1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Right to Information 
Act, 2005. 
(2) It extends to the whole of Indial***. 
(3) The provisions of sub-section (1) of section 4, sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 5, sections 12, 
13, 15,16, 24, 27 and 28 shall come into force at once, and the remaining provisions of this Act shall 
come into force on the one hundred and twentieth day of its enactment.

2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— 
(a) "appropriate Government" means in relation to a public authority which is established, 
constituted, owned, controlled or substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly— 
(i) by the Central Government or the Union territory administration, the Central Government; 
(ii) by the State Government, the State Government; 
(b) "Central Information Commission" means the Central Information Commission constituted 
under sub-section (1) of section 12; 
(c) "Central Public Information Officer" means the Central Public Information Officer designated 
under sub-section (1) and includes a Central Assistant Public Information Officer designated as such 
under sub-section (2) of section 5; 
(d) "Chief Information Commissioner" and "Information Commissioner" mean the Chief 
Information Commissioner and Information Commissioner appointed under sub-section (3) of section 
12;
(e) "competent authority" means— 
(i) the Speaker in the case of the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of a State 
or a Union territory having such Assembly and the Chainnan in the case of the Council of States 
or Legislative Council of a State; 
(ii) the Chief Justice of India in the case of the Supreme Court; 
(iii) the Chief Justice of the High Court in the case of a High Court; 
(iv) the President or the Governor, as the case may be, in the case of other authorities 
established or constituted by or under the Constitution; 
(v) the administrator appointed under article 239 of the Constitution; 
(/) 'information" means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-rnails, 
opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks. contracts, reports, papers, samples, 
models, data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which 
can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force; 
(g) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act by the appropriate Government or 
the competent authority, as the case may be; 
(Ii) "public authority" means any authority or body or institution of self- government established 
or constituted— 
(a) by or under the Constitution; 
(b) by any other law made by Parliament; 
(c) by any other law made by State Legislature; 
(ci) by notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government, 
and includes any— 
(i) body owned, controlled or substantially financed; 
(ii) non-Government organisation substantially financed, 
directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government; 
(i) "record" includes— 
(a) any document, manuscript and file; 
(b) any microfilm, microfiche and facsimile copy of a document; 
(c) any reproduction of image or images embodied in such microfilm (whether enlarged or 
not); and 
(ci) any other material produced by a computer or any other device; 
(I) "right to information" means the right to information accessible under this Act which is held 
by or under the control of any public authority and includes the right to— 
(i) inspection of work, documents, records; 
(ii) taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records; 
(iii) taking certified samples of material; 
(iv) obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any 
other electronic mode or through printouts where such information is stored in a computer or in 
any other device; 
(k) "State Information Commission" means the State Information Commission constituted under 
sub-section (1) of section 15;
(1) "State Chief Information Commissioner" and "State Information Commissioner mean the 
State Chief Information Commissioner and the State Information Commissioner appointed under subsection (3) of section 15; 
(in) 'State Public Information Officer" means the State Public Information Officer designated 
under sub-section (1) and includes a State Assistant Public Information Officer designated as such 
under sub-section (2) of section 5; 
(n) "third party" means a person other than the citizen making a request for information and 
includes a public authority. 

I. The words "except the State of Jammu and Kashmir" omitted by Act 34 of 2019, s. 95 and the Fifth Schedule (w.e.f. 3 1-10-2019).

3. Right to information.—Subject to the provisions of this Act, all citizens shall have the right to 
information.

4. Obligations of public authorities.—(/) Every public authority shall— 
(a) maintain all its records duly catalogued and indexed in a maimer and the form which 
facilitates the right to information under this Act and ensure that all records that are appropriate to be 
computerised are, within a reasonable time and subject to availability of resources, computerised and 
connected through a network all over the country on different systems so that access to such records 
is facilitated; 
(b) publish within one hundred and twenty days from the enactment of this Act,— 
(i) the particulars of its organisation, functions and duties; 
(ii) the powers and duties of its officers and employees; 
(iii) the procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision 
and accountability; 
(iv) the norms set by it for the discharge of its functions; 
(v) the rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or 
used by its employees for discharging its functions; 
(vi) a statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control; 
(vii) the particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, 
the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof 
(viii) a statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or 
more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of 
those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such 
meetings are accessible for public; 
(ix) a directory of its officers and employees; 
(x) the monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the 
system of compensation as provided in its regulations; 
(xi) the budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed 
expenditures and reports on disbursements made; 
(xii) the maimer of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and 
the details of beneficiaries of such programmes; 
(xiii) particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorisations granted by it; 
(xiv) details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic 
form;
(xv) the particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the 
working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use; 
(xvi) the names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers; 
(xvii) such other information as may be prescribed; 
and thereafter update these publications every year; 
(c) publish all relevant facts while formulating important policies or announcing the decisions 
which affect public; 
(d) provide reasons for its administrative or quasi-judicial decisions to affected persons. 
(2) It shall be a constant endeavour of every public authority to take steps in accordance with the 
requirements of clause (b) of sub-section (1) to provide as much information suo.'notu to the public at 
regular intervals through various means of communications, including internet, so that the public have 
minimum resort to the use of this Act to obtain information. 
(3) For the purposes of sub-section (1), every information shall be disseminated widely and in such 
form and manner which is easily accessible to the public. 
(4) All materials shall be disseminated taking into consideration the cost effectiveness, local language 
and the most effective method of communication in that local area and the information should be easily 
accessible, to the extent possible in electronic fomrnt with the Central Public Information Officer or State 
Public Information Officer, as the case may be, available free or at such cost of the medium or the print 
cost price as may be prescribed. 
Explanation.—For the purposes of sub-sections (3) and (4), "disseminated" means making known or 
communicated the information to the public through notice boards, newspapers, public announcements, 
media broadcasts, the internet or any other means, including inspection of offices of any public authority.

