The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, is one of India's most powerful tools for transparency and accountability in governance. It empowers citizens to seek information from public authorities, ensuring that the government remains answerable to the people. However, while the RTI Act has strengthened democracy, it also faces challenges such as misuse, bureaucratic resistance, and safety concerns for activists.

🔹 Applies to all government bodies (except certain intelligence and security agencies).

🔹 Citizens can request information from any public authority.

🔹 Public officials must respond within 30 days (48 hours in urgent matters like human rights violations).

🔹 Appeal mechanisms exist for cases of denied or unsatisfactory responses.

🔹 Penalties for non-compliance by officials.

✅ Transparency & Accountability – Exposes corruption, inefficiency, and misuse of public funds.

✅ Empowerment of Citizens – Gives people the right to question government policies and decisions.

✅ Improved Governance – Encourages responsible decision-making by officials.

✅ Exposed Scandals – RTI has helped uncover scams like the Adarsh Housing Scam, 2G Spectrum Scam, and Commonwealth Games Scam.

🚫 Threats to Whistleblowers

- RTI activists face harassment, threats, and even assassinations for exposing corruption.

- Example: Satish Shetty (Maharashtra) and Amit Jethwa (Gujarat) were killed for filing RTI requests.

🚫 Bureaucratic Evasion

- Officials delay or deny information under vague excuses like national security or privacy concerns.

- Many departments fail to digitize records, making it hard to access data.

🚫 Dilution of RTI

- Amendments in 2019 weakened the independence of the Central and State Information Commissions by allowing the government to decide their tenure and salary.

- This reduces the impartiality of RTI bodies.

🚫 Misuse of RTI

- Some individuals file excessive or irrelevant RTI applications for personal revenge or blackmail.

- Overburdening of authorities with frivolous RTI applications leads to delayed responses.

✔️ Stronger Whistleblower Protection Laws – To prevent attacks on RTI activists.

✔️ Digitalization of Government Records – Easy access to information without needing an RTI request.

✔️ Awareness Campaigns – Educating people about responsible use of RTI.

✔️ Strict Action Against Non-Compliance – Officials delaying or denying information should face tougher penalties.

The Right to Information Act is a cornerstone of Indian democracy, enabling citizens to demand transparency and accountability. However, challenges such as threats to activists, bureaucratic resistance, and dilution of the law need to be addressed. Strengthening the RTI framework can ensure that it continues to serve as a powerful tool for good governance and citizen empowerment.