What is the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005?

The Right to Information Act, 2005 is a landmark law in India that gives citizens the right to access information held by government bodies and public authorities. The Right to Information Act was passed in the year 2005.

Main Goal: To promote transparency and accountability in the workings of every public authority.
Simple Meaning: It empowers ordinary citizens to question the government and its various departments.

Key Aspects of the RTI Act

Who is covered under the Act?

The Act covers all “Public Authorities.” This includes:

All levels of government (Central, State, Local).
Any body owned, controlled, or substantially financed by the government.
Important for your exam: All Public Sector Banks (PSBs) are public authorities under the RTI Act. Private sector banks are not covered.

Who can ask for information?

Any citizen of India can request information under the RTI Act.

What information can you ask for?

You can ask for a wide range of information, including:

Copies of government documents, records, and reports.
Information about government decisions and policies.
Details about the expenditure of public funds.
Example for Banking: An applicant could ask an SBI branch how many new savings accounts were opened under a specific scheme in a particular month.

Information Exempt from Disclosure

The Act does not provide an absolute right to information. Section 8 of the RTI Act lists certain categories of information that are exempt from disclosure.

Exemption Category	Simple Explanation	Example
National Security	Information that could harm the sovereignty, integrity, and security of India.	Details of a secret military operation.
Personal Information	Information that is private to an individual and has no public interest.	A bank customer’s personal account details. (This is very important for bankers to know).
Commercial Confidence	Information, including trade secrets or intellectual property, that could harm the competitive position of a business.	A PSU’s confidential bidding information for a new contract.
Fiduciary Relationship	Information held in a relationship of trust.	A bank’s internal inspection report.

The Process of Getting Information

1. Filing the Application

A citizen files a written request with the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the concerned public authority.
A nominal application fee is required (usually ₹10).

2. Time Limits for Response

This is a very important part of the Act.

The PIO must provide the information within 30 days of receiving the request.
If the information concerns the life or liberty of a person, it must be provided within 48 hours.

3. The Appeal Process

If a citizen is not satisfied with the PIO’s response or does not receive a response, they can appeal.

First Appeal: The first appeal is to the First Appellate Authority within the same public authority. This must be filed within 30 days.
Second Appeal: If still not satisfied, the second and final appeal is to the Central Information Commission (CIC) or the State Information Commission (SIC). This must be filed within 90 days.

Summary

The RTI Act, 2005 is a powerful tool that empowers citizens to access information from public authorities, promoting transparency and accountability. For bankers in Public Sector Banks, it is crucial to understand their obligations as PIOs, the prescribed time limits for providing information, and, most importantly, the types of information (especially customer-related data) that are exempt from disclosure to protect privacy and confidentiality.

Quick Revision Points

Cost: A nominal fee of ₹10 is usually required.

Act Name: The Right to Information Act, 2005.

Main Goal: Transparency and Accountability.

Who is covered? Public Authorities, which includes Public Sector Banks. Private banks are not covered.

Who can apply? Any citizen of India.

Key Officer: Public Information Officer (PIO).

Time Limit for Information: 30 days (or 48 hours for life/liberty cases).

Exemptions: Section 8 of the Act lists what cannot be disclosed (e.g., national security, personal customer data).

Appeals: Two levels of appeal – First Appellate Authority, and then the Central/State Information Commission.

The right to information act 2005​