 "What is the Right to Information Act (RTI)?")
Right to Information Act
What is the Right to Information Act (RTI)?
RTI or Right to Information Act is a fundamental right and is an aspect of Article 19 (1)(a) of the Indian Constitution.
Right to Information replaced the Freedom of Information Act, 2002. RTI helps Indians receive information about the government in a systemic, time-constrained and hassle-free manner by enabling them to question certain delays in projects and accounts of spending from the taxpayers money in various projects.
Why RTI?
In 2005, the central government enacted the Right to Information Act, which empowers Indian citizens to request information, which must be under the ambit of public knowledge, from the offices and departments of the
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Latest Updates on Right to Information Act
Denial of RTI to non-citizens against the spirit of Constitution: Delhi HC
The Delhi High Court has held that both Indian citizens and non-citizens have access to the Right to Information (RTI), and to restrict that to non-citizens would be against both the RTI Act
 "Denial of RTI to non-citizens against the spirit of Constitution: Delhi HC")
Former West Bengal DGP Virendra appointed as state information commissioner
Former West Bengal DGP Virendra was on Wednesday appointed as the State Information Commissioner(SIC), state Parliamentary Affairs minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay said.
 "Former West Bengal DGP Virendra appointed as state information commissioner")
RBI rejects RTI seeking information on its correspondence with govt
The report mentioned the debate on disclosure of the RBI's failure to meet the flexible retail inflation target of 2-6% for three straight quarters between January and September
 "RBI rejects RTI seeking information on its correspondence with govt")
Expenditure on India's information commissions has fallen 91% in six years
Since FY17, the budget allocation for information commissions has shrunk by 82.7% from Rs 31.9 crore
AICF claims pests destroyed records in response to query under RTI Act
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has claimed that records pertaining to a Right to Information (RTI) Act query by a player were destroyed by pests at its headquarters here, leading to a rebuke
 "AICF claims pests destroyed records in response to query under RTI Act")
Over 300,000 RTI cases pending in India, highest in Maharashtra: Report
The maximum number of RTIs were received by the Central government at 11 million, followed by Maharashtra at 8.6 million and Tamil Nadu at 3.6 million
Power of RTI Act: How, where to use the right to question your govt
What is RTI Act? Indian citizens can seek any information that the government can disclose to the Parliament of India. From application to fees, here's how to use RTI Act to question your government
CIC to EC: Give on stamp paper you disclosed all info under RTI
The case originates from an RTI query filed by activist Commodore Lokesh Batra (Retd)
 "CIC to EC: Give on stamp paper you disclosed all info under RTI")
Compensation payable for not complying with court order
The National Commission held that flouting of the High Court's directions constituted a deficiency in service for which Bhupati could seek remedy under the Consumer Protection Act
Best of BS Opinion: A recovery interrupted, RBI's disclosure dilemma & more
Here are the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for Monday
 "Best of BS Opinion: A recovery interrupted, RBI's disclosure dilemma & more")
2,118 branches of state-run banks closed or merged in last fiscal: RTI
As many as 2,118 branches of 10 public sector banks have either been closed or merged with other banks in the last fiscal, according to an RTI reply
 "2,118 branches of state-run banks closed or merged in last fiscal: RTI")
Saarc Covid fund: No Indian money for Pakistan; Nepal biggest beneficiary
India has contributed half the corpus of the fund but released less than 20% to member nations
 "Saarc Covid fund: No Indian money for Pakistan; Nepal biggest beneficiary")
BoB NPAs surge six-fold, Indian Bank sees four-times rise in 6 years: RTI
The number of NPA accounts rose from 2,08,035 as of March 31, 2014, to 6,17,306 as of December 2019
 "BoB NPAs surge six-fold, Indian Bank sees four-times rise in 6 years: RTI")
All provisions of RTI Act to be enforced in J&K, says Jitendra Singh
A notification in this regard will be issued soon and the same pattern will be followed as in other UTs, said Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh
 "All provisions of RTI Act to be enforced in J&K, says Jitendra Singh")
How confidential should bank inspection reports be?
An emotional affirmation to disclose sensitive, confidential exchanges generically must be avoided
 "How confidential should bank inspection reports be?")
Year in Review: Top 6 landmark judgments delivered by Supreme Court in 2019
From the Ayodhya title suit to Sabarimala and striking down of the Section 87 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, here are the landmark SC verdicts of 2019
 "Year in Review: Top 6 landmark judgments delivered by Supreme Court in 2019")
Electoral bonds: FinMin knew serial number could reveal donor's identity
Ministry was reluctant to assign serial numbers initially, but relented after SBI raised concerns about internal control and reconciliation
 "Electoral bonds: FinMin knew serial number could reveal donor's identity")
Now, you can seek information under RTI in Kerala using this online portal
People can now submit applications through the web portal edistrict.kerala.gov.in with the help of a user ID, which can be created using the link new portal user creation
 "Now, you can seek information under RTI in Kerala using this online portal")
Centre notifies RTI act amendments, ignores civil society concerns
The government had in July introduced a bill to amend the transparency law, a move criticised by transparency activists who termed it "an attack on the independence of the panel"
 "Centre notifies RTI act amendments, ignores civil society concerns")
Best of BS opinion: Testing the impact of tax cut, definition of employment
Here's a selection of Business Standard opinion pieces for the day
 "Best of BS opinion: Testing the impact of tax cut, definition of employment")
