The Economic Survey revives a 20-year-old idea of amending the RTI Act to keep file notings, records of internal deliberations, and draft papers out of the citizenry’s reach.

The Economic Survey revives a 20-year-old idea of amending the RTI Act to keep file notings, records of internal deliberations, and draft papers out of the citizenry’s reach. Several Commonwealth countries like the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and even Scotland have such provisions in their freedom of information laws. Whether disclosure will harm any of the protected interests listed in the 10 exemption clauses is the test. The Information Commission can direct disclosure of exempt information in the larger public interest. The DPDP Act amended the RTI act in a retrograde manner by removing parity between the citizenry and their elected representatives.