5. Designation of Public Information Officers.—(1) Every public authority shall, within one 
hundred days of the enactment of this Act, designate as many officers as the Central Public Information 
Officers or State Public Information Officers, as the case may be, in all administrative units or offices 
under it as may be necessary to provide information to persons requesting for the information under this 
Act. 
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), every public authority shall designate an 
officer, within one hundred days of the enactment of this Act, at each sub-divisional level or other subdistrict level as a Central Assistant Public Information Officer or a State Assistant Public Information 
Officer, as the case may be, to receive the applications for information or appeals under this Act for 
forwarding the same forthwith to the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information 
Officer or senior officer specified under sub-section (1) of section 19 or the Central Information 
Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case may be: 
Provided that where an application for information or appeal is given to a Central Assistant Public 
Information Officer or a State Assistant Public Information Officer, as the case may be, a period of five 
days shall be added in computing the period for response specified under sub-section (1) of section 7. 
(3) Every Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, 
shall deal with requests from persons seeking information and render reasonable assistance to the persons 
seeking such information. 
(4) The Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, 
may seek the assistance of any other officer as he or she considers it necessary for the proper discharge of 
his or her duties. 
(5) Any officer, whose assistance has been sought under sub-section (4), shall render all assistance to 
the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, seeking 
his or her assistance and for the purposes of any contravention of the provisions of this Act, such other 
officer shall be treated as a Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the 
case may be. 

6. Request for obtaining information.—(1) A person, who desires to obtain any information under 
this Act, shall make a request in writing or through electronic means in English or Hindi or in the official 
language of the area in which the application is being made, accompanying such fee as may be 
prescribed, to— 
(a) the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may 
be, of the concerned public authority; 
(b) the Central Assistant Public Information Officer or State Assistant Public Information Officer, 
as the case may be, 
specifying the particulars of the information sought by him or her: 
Provided that where such request cannot be made in writing, the Central Public Information Officer 
or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall render all reasonable assistance to the 
person making the request orally to reduce the same in writing. 
(2) An applicant making request for information shall not be required to give any reason for 
requesting the information or any other personal details except those that may be necessary for contacting 
him. 
(3) Where an application is made to a public authority requesting for an information,— 
(i) which is held by another public authority; or 
(ii) the subject matter of which is more closely connected with the functions of another public 
authority, 
the public authority, to which such application is made, shall transfer the application or such part of it as 
may be appropriate to that other public authority and inform the applicant immediately about such 
transfer: 
Provided that the transfer of an application pursuant to this sub-section shall be made as soon as 
practicable but in no case later than five days from the date of receipt of the application.

7. Disposal of request.—(1) Subject to the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 5 or the proviso to 
sub-section (3) of section 6, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as 
the case may be, on receipt of a request under section 6 shall, as expeditiously as possible, and in any case 
within thirty days of the receipt of the request, either provide the information on payment of such fee as 
may be prescribed or reject the request for any of the reasons specified in sections 8 and 9: 
Provided that where the information sought for concerns the life or liberty of a person, the same shall 
be provided within forty-eight hours of the receipt of the request. 
(2) If the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, 
fails to give decision on the request for information within the period specified under sub-section (1), the 
Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall be 
deemed to have refused the request. 
(3) Where a decision is taken to provide the information on payment of any further fee representing 
the cost of providing the information, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information 
Officer, as the case may be, shall send an intimation to the person making the request, giving— 
(a) the details of further fees representing the cost of providing the information as determined by 
him, together with the calculations made to arrive at the amount in accordance with fee prescribed 
under sub-section (1), requesting him to deposit that fees, and the period intervening between the 
despatch of the said intimation and payment of fees shall be excluded for the purpose of calculating 
the period of thirty days referred to in that sub-section; 
(b) information concerning his or her right with respect to review the decision as to the amount of 
fees charged or the form of access provided, including the particulars of the appellate authority, time 
limit, process and any other forms.
(4) Where access to the record or a part thereof is required to be provided under this Act and the 
person to whom access is to be provided is sensorily disabled, the Central Public Information Officer or 
State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall provide assistance to enable access to the 
information, including providing such assistance as may be appropriate for the inspection. 
(5) Where access to information is to be provided in the printed or in any electronic format, the 
applicant shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (6), pay such fee as may be prescribed: 
Provided that the fee prescribed under sub-section (1) of section 6 and sub-sections (1) and (5) of 
section 7 shall be reasonable and no such fee shall be charged from the persons who are of below poverty 
line as may be determined by the appropriate Government. 
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (5), the person making request for the 
information shall be provided the information free of charge where a public authority fails to comply with 
the time limits specified in sub-section (1). 
(7) Before taking any decision under sub-section (1), the Central Public Information Officer or State 
Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall take into consideration the representation made by a 
third party under section 11. 
(8) Where a request has been rejected under sub-section (1), the Central Public Information Officer or 
State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall communicate to the person making the 
request,— 
(i) the reasons for such rejection; 
(ii) the period within which an appeal against such rejection may be preferred; and 
(iii) the particulars of the appellate authority. 
(9)An information shall ordinarily be provided in the form in which it is sought unless it would 
disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority or would be detrimental to the safety or 
preservation of the record in question. 

