Right to Information (RTI)

Right to Information (RTI) : Recently, civil society groups and media organizations have raised serious concerns over the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, claiming that it undermines India’s Right to Information (RTI) framework.

• About RTI: A key legislation that promotes transparency and accountability in government functioning. It allows Indian citizens to seek information from public authorities, reinforcing the democratic right to know.

o Introduced through the RTI Act, 2005, it ensures transparent and responsible governance.

• About DPDP Act, 2023 is a legal framework enacted to protect the personal data of individuals in the digital age.

o It ensures that personal data is processed only with the individual’s consent, safeguarding privacy and data rights.

o Key Objectives: To regulate the processing of digital personal data.

ü To establish provisions ensuring privacy, consent, and data protection for individuals.

o Applicable to the processing of digital personal data: Within India, whether collected online or offline (and later digitized).

ü Outside India, if related to offering goods or services to individuals in India (data principals).