Central Information Commission
The Central Information Commission (CIC) is an important body for the implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005, which aims to promote transparency and accountability in the functioning of public authorities.
The CIC has the following features and functions:
- It is not a constitutional body, but a statutory body established by the Central Government under the RTI Act, 2005.
a) It consists of a Chief Information Commissioner and not more than ten Information Commissioners, who are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
b) It has the jurisdiction over all Central Public Authorities, which include ministries, departments, public sector undertakings, financial institutions, and other entities under the control of the Central Government.
c) It has the power and function to receive and inquire into complaints and appeals from any person who has been unable to obtain information from a public authority, or who has been refused access to information, or who has not received a response within the specified time limit, or who has been given incomplete, misleading, or false information, or who thinks that he or she has been charged an unreasonable fee for obtaining information.
d) It can order an inquiry into any matter if there are reasonable grounds to do so, and while inquiring, it has the powers of a civil court, such as summoning and enforcing attendance of persons, requiring the discovery and production of documents, receiving evidence on affidavit, etc.
e) It can impose penalties on the public information officers or other officials for violating the provisions of the RTI Act, such as refusing to receive or furnish information, delaying the response, providing false or incomplete information, etc.
f) It can also recommend to the public authorities to take steps to improve their record management, information dissemination, training of staff, etc, for the effective implementation of the RTI Act.
The CIC is an important aspect of the good governance of the country, as it empowers the citizens to access information from the public authorities, and thereby, hold them accountable for their actions and decisions. The CIC also helps in promoting democracy, participation, and awareness among the people.
The CIC is relevant for the UPSC exam, as it is a part of the Indian Polity syllabus, and questions related to it can be asked in both the Prelims and the Mains. The candidates should have a clear understanding of the RTI Act, 2005, and the role and functions of the CIC, as well as the issues and challenges faced by it. The candidates should also be aware of the recent developments and amendments related to the RTI Act and the CIC, and their implications for the transparency and accountability of the public authorities.
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