An RTI application seeks information already held or controlled by a public authority; it does not normally compel creation of an explanation. Lokpal and Lokayukta examine covered corruption allegations. Social audit enables community verification of records and work. A Citizen's Charter publishes service standards but ordinarily needs legal backing to become an enforceable guarantee. Bihar's Right to Public Services law concerns notified services, while Bihar's grievance law provides a hearing and reasoned redress route.
For every mechanism ask: source, user, remedy, time limit, authority and legal effect. BPSC can convert a familiar institution into a trap by changing just one of these.
2. Governance concepts
Concept
Meaning
Instrument
Transparency
Decisions, records, standards and expenditure are open to examination.
Proactive disclosure, RTI, open data
Accountability
An authority must explain conduct and may face correction, appeal, penalty or scrutiny.
Legislature, audit, courts, commissions, Lokpal
Participation
People influence or monitor public decisions instead of remaining passive recipients.
Gram Sabha, consultation, social audit
Responsiveness
Administration answers needs and grievances within a reasonable or prescribed time.
Charter, grievance system, service-guarantee law
Rule of law
Public power operates under known law, equality and review.
Reasoned orders, appeal, judicial review
3. High-yield timeline
Date
Development
1975
State of Uttar Pradesh v. Raj Narain connected open government with the people's right to know.
1997
DARPG coordinated the Citizen's Charter initiative in Union administration.
12 October 2005
Most operative provisions of the RTI Act came into force.
15 August 2011
Bihar Right to Public Services Act came into force.
16 January 2014
Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 came into force.
5 June 2016
Bihar's public-grievance-redress framework was implemented.
24 October 2019
RTI Amendment Act, 2019 commenced; the 2019 Rules prescribe a three-year term for Information Commissioners.
13 November 2025
DPDP Act section 44(3) commenced and substituted RTI section 8(1)(j).
1 July 2026
VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 commenced nationwide and repealed MGNREGA.
4. Right to know and RTI foundations
Provision
Exam-ready meaning
Article 19(1)(a)
The Supreme Court treats the right to information/right to know as part of freedom of speech and expression. The right is not absolute.
RTI section 3
All citizens have the statutory right, subject to the Act.
Section 2(f): information
Material in any form, including records, documents, emails, opinions, advices, orders, contracts, reports, samples, models and electronic data; also private-body information accessible to a public authority under law.
Section 2(h): public authority
Constitutional, statutory or notified authorities; also government-owned, controlled or substantially financed bodies and substantially financed NGOs.
Section 2(j): right to information
Inspection of work/documents/records, certified copies or extracts, certified samples and electronic information.
5. Section 4: transparency before an application
Duty
Content
Record management
Catalogue and index records; computerise and network appropriate records subject to resources.
Section 4(1)(b)
Publish seventeen categories: organisation/functions, powers/duties, decision procedure, norms, rules/manuals, document classes, consultation, boards, directory, remuneration, budget, subsidies, concessions, electronic information, PIO details and related particulars.
Updating
The prescribed institutional disclosures are updated every year.
Section 4(2)
Disclose routinely through different means so citizens need minimum resort to individual applications.
Reasons
Affected persons should receive reasons for administrative or quasi-judicial decisions.
7. Exemptions, public interest and severability
Provision
High-yield rule
Section 8(1)
Protects specified interests such as sovereignty/security, court-forbidden material, privilege, commercial confidence, fiduciary material, confidential foreign-government information, safety/source protection, investigation, Cabinet papers and personal information.
Section 8(2)
Despite the Official Secrets Act and section 8 exemptions, access may be allowed if public interest in disclosure outweighs harm to protected interests.
Section 10
If exempt material can reasonably be separated, the non-exempt portion must be supplied with a severance notice.
Section 24
Listed intelligence/security organisations are generally excluded, but corruption and human-rights allegations are exceptions. Human-rights information requires Commission approval and is supplied within 45 days.
9. Complaint, appeal and penalty
Route
Rule
Section 18 complaint
CIC/SIC can receive complaints about absence of a PIO, refusal to accept an application, denial, no response, unreasonable fee, incomplete/misleading information or another access obstacle.
