Right to Information Practice Questions
20 free Right to Information practice questions for the Indian Polity. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
Which of the following bodies is NOT considered a 'Public Authority' under the Right to Information Act, 2005?
- A A body owned or controlled by the Government
- B A Non-Governmental Organization substantially financed by the Government
- C A private company with no government funding or control
- D A body established by a law made by the State Legislature
Correct answer: A private company with no government funding or control
Section 2(h) defines public authority to include bodies established by the Constitution, laws of Parliament/State Legislatures, or notification by the Government. Private companies without government financing or control do not fall under this ambit unless they perform a public duty regulated by the state.
The RTI Act, 2005 replaced which of the following earlier legislations in India?
- A The Freedom of Information Act, 2002
- B The Official Secrets Act, 1923
- C The Public Records Act of India, 1993
- D The Right to Know Act of India, 1998
Correct answer: The Freedom of Information Act, 2002
The Freedom of Information Act, 2002 was enacted but never effectively implemented. The RTI Act, 2005 was passed to provide a more robust and practical regime for citizens to access information.
What is the fee for filing an RTI application for a person who falls 'Below Poverty Line' (BPL)?
- A Rs. 10
- B Rs. 50
- C Rs. 100
- D No fee
Correct answer: No fee
According to Section 7(5) of the RTI Act, no fee shall be charged from persons who are below the poverty line as may be determined by the appropriate Government. They must, however, provide proof of their BPL status.
Under the RTI Act, 'Information' can be sought in which of the following forms?
- A Records, documents, memos, and official notings
- B Opinions, advice, press releases, and reports
- C Data material held only in electronic form
- D Records, opinions, advice, and electronic data
Correct answer: Records, opinions, advice, and electronic data
Section 2(f) provides a broad definition of 'information,' including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, and data held in electronic form.
Who is responsible for receiving the applications for information and forwarding them to the relevant Public Information Officer?
- A Assistant Public Information Officer
- B The Chief Information Commissioner
- C The Head of the Department concerned
- D The District Collector or Magistrate
Correct answer: Assistant Public Information Officer
Assistant Public Information Officers (APIOs) are designated at sub-divisional levels to receive RTI applications or appeals and forward them immediately to the Central or State Public Information Officer.
Which section of the RTI Act, 2005 mandates the 'suo motu' disclosure of information by public authorities?
- A Section 4
- B Section 6
- C Section 8
- D Section 11
Correct answer: Section 4
Section 4(1)(b) requires every public authority to publish 17 categories of information voluntarily. This is intended to reduce the need for citizens to formally request information that should be in the public domain.
An applicant who is aggrieved by a decision of the Public Information Officer can file a 'First Appeal' within how many days?
- A 30 days
- B 15 days
- C 45 days
- D 60 days
Correct answer: 30 days
Section 19(1) allows an applicant to file a first appeal within 30 days from the expiry of the time limit or from the receipt of the decision. The appeal is filed to an officer senior in rank to the PIO within the same public authority.
A 'Second Appeal' against the decision of the First Appellate Authority must be filed with the Information Commission within:
- A 30 days
- B 60 days
- C 90 days
- D 120 days
Correct answer: 90 days
The second appeal under Section 19(3) lies with the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission. It must be filed within 90 days from the date on which the decision should have been made or was actually received.
Which of the following is an exempt category of information under Section 8 of the RTI Act?
- A Information prejudicially affecting the sovereignty of India
- B Information regarding the deployment of police during a riot
- C Budgetary allocations for a public welfare scheme
- D Names of all beneficiaries of a government pension
Correct answer: Information prejudicially affecting the sovereignty of India
Information that affects the sovereignty, integrity, security, strategic, scientific, or economic interests of the State is strictly exempt. Most other administrative and financial information is generally disclosable.
If the information sought involves a 'Third Party,' the PIO must give a written notice to that party within how many days of receiving the request?
- A 5 days of receipt
- B 10 days
- C within 15 days
- D not more than 30 days
Correct answer: 5 days of receipt
Under Section 11, if the PIO intends to disclose information provided by or relating to a third party, they must give notice to said party within 5 days. This allows the third party to make a representation against disclosure.
