**Summary of Parliament Question: Evaluating Effectiveness of RTI Act**
**Overview**
On March 23, 2026, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions addressed a parliamentary inquiry regarding the effectiveness and operational framework of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The information was provided by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space.
**Appellate and Complaint Mechanism**
The policy text outlines the legal recourse available to applicants under the RTI Act:
* **Appeals:** If an applicant does not receive a response within the prescribed time limit or is aggrieved by the decision of a Public Information Officer (PIO), they may file an appeal with the First Appellate Authority. A Second Appeal can be subsequently filed with the Central Information Commission (CIC).
* **Complaints:** In instances where provided information is believed to be incomplete, false, or misleading, applicants can file a complaint directly with the CIC or the State Information Commission (SIC).
**Performance Metrics and Data Accessibility**
The government reported a significant improvement in the acceptance rate of RTI applications. The rejection rate for applications has decreased from 7.21% in the 2013-14 period to 3.26% in the 2024-25 period. Detailed data regarding applications received, replies sent, and reasons for rejection are published in the CIC’s Annual Reports, which are accessible at: [https://cic.gov.in/circular-reports-conventions](https://cic.gov.in/circular-reports-conventions).
**Framework Evaluation and Transparency Audits**
Assessment of the RTI Act is an ongoing process focused on enhancing transparency. Key initiatives include:
* **Third-Party Audits:** The government has issued guidelines for conducting third-party transparency audits of proactive (suo-moto) disclosures made by Public Authorities.
* **Monitoring:** The CIC is responsible for monitoring the progress of these transparency audits and encouraging all Public Authorities to undergo the evaluation process.
Key Entities Referenced
RTI Act: The legislative framework governing citizens' right to information, currently undergoing periodic evaluation and review for effectiveness.
Central Information Commission (CIC): The statutory body that acts as the second appellate authority, monitors RTI data, and oversees transparency audits of public authorities.
Third-party transparency audit: A government initiative to evaluate proactive and suo-moto disclosures undertaken by public authorities to ensure compliance with transparency norms.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions: The nodal ministry responsible for the administration and reporting of the RTI Act framework in Parliament.
State Information Commission (SIC): The designated authority for receiving direct complaints regarding incomplete or misleading information furnished by Public Information Officers at the state level.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: EVALUATING
EFFECTIVENESS OF RTI ACT
Posted On: 23 MAR 2026 3:14PM by PIB Delhi
If an applicant does not receive the reply in response to the RTI application within the prescribed
time-limit or is aggrieved by a decision of the Public Information Officer (PIO), the applicant may
prefer an appeal before the First Appellate Authority and a Second Appeal lies before the Central
Information Commission (CIC). Further, in case, where an applicant, who believes that an
incomplete, misleading or false information has been furnished by the PIO, can raise a complaint
directly with the Central Information Commission (CIC)/State Information Commission (SIC), as the
case may be.
The data on RTI applications received, replied and rejected along with the reasons of rejection, in
respect of Public Authorities in Central Government, are available in the Annual Report of the CIC,
for the respective years, which can be accessed at https://cic.gov.in/circular-reports-conventions. The
rejection rate of RTI applications, in percentage, has come down to 3.26% in the year 2024-25 from
7.21% in the year 2013-14.
Assessment and review to evaluate the effectiveness of RTI Act framework is an ongoing process.
Guidelines have been issued by the Government on conducting third-party transparency audit of
proactive/suo-moto disclosures undertaken by the concerned Public Authorities. The CIC monitors
the progress of transparency audit and pursues with all the Public Authorities to undertake the Audit.
This information was given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science &
Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel,
Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in
the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
*****
NKR/AV
(Release ID: 2243888) Visitor Counter : 191
Read this release in: ही , Urdu , Gujarati , Telugu