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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
(DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1555
(ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026)
REJECTION RATE OF RTI APPLICATIONS
1555. SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE:
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:
(a) the number of RTI applications received by each Ministry/Department of Government during
the last five years;
(b) the number and percentage of RTI applications rejected by each Ministry/Department during
this period;
(c) the reasons most frequently cited for such rejections, Ministry/Department-wise; and
(d) the steps being taken by Government to reduce the rejection rate of RTI applications and
ensure greater transparency in administration?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES
AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) to (c): The data on RTI applications received, rejected (Section-wise) and percentage of
such rejections in respect of each Ministry/Department of Government of India are available
in Annexure-1 of the Annual Report of the Central Information Commission(CIC), for the
respective years, which can be accessed at https://cic.gov.in/circular-reports-
conventions. Applications for information may be rejected on the grounds laid down in
various Sections of the RTI Act, 2005. 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.
(d) The Central Information Commission organizes Annual Conventions for promoting
awareness about the RTI Act, 2005 and its provisions. Besides, Department of Personnel and
Training (DOPT) also administers an Annual Programme on RTI, namely, "Propagation of
Right to Information Act" (Improving Transparency and Accountability in government
through effective implementation of RTI Act)under which financial assistance is provided to
the State Information Commissions (SICs) for celebration of RTI Week and to
Administrative Training Institutes (ATIs) for Organization of Workshops on RTI Act,
Publication of Guidebooks & Training Material, Creating Awareness, Training of Public
Information Officers(PIOs) and Appellate Authorities, Setting up of RTI Helpline, Scientific
Record Management and promotion of Suo Moto Disclosure etc.A sum of Rs.20.23 crore has
been released to SICs and State ATIs during the last 7 years from 2018-19 to 2024-25 for this
purpose.
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