QUESTION 2(b)
GS4
10 marks
“The Right to Information Act is not all about citizens’ empowerment alone, it essentially redefines the concept of accountability.” Discuss.
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Discuss how the RTI Act, beyond empowering citizens, reshapes accountability in government.
DiscussExplain the different sides of the issue, use evidence, and finish with a balanced view.
Demand-wise check
- 1Empowerment: citizens can question the state; tool for the poor (ration, wages, pensions)≈30 words
- 2Redefined accountability: from upward (to superiors) to outward (to citizens); answerability for each file and decision≈30 words
- 3Mechanisms: proactive disclosure, time-bound replies, penalties on PIOs, Information Commissions≈30 words
- 4Limits: pendency, vacancies, 2019 amendment, dilution of 8(1)(j) by DPDP Act, attacks on activists≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
Empowerment angleHow accountability changesMechanismsLimitsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Only describing the Act's provisions
- Not explaining what 'redefines' accountability means
Draw this
- Arrow diagram: hierarchical accountability vs citizen-centred accountability
Value addition
- LawSection 20 lets Information Commissions fine a PIO ₹250 a day, up to ₹25,000.RTI Act, 2005
- CaseCBSE v Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011): students can see their evaluated answer sheets under RTI.Supreme Court, 2011
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Aakash Garg · AIR 5 · Page 9 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Harshvardhan Ashok Tidke · Page 18 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 7 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aakash Garg · AIR 5 · Page 5 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.