Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act)
Updated section-wise guide to access to information, public-authority duties, exemptions, appeals, penalties and Information Commissions in India.
Current-law update: The Right to Information Act, 2005 now extends to the whole of India. The earlier exclusion relating to the State of Jammu and Kashmir was omitted with effect from 31 October 2019. In addition, section 8(1)(j) was substituted with effect from 13 November 2025 and now covers information relating to personal information.
The Right to Information Act, 2005 establishes a statutory framework through which citizens may seek information held by or under the control of public authorities. Its purpose is to promote transparency and accountability in public administration while recognising statutory exemptions and other protected interests.
Section 1 - Short title, extent and commencement: This Act may be called the Right to Information Act, 2005. It extends to the whole of India. Certain institutional and rule-making provisions came into force immediately, while the remaining provisions commenced on the one hundred and twentieth day from enactment.
Who may apply?Section 3 gives the right to information to citizens.
How to seek information?Sections 6 and 7 govern requests and their disposal.
Appeals and penaltiesSections 19 and 20 deal with appeals and penalties.
Chapter I - Preliminary
- Section 2 of Right to Information Act 2005 - Definitions
- Section 3 - Right to information: subject to the Act, all citizens have the right to information.
- Section 2 of Right to Information Act 2005 Definitions
Chapter II - Right to Information and Obligations of Public Authorities
- Section 4 of Right to Information Act 2005 Obligations of public authorities
- Section 5 of Right to Information Act 2005 Designation of Public Information Officers
- Section 6 of Right to Information Act 2005 Request for obtaining information
- Section 7 of Right to Information Act 2005 Disposal of request
- Section 8 of Right to Information Act 2005 Exemption from disclosure of information
- Section 9 and 10 of Right to Information Act 2005 Grounds for rejection to access in certain cases
- Section 11 of Right to Information Act 2005 Third party information
Chapter III - Central Information Commission
- Section 12 of Right to Information Act 2005 Constitution of Central Information Commission (CIC)
- Section 13 of Right to Information Act 2005 Term of office and conditions of service (CIC)
- Section 14 of Right to Information Act 2005 Removal of Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) or Information Commissioner (IC)
Chapter IV - State Information Commissions
- Section 15 of Right to Information Act 2005 Constitution of State Information Commission
- Section 16 of Right to Information Act 2005 Term of office and conditions of service of State Information Commission
- Section 17 of Right to Information Act 2005 Removal of State Chief Information Commissioner or State Information Commissioner
Chapter V - Powers and Functions, Appeal and Penalties
Chapter VI - Miscellaneous
- Section 21 Protection of action taken in good faith, 22 Act to have overriding effect and 23 Bar of jurisdiction of courts
- Section 24 of Right to Information Act 2005 RTI Act not to apply in certain organizations
- Section 25 of Right to Information Act 2005 Monitoring and reporting
- Section 26 of Right to Information Act 2005 Appropriate Government to prepare programmes
- Section 27 Power to make rules by appropriate Government, and 28 Power to make rules by competent authority
- Section 29 Laying of rules, Section 30 Power to remove difficulties Section 31 Repeal
Important Current Points
- Section 8: contains exemptions from disclosure. Clause 8(1)(j) concerning personal information was substituted with effect from 13 November 2025.
- Section 22: gives the RTI Act overriding effect over inconsistent provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and other laws, subject to the RTI Act itself.
- Section 24: exempts specified intelligence and security organisations, subject to the statutory exceptions concerning allegations of corruption and human-rights violations.
- 2019 amendment: changed the statutory framework governing the term of office, salaries, allowances and service conditions of the Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commissioners, State Chief Information Commissioners and State Information Commissioners, with applicable rules notified by the Central Government.