8. Exemption from disclosure of information.—(]) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, 
there shall be no obligation to give any citizen,— 
(a) information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of 
India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, relation with foreign State or 
lead to incitement of an offence; 
(b) information which has been expressly forbidden to be published by any court of law or 
tribunal or the disclosure of which may constitute contempt of court; 
(c) information, the disclosure of which would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the 
State Legislature; 
(ci) information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the 
disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, unless the competent 
authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information; 
(e) information available to a person in his fiduciary relationship, unless the competent authority 
is satisfied that the larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information; 
U) information received in confidence from foreign Government; 
(g) information, the disclosure of which would endanger the life or physical safety of any person 
or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for law enforcement or security 
purposes; 
(h) information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution 
of offenders; 
(i) cabinet papers including records of deliberations of the Council of Ministers, Secretaries and 
other officers: 

Provided that the decisions of Council of Ministers, the reasons thereof, and the material on the 
basis of which the decisions were taken shall be made public after the decision has been taken, and 
the matter is complete, or over: 
Provided further that those matters which come under the exemptions specified in this section 
shall not be disclosed; 
(j) information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship 
to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the 
individual unless the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer or the 
appellate authority, as the case may be, is satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the 
disclosure of such information: 
Provided that the information which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature 
shall not be denied to any person. 
(2) Notwithstanding anything in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923) nor any of the 
exemptions permissible in accordance with sub-section (1), a public authority may allow access to 
information, if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests. 
(3) Subject to the provisions of clauses (a), (c) and (i) of sub-section (1), any information relating to 
any occurrence, event or matter which has taken place, occurred or happened twenty years before the date 
on which any request is made under section 6 shall be provided to any person making a request under that 
section: 
Provided that where any question arises as to the date from which the said period of twenty years has 
to be computed, the decision of the Central Government shall be final, subject to the usual appeals 
provided for in this Act. 

9. Grounds for rejection to access in certain cases.—Without prejudice to the provisions of section 
8, a Central Public Information Officer or a State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, may 
reject a request for information where such a request for providing access would involve an infringement 
of copyright subsisting in a person other than the State. 

10. Severability.—(/) Where a request for access to information is rejected on the ground that it is in 
relation to information which is exempt from disclosure, then, notwithstanding anything contained in this 
Act, access may be provided to that part of the record which does not contain any information which is 
exempt from disclosure under this Act and which can reasonably be severed from any part that contains 
exempt information. 
(2) Where access is granted to a part of the record under sub-section (1), the Central Public 
Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall give a notice to the 
applicant, informing— 
(a) that only part of the record requested, after severance of the record containing information 
which is exempt from disclosure, is being provided; 
(b) the reasons for the decision, including any findings on any material question of fact, referring 
to the material on which those findings were based; 
(c) the name and designation of the person giving the decision; 
(d) the details of the fees calculated by him or her and the amount of fee which the applicant is 
required to deposit; and 
(e) his or her rights with respect to review of the decision regarding non-disclosure of part of the 
information, the amount of fee charged or the form of access provided, including the particulars of the 
senior officer specified under sub-section (1) of section 19 or the Central Information Commission or 
the State Information Commission, as the case may be, time limit, process and any other form of 
access.

11. Third party information.—(1) Where a Central Public Information Officer or a State Public 
Information Officer, as the case may be, intends to disclose any information or record, or part thereof on a 
request made under this Act, which relates to or has been supplied by a third party and has been treated as 
confidential by that third party, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information 
Officer, as the case may be, shall, within five days from the receipt of the request, give a written notice to 
such third party of the request and of the fact that the Central Public Information Officer or State Public 
Information Officer, as the case may be, intends to disclose the information or record, or part thereof, and 
invite the third party to make a submission in writing or orally, regarding whether the information should 
be disclosed, and such submission of the third party shall be kept in view while taking a decision about 
disclosure of information: 
Provided that except in the case of trade or commercial secrets protected by law, disclosure may be 
allowed if the public interest in disclosure outweighs in importance any possible harm or injury to the 
interests of such third party. 
(2) Where a notice is served by the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information 
Officer, as the case may be, tinder sub-section (1) to a third party in respect of any information or record 
or part thereof, the third party shall, within ten days from the date of receipt of such notice, be given the 
opportunity to make representation against the proposed disclosure. 
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 7, the Central Public Information Officer or State 
Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall, within forty days after receipt of the request under 
section 6, if the third party has been given an opportunity to make representation under sub-section (2), 
make a decision as to whether or not to disclose the information or record or part thereof and give in 
writing the notice of his decision to the third party. 
(4) A notice given under sub-section (3) shall include a statement that the third party to whom the 
notice is given is entitled to prefer an appeal under section 19 against the decision. 