First appeal
Normally within 30 days to an officer senior to the PIO; disposed in 30 days, extendable to 45 with written reasons.
Second appeal
Normally within 90 days to CIC or SIC; sufficient delay may be condoned.
Burden
In appeal, the PIO bears the burden of proving that denial was justified.
Section 20
₹250 per day until receipt/furnishing, maximum ₹25,000, after a reasonable opportunity of hearing; persistent failure can lead to recommendation of disciplinary action.
10. Central and State Information Commissions
Feature
CIC
SIC
Composition
Chief + up to 10 Information Commissioners
State Chief + up to 10 State Information Commissioners
Appointment
President
Governor
Committee
PM (chair), Lok Sabha LoP, Union Cabinet Minister nominated by PM
CM (chair), Assembly LoP, State Cabinet Minister nominated by CM
Eligibility
Eminence and wide knowledge/experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media, administration or governance
Restrictions
Cannot be MP/legislator, hold office of profit, connect with a political party, carry on business or pursue a profession
Term
Three years under 2019 Rules; statutory age ceiling of 65 remains
11. Lokpal: composition, appointment and term
Feature
Rule under the 2013 Act
Nature
Statutory Union anti-corruption institution, not a constitutional body.
Composition
Chairperson and not more than eight members.
Representation
50% of members judicial; at least 50% of members from among SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities and women.
Appointment
President, on recommendation of the Selection Committee.
Selection Committee
PM (chair), Lok Sabha Speaker, Lok Sabha LoP, CJI or CJI-nominated Supreme Court Judge, and an eminent jurist nominated through the statutory process.
Term
Five years from entering office or age 70, whichever is earlier.
Machinery
Inquiry Wing and Prosecution Wing; expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.
12. Lokpal jurisdiction and safeguards
Area
Rule
Coverage
Subject to the Act: PM, Union Ministers, MPs, Groups A–D Union public servants and specified persons/entities receiving public or foreign funds.
PM exclusions
No inquiry into allegations relating to international relations, external/internal security, public order, atomic energy or space.
PM procedure
Other inquiry requires full-bench consideration and at least two-thirds approval; it is in camera, and dismissed-complaint records are not published.
MP protection
No Lokpal inquiry into anything said or a vote given in Parliament, protected by Article 105(2).
Limitation
No inquiry where complaint is made more than seven years after the alleged offence.
Report
Annual report to President, laid before Parliament; reasons where advice is not accepted.
13. Lokpal, State Lokayukta and Information Commission
Point
Lokpal
Lokayukta
CIC/SIC
Concern
Covered Union corruption
State-law-defined corruption/maladministration
Information access
Source
2013 Act
Relevant State law
RTI Act, 2005
Nature
Statutory
Statutory
Statutory
Uniformity
Central design
Design differs by State
Central/State structures in RTI Act
15. Social audit versus financial audit
Social audit
Financial/compliance audit
Community and beneficiaries compare official records with delivery and ground reality.
Professional/statutory auditors examine accounts, regularity, compliance and performance.
Uses muster rolls, bills, vouchers, measurement books, site verification and public discussion.
Uses audit evidence and standards and culminates in an institutional report.
Emphasises participation and local answerability.
Emphasises independent technical examination.
Does not replace statutory audit, investigation or trial.
Does not replace community verification.
17. Citizen's Charter, Sevottam and CPGRAMS
Mechanism
Exam-ready rule
Citizen's Charter
Public commitment covering vision/mission, functions, users, services, standards/time limits, grievance route and expectations. It is not automatically an enforceable statutory right.
Sevottam
Three modules: Citizen's/Client's Charter, public-grievance redress, and service-delivery capability.
CPGRAMS
24×7 central online grievance platform with registration ID, tracking, feedback and appeal facility.
Advised timeline
DARPG's 2024 guidelines advise redress within 21 days; a longer case needs an interim reply with reason and expected time. Appeals are ordinarily dealt with within 30 days.
CPGRAMS exclusions
RTI matters, sub judice/court matters, religious matters and specified employee service matters.
19. Which door should a citizen use?
Need
Route
Certified copy of an existing sanction
RTI
Time-bound notified certificate in Bihar
Bihar RTPS
Hearing and reasoned redress of covered Bihar grievance