Right to Information(RTI) Act MCQs with answers - Study materials for Postal Exams

RTI Act 2005 MCQs : Time Lines for RTI(useful for IPO Exam) will prepare you thoroughly for the IPO Exam or any other competitive exam that involves the subject of the RTI Act 2005.

#1. What is RTI Act fullform?

RTI Act full form is the Right to Information(RTI) Act that was enacted on 12-10-2005.

#2. What is RTI Act 2005?

Right to Information (RTI) 2005 is an act of the Parliament of India that sets out the rules and procedures regarding citizens’ right to information (to secure access to information) under the control of public authorities, in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority, the constitution of a Central Information Commission and State Information Commissions and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Right to Information Act MCQ with answers

Let`s check out the MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) on RTI Act 2005 with Quiz right now online. Even it helps for the preparation of RTI UPSC MCQs.

Created on March 05, 2021

Right to Information Act MCQs

#4. When did the RTI Act come into force?

RTI Act replaced the former Freedom of Information Act, 2002. The RTI Bill (Central Act) was passed by the Indian Parliament on 12 May 2005 and received Presidential assent on 15 June 2005 and came into force on 12 October 2005.

#5. What is the objective of the RTI Act?

The basic object of the Right to Information Act is to empower the citizens, promote transparency and accountability in the working of the Government, contain corruption, and make our democracy work for the people in the real sense.

It goes without saying that an informed citizen is better equipped to keep necessary vigil on the instruments of governance and make the government more accountable to the governed.

#6. Summary of Timelines under RTI Act 2005 (Memory Bits)

To make things easy to remember, I have given the summary of timelines under the RTI Act 2005.

The timeline for all aspects under RTI Act is 30 days accept:

(i) Transfer of RTI application- 5 days extra.

(ii) 3^rd party to make representation-10 days.

(iii) PIO to reply if 3^rd party is involved- 40 days.

(iv) Violation of human rights from excluded organizations-45 days

(v) Applicant to make 2^nd appeal-90 days from 1^st appeals order

(vi) Time Limit for CIC/SIC to decide on 2^nd appeals, complaints, life liberty cases, 3^rd party appeals-No specified time limit.

#7. Objective Questions on RTI Act 2005 with Timelines

However, details are furnished for your information:

SLNO	Situation	Time Limit for disposing of the application
1.	Supply of information in normal course (For PIO to reply to application)	30 days
2.	Supply of information if it concerns the life or liberty of a person	48 hours
3.	(i) Transfer of application to other public authority under section 6(3) of the Act. (ii) Time Limit for APIO to forward an RTI application/appeal to the Public Information Officer/First Appellate Authority”. (iii) Supply of information if the application is received through APIO.	5 days from the date of receipt of application. (iii) 5 days shall be added to the time period of 30 days
4.	Supply of information if application/request is received after transfer from another public authority: (a) In the normal course (b) In case the information concerns the life or liberty of a person.	(a) Within 30 days of the receipt of the application by the concerned public authority. (b) Within 48 hours of receipt of the application by the concerned public authority
5.	Supply of information where the applicant is asked to pay an additional fee.	The period intervening between informing the applicant about the additional fee and the receipt of such fee by the public authority shall be excluded for calculating the period of reply.
6.	Supply of information by excluded organizations specified in the Second Schedule: (a) If information relates to allegations of violation of human rights (after approval of the Central Information Commission) Or Maximum time limit for disclosure of information by excluded organizations. (b) In case of information relates to allegations of corruption.	(a) 45 days from the receipt of the application. (b) Within 30 days of the receipt of application.
7.	(i) For 3rd Party to make a representation to PIO (If the information sought has been supplied by a third party or is treated as confidential by that third party, the time limit for the third party to give a representation before the PIO in reply to the notice issued to)	10 days from receipt of notice from PIO.
8.	For PIO to reply to the application if 3^rd Party involved	40 days from date of receipt of application
9.	(i) For an applicant to make the First Appeal (ii) Time limit for filing first appeals by the third party under Section 19(2):	(i) 30 days from the date of receipt of PIO’s reply or from the date when the reply was to be received. (ii) Within 30 days from the date of the PIOs order
10.	For First Appellate Authority to pass an order	30 days from receipt of First Appeal OR Maximum of 45 days if reasons for the delay are given in writing.
11.	For an applicant to make the Second Appeal before CIC/SIC	90 days from receipt of First Appeal orders or from the date when orders were to be received.
12.	For CIC/SIC to decide on (i)Second Appeals or (ii) Complaints (iii)Second Appeals on information pertaining to a person`s life and liberty. (iv) Appeals of a Third Party	No time limit specified.