12. Constitution of Central Information Commission.—(I) The Central Government shall, by 
notification in the Official Gazette, constitute a body to be known as the Central Information Commission 
to exercise the powers conferred on, and to perform the functions assigned to, it under this Act. 
(2) The Central Information Commission shall consist of— 
(a) the Chief Information Commissioner; and 
(b) such number of Central Information Commissioners, not exceeding ten, as may be deemed 
necessary. 
(3) 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, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee; 
(ii) the Leader of Opposition in the LokSabha; and 
(iii) a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister. 
Explanation.—For the purposes of removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where the Leader of 
Opposition in the House of the People has not been recognised as such, the Leader of the single largest 
group in opposition of the Government in the House of the People shall be deemed to be the Leader of 
Opposition. 
(4) The general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the Central Information 
Commission shall vest in the Chief Information Commissioner who shall be assisted by the Information 
Commissioners and may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things which may be exercised 
or done by the Central Information Commission autonomously without being subjected to directions by 
any other authority under this Act.
(5) The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners shall be persons of 
eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social 
service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance. 
(6) The Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner shall not be a Member of 
Parliament or Member of the Legislature of any State or Union telTitory, as the case may be, or hold any 
other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any 
profession. 
(7) The headquarters of the Central Information Commission shall be at Delhi and the Central 
Information Commission may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, establish offices at 
other places in India. 

13. Term of office and conditions of service.—(1) The Chief Information Commissioner shall hold 
office '[for such term as may be prescribed by the Central Government] and shall not be eligible for 
reappointment: 
Provided that no Chief Information Commissioner shall hold office as such after he has attained the 
age of sixty-five years. 
(2) Every Information Commissioner shall hold office '[for such term as may be prescribed by the 
Central Government] or till he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier, and shall not be 
eligible for reappointment as such Information Commissioner: 
Provided that every Information Commissioner shall, on vacating his office under this sub-section be 
eligible for appointment as the Chief Information Commissioner in the manner specified in sub-section 
(3) of section 12: 
Provided further that where the Information Commissioner is appointed as the Chief Information 
Commissioner, his term of office shall not be more than five years in aggregate as the Information 
Commissioner and the Chief Information Commissioner. 
(3) The Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner shall before he enters 
upon his office make and subscribe before the President or some other person appointed by him in that 
behalf, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the First Schedule. 
(4) The Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner may, at any time, by 
writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign from his office: 
Provided that the Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner may be removed 
in the manner specified under section 14. 
2[(5) The salaries and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service of the Chief 
Information Commissioner and the Information Commissioners shall be such as may be prescribed by the 
Central Government: 
Provided that the salaries, allowances and other conditions of service of the Chief Information 
Commissioner or the Information Commissioners shall not be varied to their disadvantage after their 
appointment: 
Provided further that the Chief Information Commissioner and the Information Commissioners 
appointed before the commencement of the Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 shall continue 
to be governed by the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder as if the Right to Information 
(Amendment) Act, 2019 had not come into force.] 
(6) The Central Government shall provide the Chief Information Commissioner and the Information 
Commissioners with such officers and employees as may be necessary for the efficient performance of 
their functions under this Act, and the salaries and allowances payable to, and the terms and conditions of 
service of the officers and other employees appointed for the purpose of this Act shall be such as may be 
prescribed. 
Provided also that the salaries, allowances and other conditions of service of the Chief Information 
Commissioner and the Information Commissioners shall not be varied to their disadvantage after their 
appointment. 

14. Removal of Chief Information Commissioner or Information Commissioner.—(1) Subject to 
the provisions of sub-section (3), the Chief Information Commissioner or any Information Commissioner 
shall be removed from his office only by order of the President on the ground of proved misbehaviour or 
incapacity after the Supreme Court, on a reference made to it by the President, has, on inquiry, reported 
that the Chief Information Commissioner or any Information Commissioner, as the case may be, ought on 
such ground be removed. 
(2) The President may suspend from office, and if deem necessary prohibit also from attending the 
office during inquiry, the Chief Information Commissioner or Infonuation Commissioner in respect of 
whom a reference has been made to the Supreme Court under sub-section (1) until the President has 
passed orders on receipt of the report of the Supreme Court on such reference. 
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1). the President may by order remove from 
office the Chief Information Commissioner or any Information Commissioner if the Chief Information 
Commissioner or a Information Commissioner, as the case may be,— 
(a) is adjudged an insolvent; or 
(b) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the President, involves moral 
turpitude; or 
(c) engages during his term of office in any paid employment outside the duties of his office; or 
(ci) is, in the opinion of the President, unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or 
body; or 
(e) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as 
the Chief Information Commissioner or a Information Commissioner. 
(4) If the Chief Information Commissioner or a Information Commissioner in any way, concerned or 
interested in any contract or agreement made by or on behalf of the Government of India or participates in 
any way in the profit thereof or in any benefit or emolument arising therefrom otherwise than as a 
member and in common with the other members of an incorporated company, he shall, for the purposes 
of sub-section (1), be deemed to be guilty of misbehaviour. 

