15 marks
250 words
Discuss
The Right to Information Act has strengthened participatory democracy but faces implementation challenges. Discuss.
Decoding the directive: “Discuss”
A balanced “Discuss” — establish RTI’s democratic gains, then the implementation gaps, ending with a way forward.
What UPSC is really asking
Explain how RTI empowers citizens and improves accountability, then examine problems — vacancies in Information Commissions, delays, misuse, threats to activists, and the 2019 amendment’s effect on independence.
Dimensions the examiner expects
Cover these dimensions
- Rationale — transparency as a check on corruption; Article 19(1)(a) link
- Achievements — citizen empowerment, exposing scams, accountability
- Challenges — pendency, vacancies, weak record-keeping, activist safety
- 2019 amendment — impact on Commission autonomy
- Way forward — proactive disclosure, digitisation, protection
Concepts & keywords to name
Use the right vocabulary
- RTI Act 2005 — statutory right flowing from Article 19(1)(a)
- Central & State Information Commissions — appellate machinery
- Section 4 — suo motu / proactive disclosure
- RTI (Amendment) Act 2019 — tenure and salary changes
Common mistakes to avoid
Don’t do this
- Only praising RTI with no challenges
- Forgetting the Article 19(1)(a) constitutional root
- No mention of the 2019 amendment debate
Quick hints before you write
Structuring tips
- Link RTI to a fundamental right in the intro.
- Keep achievements and challenges roughly balanced.
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