“Use RTI as governance-enhancer”

The Economic Survey 2025-26 authored by the chief economic advisor and tabled in Parliament on Jan 29,2026, has called for a re-examination of the RTI Act, 2005.A good initiative.

While acknowledging the sunshine law as a powerful democratic reform and a tool for accountability against corruption,the economic survey says the Act was never intended “as a tool for idle curiosity”, nor as a mechanism to micromanage the government from  outside.

Going further, the Survey suggests  exempting brainstorming notes, working papers, and draft comments until they form part of the final record of decision-making, protection of service records, transfers, and confidential staff reports. It recommends exploring a possible ministerial veto to withhold information and proposed shielding certain categories of public service records, including transfers and staff-related reports of bureaucrats, from public scrutiny.Fair enough.

But,the survey is silent as to when would the ministerial veto be applicable--  that is,before the Information Commission decides an appeal, or after the Commission has ordered disclosure? This needs to be addressed.

The utility of the RTI Act  in exposing major scams ( the Vyapam,the Adarsh Housing Society scams etc) is not forgotten. This was also used to question the RBI during the banking scams. The Economic Survey has now initiated a debate on a review of existing provisions..

One hopes,the law makers keep the importance of RTI  in view as governance enhancer in the new era of Artificial Intelligence.

A K Saxena (Former civil servant)