20.
- If using the Act for regulatory or healthcare information, also verify whether the requested body is a public authority and whether any statutory confidentiality or exemption issue may arise.
Related Bare Acts and statutes #
- Constitution of India
- General Clauses Act, 1897
- Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 with Rules 1945
- Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
This page is based on the uploaded bare text stated to be as on 18 November 2025 and lists amendments including the Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Users should verify the latest official text, rules, notifications and applicable Central or State RTI Rules before relying on it in litigation, compliance or professional advice.