15. Constitution of State Information Commission.—(1) Every State Government shall, by 
notification in the Official Gazette, constitute a body to be known as the (name of the State) 
Information Commission to exercise the powers conferred on, and to perform the functions assigned to, it 
under this Act. 
(2) The State Information Commission shall consist of— 
(a) the State Chief Information Commissioner, and 
(h) such number of State Information Commissioners, not exceeding ten, as may be deemed 
necessary. 
(3) The State Chief Information Commissioner and the State Information Commissioners shall be 
appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of a committee consisting of— 
(i) the Chief Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee; 
(ii) the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly; and 
(iii) a Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Chief Minister. 
Explanation.—For the purposes of removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where the Leader of 
Opposition in the Legislative Assembly has not been recognised as such, the Leader of the single largest 
group in opposition of the Government in the Legislative Assembly shall be deemed to be the Leader of 
Opposition. 
(4) The general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the State Information 
Commission shall vest in the State Chief Information Commissioner who shall be assisted by the State 
Information Commissioners and may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things which may 
be exercised or done by the State Information Commission autonomously without being subjected to 
directions by any other authority under this Act. 
(5) The State Chief Information Commissioner and the State Information Commissioners shall be 
persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, 
social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance. 
(6) The State Chief Information Conimissioner or a State Information Commissioner shall not be a 
Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislature of any State or Union territory, as the case may be, 
or hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or 
pursuing any profession. 
(7) The headquarters of the State Information Commission shall be at such place in the State as the 
State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify and the State Information 
Commission may, with the previous approval of the State Government, establish offices at other places in 
the State.

16. Term of office and conditions of service.—(1) The State Chief Information Commissioner shall 
hold office '[for such term as may be prescribed by the Central Government] and shall not be eligible for 
reappointment: 
Provided that no State Chief Information Commissioner shall hold office as such after he has attained 
the age of sixty-five years. 
(2) Every State Information Commissioner shall hold office [for such term as may be prescribed by 
the Central Government] or till he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier, and shall not be 
eligible for reappointment as such State Information Commissioner: 
Provided that every State Information Commissioner shall, on vacating his office under this subsection, be eligible for appointment as the State Chief Information Commissioner in the manner specified 
in sub-section (3) of section 15: 
Provided further that where the State Information Commissioner is appointed as the State Chief 
Information Commissioner, his term of office shall not be more than five years in aggregate as the State 
Information Commissioner and the State Chief Information Commissioner. 
(3) The State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner, shall before he 
enters upon his office make and subscribe before the Governor or some other person appointed by him in 
that behalf, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the First Schedule. 
(4) The State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner may, at any 
time, by writing under his hand addressed to the Governor, resign from his office: 
Provided that the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner may 
be removed in the manner specified under section 17. 
[(5) The salaries and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service of the State 
Chief Information Commissioner and the State Information Commissioners shall be such as may be 
prescribed by the Central Government: 
Provided that the salaries, allowances and other conditions of service of the State Chief Information 
Commissioner and the State Information Commissioners shall not be varied to their disadvantage after 
their appointment: 
Provided further that the State Chief Information Commissioner and the State Information 
Commissioners appointed before the commencement of the Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 
shall continue to be governed by the provisions of this Act and the rules made there under as if the Right 
to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019 had not come into force.] 
(6) The State Government shall provide the State Chief Information Commissioner and the State 
Information Commissioners with such officers and employees as may be necessary for the efficient 
performance of their functions under this Act, and the salaries and allowances payable to and the terms 
and conditions of service of the officers and other employees appointed for the purpose of this Act shall 
be such as may be prescribed.

17. Removal of State Chief Information Commissioner or State Information Commissioner.—
(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State 
Information Commissioner shall be removed from his office only by order of the Governor on the ground 
of proved misbehaviour or incapacity after the Supreme Court, on a reference made to it by the Governor, 
has on inquiry, reported that the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information 
Commissioner, as the case may be, ought on such ground be removed. 
(2) The Governor may suspend from office, and if deem necessary prohibit also from attending the 
office during inquiry, the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner in 
respect of whom a reference has been made to the Supreme Court under sub-section (1) until the 
Governor has passed orders on receipt of the report of the Supreme Court on such reference. 
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Governor may by order remove from 
office the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner if a State Chief 
Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner, as the case may be,— 
(a) is adjudged an insolvent; or 
(b) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Governor, involves moral 
turpitude; or 
(c) engages during his term of office in any paid employment outside the duties of his office; or 
(ci) is, in the opinion of the Governor, unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or 
body; or 
(e) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as 
the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner. 
(4) If the State Chief Information Commissioner or a State Information Commissioner in any way, 
concerned or interested in any contract or agreement made by or on behalf of the Government of the State 
or participates in any way in the profit thereof or in any benefit or emoluments arising therefrom 
otherwise than as a member and in common with the other members of an incorporated company, he 
shall, for the purposes of sub-section (1), be deemed to be guilty of misbehaviour. 

