RTI Act - General Provisions
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Sample questions
From the departmental-exam question corpus. These have not been through RankRacer's answer-verification gate — check the rule itself before relying on one.
1.In the context of the Right to Information Act, 2005, which of the following statements regarding the Central Information Commission is/are correct?\n1. The Central Information Commission is constituted by the Central Government through a notification in the Official Gazette\n2. The Commission can have a maximum of ten Central Information Commissioners excluding the Chief Information Commissioner\n3. The headquarters of the Commission must be at Delhi and cannot be changed\n4. The Commission operates autonomously without being subjected to directions by any other authority
- A.1, 2, 3 and 4
- B.1, 2 and 4 only
- C.1 and 4 only
- D.2, 3 and 4 only
Explanation
Correct Answer: B) 1, 2 and 4 only 1. Constitution by Central Government - CORRECT ✓ Section 12(1): "The Central Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute a body to be known as the Central Information Commission to exercise the powers conferred on, and to perform the functions assigned to, it under this Act." 2. Maximum number of Commissioners - CORRECT ✓ Section 12(2)(b): "such number of Central Information Commissioners, not exceeding ten, as may be deemed necessary." This clearly states maximum 10 Information Commissioners, excluding the Chief Information Commissioner. 3. Headquarters cannot be changed - INCORRECT ✗ Section 12(7): "The headquarters of the Central Information Commission shall be at Delhi and the Central Information Commission may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, establish offices at other places in India." While headquarters is at Delhi, offices can be established at other places. 4. Autonomous operation - CORRECT ✓ Section 12(4): "The Chief Information Commissioner...may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things which may be exercised or done by the Central Information Commission autonomously without being subjected to directions by any other authority under this Act."
2.In the context of the Right to Information Act, 2005, the committee that recommends the appointment of the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners consists of:\n1. The Prime Minister as Chairperson\n2. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha\n3. The Chief Justice of India\n4. A Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister
- A.1, 2 and 3 only
- B.1, 2 and 4 only
- C.1, 3 and 4 only
- D.2, 3 and 4 only
Explanation
Correct Answer: B) 1, 2 and 4 only 1. Prime Minister as Chairperson - CORRECT ✓ Section 12(3)(i): "the Prime Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee" 2. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha - CORRECT ✓ Section 12(3)(ii): "the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha" Explanation under Section 12(3): "For the purposes of removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where the Leader of Opposition in the House of the People has not been recognised as such, the Leader of the single largest group in opposition of the Government in the House of the People shall be deemed to be the Leader of Opposition." 3. Chief Justice of India - INCORRECT ✗ The Chief Justice of India is NOT a member of this committee. This is a common misconception. 4. Union Cabinet Minister nominated by PM - CORRECT ✓ Section 12(3)(iii): "a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister."
3.In the context of the Right to Information Act, 2005, what is the maximum number of members (including the Chief Information Commissioner) that the Central Information Commission can have?
- A.10 members
- B.11 members
- C.12 members
- D.15 members
Explanation
Correct Answer: B) 11 members Section 12(2): "The Central Information Commission shall consist of—(a) the Chief Information Commissioner; and (b) such number of Central Information Commissioners, not exceeding ten, as may be deemed necessary." Breakdown: - 1 Chief Information Commissioner (mandatory) - Up to 10 Central Information Commissioners (maximum) - Total maximum: 11 members The wording "not exceeding ten" refers only to the Information Commissioners, not including the Chief Information Commissioner.
4.In the context of the Right to Information Act, 2005, which of the following qualifications/characteristics are required for a person to be appointed as Chief Information Commissioner or Information Commissioner?\n1. Must be a person of eminence in public life\n2. Must have wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance\n3. Must be at least 50 years of age\n4. Must have worked in government service for at least 10 years
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.1, 2 and 3 only
- C.2, 3 and 4 only
- D.1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation
Correct Answer: A) 1 and 2 only 1. Person of eminence in public life - CORRECT ✓ Section 12(5): "The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners shall be persons of eminence in public life" 2. Wide knowledge and experience - CORRECT ✓ Section 12(5): "with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance." 3. Age requirement - INCORRECT ✗ There is NO age requirement specified in Section 12 of the RTI Act, 2005. 4. Government service requirement - INCORRECT ✗ There is NO requirement of prior government service mentioned in Section 12. The Act only requires eminence and wide knowledge/experience in specified fields.
5.In the context of the Right to Information Act, 2005, which of the following disqualifications apply to the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners?\n1. Cannot be a Member of Parliament\n2. Cannot be a Member of the Legislature of any State or Union territory\n3. Cannot hold any other office of profit\n4. Cannot be connected with any political party
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.1, 2 and 3 only
- C.1, 2, 3 and 4
- D.2, 3 and 4 only
Explanation
Correct Answer: C) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Section 12(6): "The Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner shall not be a Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislature of any State or Union territory, as the case may be, or hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any profession." All four disqualifications are correct: 1. Member of Parliament - CORRECT ✓ Explicitly prohibited under Section 12(6). 2. Member of State/UT Legislature - CORRECT ✓ Explicitly prohibited under Section 12(6). 3. Office of profit - CORRECT ✓ Cannot "hold any other office of profit" as per Section 12(6). 4. Political party connection - CORRECT ✓ Cannot be "connected with any political party" as per Section 12(6). Additionally, they also cannot carry on any business or pursue any profession.
6.In the context of the Right to Information Act, 2005, who has the general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the Central Information Commission?
- A.The Central Government
- B.The Prime Minister
- C.The Chief Information Commissioner
- D.All Information Commissioners collectively
Explanation
Correct Answer: C) The Chief Information Commissioner Section 12(4): "The general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the Central Information Commission shall vest in the Chief Information Commissioner who shall be assisted by the Information Commissioners and may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things which may be exercised or done by the Central Information Commission autonomously without being subjected to directions by any other authority under this Act." Key points: - The Chief Information Commissioner has superintendence, direction and management - The CIC is assisted by Information Commissioners - The Commission functions autonomously - No other authority can give directions to the Commission
7.In the context of the Right to Information Act, 2005, what is required for the Central Information Commission to establish offices at places other than Delhi?
- A.Approval of the President
- B.Previous approval of the Central Government
- C.Approval of the Supreme Court
- D.No approval is required
Explanation
Correct Answer: B) Previous approval of the Central Government Section 12(7): "The headquarters of the Central Information Commission shall be at Delhi and the Central Information Commission may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, establish offices at other places in India." The term "previous approval" means that the Commission must seek and obtain approval from the Central Government before establishing any offices at places other than Delhi. This ensures coordination with the government while maintaining the Commission's operational autonomy.
8.In the context of the Right to Information Act, 2005, which of the following activities are explicitly prohibited for the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners?\n1. Pursuing any profession\n2. Carrying on any business\n3. Writing books or articles\n4. Holding any other office of profit
- A.1, 2 and 4 only
- B.1 and 2 only
- C.2 and 4 only
- D.1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation
Correct Answer: A) 1, 2 and 4 only Section 12(6): "The Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner shall not be a Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislature of any State or Union territory, as the case may be, or hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any profession." 1. Pursuing any profession - CORRECT ✓ Explicitly prohibited: "pursuing any profession" 2. Carrying on any business - CORRECT ✓ Explicitly prohibited: "carrying on any business" 3. Writing books or articles - INCORRECT ✗ NOT explicitly prohibited. Writing books or articles as an intellectual activity (not as a business or profession) is not barred. 4. Holding office of profit - CORRECT ✓ Explicitly prohibited: "hold any other office of profit"