Read the passage carefully and answer the questions based on the passage:
The Right to information Act 2005 (Act No. 22/2005) is a law enacted by the Parliament of India giving Indians access to government records. Under the terms of the Act, any person may request information from a "public authority" (a body of Government or instrumentality of State) which is expected to reply expeditiously or within thirty days. The Act also requires every public authority to computerize their records for wide dissemination and to proactively publish certain categories of information so that the citizens need minimum recourse to request for information formally. This law was passed by Parliament on 15 June 2005 and came into force on 13 October 2005. Information disclosure in India was hitherto restricted by the Official Secrets Act 1923 and various other special laws, which the new RTI Act now overrides. The Act specifies that citizens have a right to:
- Request any information (as defined)
- Take copies of documents
- Inspect documents, works and records
- Take certified samples of materials of work.
- Obtain information in the form of printouts, diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode.
Which of the following statements are correct about the purpose of RTI Act?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Gives citizens access to government records.
Option (1) Gives citizens access to government records. — Correct. The RTI Act is a law enacted by Parliament giving Indians access to Government records. Any person may request information from a public authority, which must reply within thirty days.
Option (2) Prohibit public authorities to provide data voluntarily to the public. — Incorrect. The Act does the opposite. It requires every public authority to proactively publish certain categories of information, so that citizens need to file formal requests as little as possible.
Option (3) RTI brings transparency in private organisations too. — Incorrect. Information can be sought only from a ‘public authority’, a body of Government or instrumentality of State. A private organisation is neither, so the Act does not reach it.
Option (4) Put accountability on public for good governance. — Incorrect. The Act gives rights to the public and places the duty on the state. It is the public authority that must answer to citizens, not the other way round.
NCERT: Indian Society — Chapter 6: The Challenges of Cultural Diversity (2025-26)
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