What is the maximum penalty that can be imposed on a PIO for unreasonable delay in providing information?
- A Rs. 5,000
- B Rs. 10,000
- C Rs. 25,000
- D Rs. 50,000
Correct answer: Rs. 25,000
The Information Commission can impose a penalty of Rs. 250 per day of delay, subject to a maximum of Rs. 25,000. This is levied under Section 20 of the Act if the delay is without reasonable cause.
Which organization is exempted from the RTI Act under the Second Schedule, provided the information does not pertain to allegations of corruption or human rights violations?
- A Reserve Bank of India
- B Intelligence Bureau (IB)
- C University Grants Commission
- D Election Commission of India
Correct answer: Intelligence Bureau (IB)
Intelligence and security organizations specified in the Second Schedule, like IB and RAW, are exempt under Section 24. However, they must still provide information if the request relates to corruption or human rights violations.
As per the RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019, who determines the tenure and salaries of the Information Commissioners?
- A The President of India
- B The Chief Justice of India
- C The Central Government
- D The Parliament of India
Correct answer: The Central Government
The 2019 amendment gave the Central Government the power to prescribe the term of office, salaries, allowances, and other conditions of service for both Central and State Information Commissioners. Previously, these were fixed by the original 2005 Act.
Information which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature:
- A Can still be denied to a citizen under RTI
- B Cannot be denied to any person under RTI
- C Is always classified as Top Secret
- D Can only be shared with the Prime Minister
Correct answer: Cannot be denied to any person under RTI
Proviso to Section 8(1) states that information which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature shall not be denied to any person. This serves as a vital benchmark for transparency.
The 'Severability' clause in the RTI Act allows for:
- A The rejection of the entire RTI application
- B Disclosing only the non-exempt portion of a record
- C Transferring the application to another department
- D Dismissing the PIO from service
Correct answer: Disclosing only the non-exempt portion of a record
Section 10 (Severability) allows a PIO to provide access to that part of the record which does not contain any exempt information, while masking or severing the parts that are protected under Section 8.
Which section deals with the transfer of an RTI application to another public authority if the subject matter is closely connected with their functions?
- A Section 5(4)
- B Section 6(3)
- C Section 7(1)
- D Section 11(2)
Correct answer: Section 6(3)
Section 6(3) mandates that if an application is made to a public authority for information held by another authority, the PIO must transfer the application within 5 days and inform the applicant.
Who was the first Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of India?
- A Wajahat Habibullah
- B A.N. Tiwari
- C Satyananda Mishra
- D Deepak Sandhu
Correct answer: Wajahat Habibullah
Wajahat Habibullah served as India's first Chief Information Commissioner from 2005 to 2010. He played a key role in the early implementation and interpretation of the RTI Act.
In the context of RTI, the term 'Deemed PIO' refers to:
- A A retired PIO called back for special duty
- B An officer assisting the PIO with duties
- C The head of the public authority
- D The State Information Commissioner
Correct answer: An officer assisting the PIO with duties
Under Section 5(4) and 5(5), a PIO can seek the assistance of any other officer. That officer is then treated as a 'deemed PIO' and can be held liable for penalties if they fail to provide the required assistance.
The Supreme Court of India came under the ambit of the RTI Act following which landmark judgment?
- A CPIO vs. Subhash Chandra Agarwal
- B People’s Union for Civil Liberties vs. Union of India
- C Lily Thomas vs. Union of India
- D Shreya Singhal vs. Union of India
Correct answer: CPIO vs. Subhash Chandra Agarwal
In 2019, a five-judge Constitution Bench ruled in the CPIO, Supreme Court vs. Subhash Chandra Agarwal case that the office of the Chief Justice of India is a 'public authority' and falls under the RTI Act.
What is the time limit for a PIO to provide information if the application is transferred from another public authority?
- A 30 days from the date of initial application
- B 30 days from receipt by the second authority
- C 45 days from the date of initial application
- D 15 days from the date of transfer
Correct answer: 30 days from receipt by the second authority
When an application is transferred under Section 6(3), the 30-day time limit for the receiving PIO begins from the date the application is received by their specific public authority.