#8. Situations for filing First Appeals and prescribed Time Limits.

SL NO	Situations for filing First Appeal	The time limit for filing the First Appeal
1.	PIO did not respond within 30 days from receipt of the RTI Application in his office.	After 30 (+7 days for postal transit time) but within 60 days from the date of receipt of RTI Application at PIO’s Office.
2.	RTI Application submitted through APIO but PIO did not respond within 30 days from receipt of RTI Application in PIO’s office.	After 35 (+7 days for postal transit time) but within 60 days from the date of receipt of RTI Application at PIO’s Office.
3.	RTI Application transferred by the original public authority to another public authority (PIO) but transferee PIO did not respond within 30 days from receipt of Application.	After 30 (+7 days for postal transit time) but within 60 days from the date of receipt of RTI Application at transferee PIO’s Office.
4.	PIO issued notice to a third party under section-11(1), but not decided the application within 40 days from receipt of application at his office.	After 40 (+7 days for postal transit time) but within 70 days from the date of receipt of RTI Application at PIO’s Office.
5.	PIO’s decision under Section-11(3)	Within 30 days from the date of receipt of PIO’s decision.
6.	PIO responded but Applicant is not satisfied with the decision of PIO or fee demanded is exorbitant or incorrect, incomplete information is supplied, etc.	Within 30 days from the date of receipt of the decision of PIO by Applicant.

#10. Can CIC impose a penalty on the CPIO under RTI Act?

The Central Information Commission (CIC) may impose a penalty on the CPIO of Rs. 250 each day till the application is received or information is furnished, so, however, the total amount of such penalty shall not exceed Rs, 25,000.

#11. Fee for Seeking Information under RTI Act 2005

1. A citizen who desires to seek some information from a public authority is required to send, along with the application, a demand draft or a bankers cheque, or an Indian Postal Order of Rs.10/– (Rupees ten), payable to the Accounts Officer of the public authority as fee prescribed for seeking information.

2. The payment of the fee can also be made by way of cash to the public authority or to the Assistant Public Information Officer, against a proper receipt. The payment of a fee to the Central Ministries/departments can also be made online through internet banking of State Bank of India or through Master/Visa Debit/credit cards.

3. The applicant may also be required to pay further fee towards the cost of providing the information, details of which shall be intimated to the applicant by the PIO as prescribed by the Right to Information Rules, 2012.

#12. What are the rates of fees prescribed under the RTI Act 2005?

1. Rates of fee as prescribed in the Rules are given below:
(a) Rs. 2 for each page ( in A-3 or smaller size paper) ;
(b) actual cost or price of a photocopy in larger size paper;
(c) actual cost or price for samples or models;
(d) Rs.50 per diskette or floppy; and
(e) price fixed for a publication or rupees two per page of photocopy for extracts from the publication.
(f) so much of postal charges involved in the supply of information that exceeds Rs 50.

2. A citizen has a right to inspect the records of a public authority. For inspection of records, the public authority shall charge no fee for the first hour. But a fee of Rs.5/- for each subsequent hour (or fraction thereof) shall be charged.

3 . If the applicant belongs to the below poverty line (BPL) category, he is not required to pay any fee. However, he should submit the proof in support of his claim as belonging to the below poverty line category.

4. The application not accompanied by the prescribed fee of Rs.10/- or proof of the applicant’s belonging to the below poverty line category, as the case may be, shall not be a valid application under the Act.

It may be pointed out that there is no bar on the public authority to supply information in response to such applications. However, provisions of the Act would not apply to such cases.