The Impact of the Right to Information Act – 2005 (RTI) On Transparency and Accountability in Indian Governance: An Empirical Study

Abstract

The implementation of the Right to Information Act (RTI) in India in 2005 had a twofold aim
of augmenting transparency and accountability in the sphere of governance. The RTI Act has
not only precipitated a surge in the attentiveness of government officials to the desires and
entreaties of the citizenry but also facilitated the access of citizens to information about the
functioning and decision-making of the government. This Act has emerged as a decisive
instrument in instilling openness in governmental activities and imposing responsibility on
official’s vis-a-vis the public. The RTI Act has notably fostered democratic practices and
bolstered the faith of citizens in the institutions of the government. However, there are
multifarious obstacles that need to be surmounted, such as delays in responding to RTI
requests and the dearth of greater consciousness among citizens. All things considered, the
RTI Act has indisputably had a positive influence on the transparency and accountability of
Indian governance