For 13 years, the Right to Information Act, 2005, helped citizens obtain information and data from the Government and State institutions that are not readily available in public domain. This information has been able to identify delays in public works, shortfalls and leaks in welfare schemes, and provide crucial insights into government’s decision making.
The RTI Act allows any citizen to make requests for access to data, documents, and other information in the government’s possession. India’s RTI Act has been commonly cited as among the most comprehensive public records access legislations in the world. In recent years, though, activists worry that this system is being made less and less effective, shutting off a crucial means to holding public officials accountable.
These issues are distinct from problems that have been debated with regard to the law since it was passed, such as its limited applicability to (or broad exemptions for) political parties, the judiciary, and intelligence agencies.
