Steps to Strengthen CIC and RTI Act

During the period from 2014 to 2018, the vacancies of 5 Assistants, 20 UDCs & 7 Stenos have been filled up.  In addition, the appointment against 30 vacancies for different categories of posts is under process at present.

Government has been taking steps to improve implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005, inter-alia, as follows:-

1. RTI Online portal (https://rtionline.gov.in) has been launched in August, 2013 by Department of Personnel and Training.

2. Disposal of Online Request is 85% (i.e. CPIOs replying to RTI Request in online medium)

3. Disposal of Online Appeals is also at 72% (i.e. FAAs replying to RTI appeal in online medium)

4. Number of Public Authorities increased from 96 to approx. 2199 from 2013-14 to 2018-19 (till 15 December 2018) making it convenient for citizen to file RTI requests and first appeals online.

5. More than 12000 Officials, staffs and end users at various Central Government offices were trained in RTI Online Portal by conducting trainings sessions across the country.

DoPT provides funds to various State Governments for establishing helpline in order to facilitate obtaining of the information by RTI applicants.

Funds are provided each year to various state Administrative Training Institutes (ATIs) by the Government to help generate awareness about RTI among the citizens of the country through measures like Distance learning programs and Online certificate course in regional languages, publishing of handbooks on RTI and distribution of the same among the public.  State Information Commissions (SICs) are also provided funds for the celebration of RTI week.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.