Questions & explanations
1. When an RTI request would expose corruption but also reveal innocent persons' private data, the best ethical approach for a PIO is to:
- (a) Reject the request entirely
- (b) Disclose everything without any redaction
- (c) Sever and disclose corruption-related records while redacting unnecessary personal details
- (d) Delay indefinitely
Answer: (c) Sever and disclose corruption-related records while redacting unnecessary personal details
The proportionate, ethical approach is severability: disclose the information that exposes corruption (serving a strong public interest) while redacting purely private details not necessary to reveal the wrongdoing, applying the public-interest override where personal data is essential. This balances transparency with privacy.
2. The main ethical tension within the RTI framework is between transparency and:
- (a) Privacy and national security
- (b) Tourism and trade
- (c) Education and health
- (d) Sports and culture
Answer: (a) Privacy and national security
The principal ethical tension in RTI is between the citizen's right to transparency and the competing interests of privacy and national security (along with commercial confidence). Section 8 exemptions and the public-interest override are designed to balance these.
3. RTI embodies the ethical principle of 'trusteeship', which means that:
- (a) Public servants own all government information
- (b) Public servants hold information and resources in trust for the people and must answer to them
- (c) Information belongs only to ministers
- (d) Citizens have no role in governance
Answer: (b) Public servants hold information and resources in trust for the people and must answer to them
The trusteeship principle holds that public servants do not own public information and resources but hold them in trust on behalf of the people, to whom they are accountable. RTI gives this principle concrete force by enabling citizens to demand information.
4. The 'public interest override' in the RTI Act means that:
- (a) All information is always secret
- (b) Exempted information may be disclosed if the public interest in disclosure outweighs the protected harm
- (c) No information can ever be disclosed
- (d) Only ministers can access information
Answer: (b) Exempted information may be disclosed if the public interest in disclosure outweighs the protected harm
The public-interest override under Section 8(2) allows even exempted information to be disclosed where the larger public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interest. It ensures that exemptions are not misused to shield wrongdoing.
5. Consider the following about RTI as a governance tool:
1. It supports social audit of welfare schemes.
2. It complements the role of the Lokpal and CAG in ensuring accountability.
Which is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct. RTI underpins social audits by enabling citizens to access scheme records, and it complements the Lokpal (anti-corruption ombudsman) and CAG (audit) by adding citizen-driven transparency to institutional accountability.
6. The Supreme Court has held that the Right to Information flows from which fundamental right?
- (a) Right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a)
- (b) Right to property under Article 300A
- (c) Right against exploitation under Article 23
- (d) Right to constitutional remedies under Article 32
Answer: (a) Right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a)
The Supreme Court has held that the Right to Information is implicit in the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a), since meaningful expression and participation in democracy require access to information.
7. Under the RTI Act, a Public Information Officer must ordinarily provide the requested information within:
- (a) 7 days
- (b) 15 days
- (c) 30 days
- (d) 90 days
Answer: (c) 30 days
Under the RTI Act, a Public Information Officer must ordinarily provide the requested information within 30 days of receiving the application. For matters concerning the life and liberty of a person, the limit is 48 hours.
8. Appeals and complaints under the RTI Act are finally decided by the:
- (a) Central/State Information Commissions
- (b) Reserve Bank of India
- (c) Election Commission
- (d) Finance Commission
Answer: (a) Central/State Information Commissions
The Central Information Commission and State Information Commissions are the apex appellate and complaint-deciding bodies under the RTI Act, with powers to direct disclosure and impose penalties on defaulting officers.
9. The Right to Information Act in India was enacted in which year?
- (a) 2002
- (b) 2005
- (c) 2009
- (d) 2013
Answer: (b) 2005
The Right to Information Act was enacted in 2005. It empowers citizens to seek information from public authorities, who must respond within 30 days, and establishes Information Commissions to enforce the right.
10. Which ethical value is MOST directly promoted by the Right to Information?
- (a) Secrecy
- (b) Transparency and accountability
- (c) Nepotism
- (d) Arbitrariness
Answer: (b) Transparency and accountability
RTI most directly promotes transparency and accountability by opening the functioning of government to public scrutiny and making officials answerable for their decisions and use of public funds.