18. Powers and functions of Information Commissions.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, 
it shall be the duty of the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case 
may be, to receive and inquire into a complaint from any person,
(ci) who has been unable to submit a request to a Central Public Information Officer or State 
Public Information Officer, as the case may be, either by reason that no such officer has been 
appointed under this Act, or because the Central Assistant Public Information Officer or State 
Assistant Public Information Officer, as the case may be, has refused to accept his or her application 
for information or appeal under this Act for forwarding the same to the Central Public Information 
Officer or State Public Information Officer or senior officer specified in sub-section (1) of section 19 
or the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case may be; 
(b) who has been refused access to any information requested under this Act; 
(c) who has not been given a response to a request for information or access to information within 
the time limit specified under this Act; 
(d) who has been required to pay an amount of fee which he or she considers unreasonable; 
(e) who believes that he or she has been given incomplete, misleading or false information under 
this Act; and 
(1) in respect of any other matter relating to requesting or obtaining access to records under this 
Act. 
(2) Where the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may 
be, is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to inquire into the matter, it may initiate an inquiry in 
respect thereof. 
(3) The Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, shall, 
while inquiring into any matter under this section, have the same powers as are vested in a civil court 
while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), in respect of the following 
matters, namely:— 
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of persons and compel them to give oral or written 
evidence on oath and to produce the documents or things; 
(b) requiring the discovery and inspection of documents; 
(c) receiving evidence on affidavit; 
(ci) requisitioning any public record or copies thereof from any court or office; 
(e) issuing summons for examination of witnesses or documents; and 
(j) any other matter which may be prescribed. 
(4) Notwithstanding anything inconsistent contained in any other Act of Parliament or State 
Legislature, as the case may be, the Central Information Commission or the State Information 
Commission, as the case may be, may, during the inquiry of any complaint under this Act, examine any 
record to which this Act applies which is under the control of the public authority, and no such record 
may be withheld from it on any grounds.

19. Appeal.—(1) Any person who, does not receive a decision within the time specified in 
sub-section (1) or clause (a) of sub-section (3) of section 7, or is aggrieved by a decision of the Central 
Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, may within thirty days 
from the expiry of such period or from the receipt of such a decision prefer an appeal to such officer who 
is senior in rank to the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer as the case 
may be, in each public authority: 
Provided that such officer may admit the appeal after the expiry of the period of thirty days if he or 
she is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time. 
(2) Where an appeal is preferred against an order made by a Central Public Information Officer or a 
State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, under section 11 to disclose third party information, 
the appeal by the concerned third party shall be made within thirty days from the date of the order.
(3) A second appeal against the decision under sub-section (1) shall lie within ninety days from the 
date on which the decision should have been made or was actually received, with the Central Information 
Commission or the State Information Commission: 
Provided that the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case 
may be, may admit the appeal after the expiry of the period of ninety days if it is satisfied that the 
appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time. 
(4) If the decision of the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as 
the case may be, against which an appeal is preferred relates to information of a third party, the Central 
Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, shall give a reasonable 
opportunity of being heard to that third party. 
(5) In any appeal proceedings, the onus to prove that a denial of a request was justified shall be on the 
Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, who denied 
the request. 
(6) An appeal under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be disposed of within thirty days of the 
receipt of the appeal or within such extended period not exceeding a total of forty-five days from the date 
of filing thereof as the case may be, for reasons to be recorded in writing. 
(7) The decision of the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the 
case may be, shall be binding. 
(8) In its decision, the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case 
may be, has the power to— 
(a) require the public authority to take any such steps as may be necessary to secure compliance 
with the provisions of this Act, including— 
(i) by providing access to information, if so requested, in a particular form; 
(ii) by appointing a Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as 
the case may be; 
(iii) by publishing certain information or categories of information; 
(iv) by making necessary changes to its practices in relation to the maintenance, management 
and destruction of records; 
(v) by enhancing the provision of training on the right to information for its officials; 
(vi) by providing it with an annual report in compliance with clause (b) of sub-section (1) of 
section 4; 
(b) require the public authority to compensate the complainant for any loss or other detriment 
suffered; 
(c) impose any of the penalties provided under this Act; 
(d) reject the application. 
(9) The Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, shall 
give notice of its decision, including any right of appeal, to the complainant and the public authority. 
(10) The Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, 
shall decide the appeal in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed.

20. Penalties.—(1) Where the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, 
as the case may be, at the time of deciding any complaint or appeal is of the opinion that the Central 
Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, has, without any 
reasonable cause, refused to receive an application for information or has not furnished information 
within the time specified under sub-section (1) of section 7 or malafidely denied the request for 
information or knowingly given incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroyed information 
which was the subject of the request or obstructed in any manner in fumishing the information, it shall
impose a penalty of two hundred and fifty rupees each day till application is received or information is 
furnished, so however, the total amount of such penalty shall not exceed twenty-five thousand rupees: 
Provided that the Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer, as the 
case may be, shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard before any penalty is imposed on 
him: 
Provided further that the burden of proving that he acted reasonably and diligently shall be on the 
Central Public Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer, as the case may be. 
(2) Where the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case 
may be, at the time of deciding any complaint or appeal is of the opinion that the Central Public 
Information Officer or the State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, has, without any 
reasonable cause and persistently, failed to receive an application for information or has not furnished 
information within the time specified under sub-section (1) of section 7 or malafidely denied the request 
for information or knowingly given incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroyed 
information which was the subject of the request or obstructed in any manner in furnishing the 
information, it shall recommend for disciplinary action against the Central Public Information Officer or 
the State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, under the service rules applicable to him. 

21. Protection of action taken in good faith.—No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall 
lie against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act or 
any rule made thereunder. 

