RTI Act, 2005: objectives and provisions - Question Bank

1. What is the primary objective of the RTI Act, 2005 from a citizen's perspective?
A) To gain access to personal information of others
B) To hold public authorities accountable and ensure transparency
C) To challenge government policies without reason
D) To obtain government jobs
2. The RTI Act, 2005 promotes good governance by:
A) Enhancing transparency and accountability
B) Reducing public participation
C) Increasing bureaucratic hurdles
D) Protecting vested interests
3. Which of the following is a key provision of the RTI Act, 2005 related to the duties of public authorities?
A) To make information accessible to the public
B) To restrict access to information
C) To charge exorbitant fees
D) To maintain secrecy of operations
4. Under the RTI Act, what constitutes 'appropriate Government'?
A) Only the Central Government
B) Only the State Government
C) Both Central and State Governments
D) The Supreme Court of India
5. What is the status of the Central Information Commission and State Information Commissions?
A) Subordinate offices of the government
B) Independent statutory bodies
C) Advisory bodies only
D) Part of the judiciary
6. Who chairs the meetings of the Central Information Commission?
A) The Prime Minister
B) The President
C) The Chief Information Commissioner
D) The Cabinet Secretary
7. The RTI Act aims to create an informed citizenry and enhance governmental accountability. This is achieved through:
A) Restricting information flow
B) Mandatory disclosure of specific information
C) Limiting citizen participation
D) Increasing official secrecy
8. What is the primary function of the 'Public Information Officer' (PIO)?
A) To appeal against decisions
B) To receive and process requests for information
C) To conduct investigations
D) To frame policies
9. The RTI Act, 2005 was enacted to give effect to the fundamental right guaranteed under which article of the Constitution?
A) Article 14
B) Article 19(1)(a)
C) Article 21
D) Article 32
10. Which of the following is a ground for rejection of a request for information under Section 9 of the RTI Act?
A) The information is made available to the public in any other manner
B) The disclosure of information would violate an order of a court or tribunal
C) The information pertains to the defence of India
D) The information is personal to the applicant
11. What is the 'deemed refusal' under the RTI Act?
A) When the PIO explicitly denies the request
B) When the PIO fails to provide a response within the stipulated time limit
C) When the requested information is classified
D) When the applicant does not pay the fee
12. The RTI Act, 2005 seeks to curb corruption by:
A) Increasing transparency in government operations
B) Making officials more accountable
C) Allowing citizens to scrutinize public spending
D) All of the above
13. Who is responsible for maintaining all records duly catalogued and indexed in a manner and form that facilitates the right to information?
A) The Central Information Commission
B) The applicant
C) Every Public Authority
D) The appellate authority
14. What is the minimum number of days' notice required before the Information Commission can decide to disallow disclosure of information based on public interest?
A) 10 days
B) 15 days
C) 20 days
D) No notice period is specified
15. Which of the following is NOT considered a 'Public Authority' under the RTI Act, 2005?
A) Any body owned, controlled or substantially financed directly or indirectly by the Government
B) Non-Governmental Organisation substantially financed directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government
C) A private company registered under the Companies Act, 2013, unless substantially financed by the Government
D) Any institution established by notification issued by the appropriate Government
16. What is the purpose of the 'Public Interest Test' in relation to Section 8(2) of the RTI Act?
A) To determine if information should be disclosed even if exempted
B) To assess the financial impact of disclosure
C) To evaluate the national security risk
D) To decide the fee for information
17. The RTI Act mandates that information should be provided in the language of the applicant if possible. What is the language of the Act itself?
A) Only English
B) Only Hindi
C) Hindi and English
D) Hindi, English, and regional languages
18. Who can override the exemptions provided under Section 8 of the RTI Act, 2005 if it is deemed necessary in the larger public interest?
A) The Prime Minister
B) The President
C) The Information Commission
D) The concerned Minister
19. What is the term of office for the State Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioners?
A) 3 years
B) 5 years
C) 6 years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier
D) 5 years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier
20. The RTI Act, 2005 aims to empower the citizens by:
A) Providing access to information held by public authorities
B) Allowing citizens to question government decisions
C) Enabling citizens to participate in policy making
D) All of the above
21. If a request involves the interests of a third party, the PIO must notify the third party and provide them an opportunity to make representation. Within how many days must this be done?
A) 10 days
B) 15 days
C) 20 days
D) 30 days
22. What is the role of the PIO's subordinate in assisting the PIO?
A) To collect and compile the information requested by the applicant
B) To deny the request
C) To forward the request to a higher authority
D) To charge an additional fee
23. Which article of the Constitution of India is considered the 'parent article' for the Right to Information?
A) Article 14
B) Article 19(1)(a)
C) Article 21
D) Article 32
24. Can information pertaining to the personal privacy of an individual be disclosed under the RTI Act?
A) Yes, always
B) No, never
C) Yes, if it is in the larger public interest and does not contain information shared in confidence by the central government with a foreign government