22. Act to have overriding effect.—The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding 
anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of 1923), and any other 
law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. 

23. Bar of jurisdiction of courts.—No court shall entertain any suit, application or other proceeding 
in respect of any order made under this Act and no such order shall be called in question otherwise than 
by way of an appeal under this Act. 

24. Act not to apply in certain organisations.—(1) Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the 
intelligence and security organisations specified in the Second Schedule, being organisations established 
by the Central Government or any information furnished by such organisations to that Government: 
Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations 
shall not be excluded under this sub-section: 
Provided further that in the case of information sought for is in respect of allegations of violation of 
human rights, the information shall only be provided after the approval of the Central Information 
Commission, and notwithstanding anything contained in section 7, such information shall be provided 
within forty-five days from the date of the receipt of request. 
(2) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, amend the Schedule by 
including therein any other intelligence or security organisation established by that Government or 
omitting therefrom any organisation already specified therein and on the publication of such notification, 
such organisation shall be deemed to be included in or, as the case may be, omitted from the Schedule. 
(3) Every notification issued under sub-section (2) shall be laid before each House of Parliament. 
(4) Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to such intelligence and security organisation being 
organisations established by the State Government, as that Government may, from time to time, by 
notification in the Official Gazette, specify: 
Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations 
shall not be excluded under this sub-section:
Provided further that in the case of information sought for is in respect of allegations of violation of 
human rights, the information shall only be provided after the approval of the State Information 
Commission and, notwithstanding anything contained in section 7, such information shall be provided 
within forty-five days from the date of the receipt of request. 
(5) Every notification issued under sub-section (4) shall be laid before the State Legislature. 

25. Monitoring and reporting.—(1) The Central Information Commission or State Information 
Commission, as the case may be, shall, as soon as practicable after the end of each year, prepare a report 
on the implementation of the provisions of this Act during that year and forward a copy thereof to the 
appropriate Government. 
(2) Each Ministry or Department shall, in relation to the public authorities within their jurisdiction, 
collect and provide such information to the Central Information Commission or State Information 
Commission, as the case may be. as is required to prepare the report under this section and comply with 
the requirements concerning the furnishing of that information and keeping of records for the purposes of 
this section. 
(3) Each report shall state in respect of the year to which the report relates,— 
(a) the number of requests made to each public authority; 
(b) the number of decisions where applicants were not entitled to access to the documents 
pursuant to the requests, the provisions of this Act under which these decisions were made and the 
number of times such provisions were invoked; 
(c) the number of appeals referred to the Central Information Commission or State Information 
Commission, as the case may be, for review, the nature of the appeals and the outcome of the appeals; 
(d) particulars of any disciplinary action taken against any officer in respect of the administration 
of this Act; 
(e) the amount of charges collected by each public authority under this Act; 
(J) any facts which indicate an effort by the public authorities to administer and implement the 
spirit and intention of this Act; 
(g) recommendations for reform, including recommendations in respect of the particular public 
authorities, for the development, improvement, modernisation, reform or amendment to this Act or 
other legislation or common law or any other matter relevant for operationalising the right to access 
information. 
(4) The Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, may, as soon as practicable 
after the end of each year, cause a copy of the report of the Central Information Commission or the State 
Information Commission, as the case may be, referred to in sub-section (1) to be laid before each House 
of Parliament or, as the case may be, before each House of the State Legislature, where there are two 
Houses, and where there is one House of the State Legislature before that House. 
(5) If it appears to the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case 
may be, that the practice of a public authority in relation to the exercise of its functions under this Act 
does not conform with the provisions or spirit of this Act, it may give to the authority a recommendation 
specifying the steps which ought in its opinion to be taken for promoting such conformity. 

26. Appropriate Government to prepare programmes.—(1) The appropriate Government may, to 
the extent of availability of financial and other resources,— 
(a) develop and organise educational programmes to advance the understanding of the public, in 
particular of disadvantaged communities as to how to exercise the rights contemplated under this Act; 
(b) encourage public authorities to participate in the development and organisation of 
programmes referred to in clause (a) and to undertake such programmes themselves; 
(c) promote timely and effective dissemination of accurate information by public authorities 
about their activities; and (d) train Central Public Information Officers or State Public Infomrntion Officers, as the case may 
be, of public authorities and produce relevant training materials for use by the public authorities 
themselves. 
(2) The appropriate Government shall, within eighteen months from the commencement of this Act, 
compile in its official language a guide containing such information, in an easily comprehensible form 
and manner, as may reasonably be required by a person who wishes to exercise any right specified in this 
Act. 
(3) The appropriate Government shall, if necessary, update and publish the guidelines referred to in 
sub-section (2) at regular intervals which shall, in particular and without prejudice to the generality of 
sub-section (2), include— 
(a) the objects of this Act; 
(b) the postal and street address, the phone and fax number and, if available, electronic mail 
address of the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may 
be, of every public authority appointed under sub-section (1) of section 5; 
(c) the manner and the form in which request for access to an information shall be made to a 
Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be; 
(ci) the assistance available from and the duties of the Central Public Information Officer or State 
Public Information Officer, as the case may be, of a public authority under this Act; 
(e) the assistance available from the Central Information Commission or State Information 
Commission, as the case may be; 
(j) all remedies in law available regarding an act or failure to act in respect of a right or duty 
conferred or imposed by this Act including the manner of filing an appeal to the Commission; 
(g) the provisions providing for the voluntary disclosure of categories of records in accordance 
with section 4; 
(Ii) the notices regarding fees to be paid in relation to requests for access to an information; and 
(i) any additional regulations or circulars made or issued in relation to obtaining access to an 
information in accordance with this Act. 
(4) The appropriate Government must, if necessary, update and publish the guidelines at regular 
intervals.

27. Power to make rules by appropriate Government.—(1) The appropriate Government may, by 
notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
(2) Tn particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may 
provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:— 
(a) the cost of the medium or print cost price of the materials to be disseminated under subsection (4) of section 4; 
(b) the fee payable under sub-section (1) of section 6; 
(c) the fee payable under sub-sections (1) and (5) of section 7; 
'[(Ca) the term of office of the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners 
under sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 13 and the State Chief Information Commissioner and State 
Information Commissioners under sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 16; 
(cb) the salaries, allowances and other terms and conditions of service of the Chief Information 
Commissioner and the Information Commissioners under sub-section (5) of section 13 and the State 
Chief Information Commissioner and the State Information Commissioners under sub-section (5) of 
section 16;]
(ci) the salaries and allowances payable to and the terms and conditions of service of the officers 
and other employees under sub-section (6) of section 13 and sub-section (6) of section 16; 
(e) the procedure to be adopted by the Central Information Commission or State Information 
Commission, as the case may be, in deciding the appeals under sub-section (10) of section 19; and 
(I) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed. 

1. Ins, by Act 24 of 2019, s. 4, (w.e.f 24-10-20 19).

28. Power to make rules by competent authority.—(1) The competent authority may, by 
notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to cany out the provisions of this Act. 
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may 
provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:— 
(i) the cost of the medium or print cost price of the materials to be disseminated under sub-section 
(4) of section 4; 
(ii) the fee payable under sub-section (1) of section 6; 
(iii) the fee payable under sub-section (1) of section 7; and 
(iv) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed. 

29. Laying of rules.—(/) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as 
soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period 
of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, 
before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, 
both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be 
made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may 
be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of 
anything previously done under that rule. 
(2) Every rule made under this Act by a State Government shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is 
notified, before the State Legislature. 

30. Power to remove difficulties.—(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of 
this Act, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions 
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as appear to it to be necessaiy or expedient for removal of 
the difficulty: 
Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry of a period of two years from the date of 
the commencement of this Act. 
(2) Every order made under this section shall, as soon as may be after it is made, be laid before each 
House of Parliament. 

31. Repeal.—The Freedom of Information Act, 2002(5 of 2003) is hereby repealed.

THE FIRST SCHEDULE 
[See sections 13 (3) and 16(3)] 
FORM OF OATH OR AFFIRMATION TO BE MADE BY THE CHIEF INFORMATION COMMISSIONER. THE 
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER/THE STATE CHIEF INFORMATION COMMISSIONER/THE STATE 
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER 
I. having been appointed Chief Information Comrnissioner'Information 
Commissioner/State Chief Information Commissioner State Information Commissioner 
swear in the name of God that I will bear tnae faith and allegiance to the 
solemnly affirm 
Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, that I 
will duly and faithfully and to the best of my ability, knowledge and judgment perform the duties of my 
office without fear or favour, affection or ill-will and that I will uphold the Constitution and the laws.". 

1. Intelligence Bureau. 
s[2. Research and Analysis Wing including its technical wing namely, the Aviation Research Centre of the 
Cabinet Secretariat.] 
3. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. 
4. Central Economic Intelligence Bureau. 
5. Directorate of Enforcement. 
6. Narcotics Control Bureau. 
9[7.* * * * *1 
s[8. Special Frontier Force.] 
9. Border Security Force. 
10. Central Reserve Police Force. 
11. Indo-Tibetan Border Police. 
12. Central Industrial Security Force. 
13. National Security Guards. 
14. Assam Rifles. 
i[15.Sashtra Seema Bal.] 
2[16. Directorate General of Income-tax (Investigation).] 
2[17. National Technical Research Organisation.] 
2[18. Financial Intelligence Unit, India.] 
3[19. Special Protection Group. 
20. Defence Research and Development Organisation. 
21. Border Road Development Board. 
4* * * * *] 
5[22. National Security Council Secretariat.] 
c423. Central Bureau of Investigation.] 
o[24. National investigation Agency.] 
o{25. National Intelligence Grid.] 
7[26. Strategic Forces Command.] 

1. Subs. by notification No. G.S.R. 347, dated 28-9-2005 
2. Subs. by notification No. G.S.R. 235(E) dated 27-3-2008 
3. Ins, by notification No. G.S.R. 347, dated 28-9-2005 
4. Omitted by G.S.R. 235(E) dated 27-3-2008 
5. Added by notification No.G.S.R. 726(E), dated 8-10-2008 
6. Added by notification No. G.S.R. 442(E), dated 9-6-201 1 
7. Added by notification No. G.S.R. 673(E), dated 8-7-20 16 
8. Subs. by notification No. G.S.R. 253, dated 4-5-2021 
9. Omitted by notification No. G.S.R. 253, dated 4-5-2021