D) Only if the individual gives consent
25. Under the RTI Act, information means any material in any form, including:
A) Records, documents, memos, emails, opinions, advices
B) Circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports
C) Samples, models, data material held in any electronic form
D) All of the above
26. What is the primary purpose of Section 19 of the RTI Act, 2005?
A) To define 'Public Authority'
B) To outline the procedure for appeals
C) To specify penalties
D) To mandate proactive disclosure
27. The RTI Act, 2005 replaced which previous law?
A) The Official Secrets Act, 1923
B) The Freedom of Information Act, 2002
C) The Indian Evidence Act, 1872
D) The Public Records Act, 1993
28. Who is responsible for designating Public Information Officers (PIOs) within each public authority?
A) The Central Information Commission
B) The Supreme Court of India
C) The respective Public Authority
D) The Prime Minister's Office
29. What is the penalty for a PIO who refuses to receive an application, does not furnish information within the specified time, or maliciously denies information?
A) A warning
B) Imprisonment up to 6 months
C) A fine up to Rs. 25,000
D) Dismissal from service
30. The RTI Act, 2005 applies to:
A) Central Government only
B) State Governments only
C) All Public Authorities in India
D) Only elected officials
31. What is the role of the Central Information Commission (CIC) and State Information Commissions (SICs)?
A) To frame new laws related to information
B) To decide on appeals and complaints related to requests for information
C) To manage the finances of public authorities
D) To conduct audits of government departments
32. In which circumstances can the PIO refuse to provide information?
A) If the information is personal and not related to public activity
B) If the information is exempted under Section 8 or 9
C) If the applicant has not paid the prescribed fee
D) All of the above
33. What is the fee prescribed for requesting information under the RTI Act, 2005?
A) Rs. 5 per page
B) Rs. 10 per page or for each inspection of a record
C) Rs. 20 per page
D) No fee is charged for the first request
34. Can a citizen of India request information from a public authority located outside India, if that authority is established by the Government of India?
A) No, only within India
B) Yes, if established by the Government of India
C) Only if the information pertains to foreign policy
D) Only if the request is in English
35. What kind of information is NOT required to be disclosed proactively under Section 4 of the RTI Act?
A) Particulars of its organisation, functions and duties
B) The powers and duties of its officers and employees
C) The budget allocated to each department
D) Information that is explicitly exempted under Section 8(1)
36. The RTI Act mandates proactive disclosure of certain information by Public Authorities. Which section deals with this?
A) Section 4
B) Section 5
C) Section 6
D) Section 7
37. Information exempt from disclosure under Section 8 of the RTI Act, 2005 generally pertains to:
A) Personal details of citizens
B) Information that would compromise national security, international relations, or contain personal information
C) Details of government expenditure
D) Minutes of public meetings
38. Which section of the RTI Act, 2005 deals with the exemption from disclosure of information?
A) Section 4
B) Section 8
C) Section 12
D) Section 19
39. What is the tenure of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioners (ICs) at the central level?
A) 3 years
B) 5 years
C) 65 years of age, whichever is earlier
D) 5 years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier
40. The selection committee for the CIC and ICs at the central level includes:
A) Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM
B) President, Prime Minister, and Chief Justice of India
C) Lok Sabha Speaker, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, and Attorney General
D) Union Home Minister, Cabinet Secretary, and Director of IB
41. Who appoints the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Information Commissioners (ICs) at the Central level?
A) The President of India on the recommendation of the Prime Minister
B) The Prime Minister on the recommendation of a committee
C) The Chief Justice of India
D) The Lok Sabha Speaker
42. If the first appeal is rejected or the applicant is not satisfied, they can file a second appeal to:
A) The Supreme Court of India
B) The High Court of the respective state
C) The Central or State Information Commission
D) The Ministry of Home Affairs
43. What is the time limit for filing a first appeal under the RTI Act, after the decision of the PIO?
A) 15 days
B) 30 days
C) 45 days
D) 60 days
44. Who is designated as the first appellate authority under the RTI Act within the public authority?
A) The Chief Information Commissioner
B) An officer senior in rank to the PIO
C) The Prime Minister
D) The President of India
45. If the requested information concerns the life or liberty of a person, what is the reduced time limit for the PIO to provide the information?
A) 12 hours
B) 24 hours
C) 48 hours
D) 72 hours
46. What is the maximum time limit for a Public Information Officer (PIO) to provide information requested under the RTI Act, under normal circumstances?
A) 15 days
B) 30 days
C) 45 days
D) 60 days
47. Under the RTI Act, 'Public Authority' includes any authority established or constituted by:
A) The Constitution or by any law made by Parliament
B) Any State Legislature or by notification issued by the State Government
C) Both A and B
D) Only by private organizations
48. Which of the following is a primary objective of the RTI Act, 2005?
A) To restrict the flow of information
B) To promote transparency and accountability in government functioning
C) To increase bureaucratic discretion
D) To protect official secrets at all costs
49. The RTI Act was enacted in which year?
A) 2001
B) 2005
C) 2010
D) 1999
50. What is the full form of RTI?
A) Right to Information
B) Responsibility to Inform
C) Regulation of Information
D) Relevance of Information
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