In compliance with the provisions of which one of the following sectio

In compliance with the provisions of which one of the following sections of the RTI Act, 2005, is it advised that public authorities may proactively disclose the details of foreign and domestic official tours undertaken by minister(s) and officials of the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India and above and the heads of the Departments, since 1st January 2012?

Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
The correct answer is A. The proactive disclosure of details of official tours by ministers and senior officials is advised in compliance with the general obligation for transparency and public information under Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005.
– Section 4 of the RTI Act mandates public authorities to proactively disclose a wide range of information, reducing the need for citizens to file specific requests.
– While Section 4(1)(b) lists specific categories for mandatory publication, the spirit of Section 4 encourages public authorities to publish more information voluntarily.
– The disclosure of tour details falls under the broader principles of transparency regarding the functioning of the public authority and the expenditure incurred, which is encouraged by Section 4. The specific advisory regarding tour details is an example of implementing the proactive disclosure requirement under this section.
Detailed guidelines from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) have reinforced the proactive disclosure requirements under Section 4. Disclosure of tour details, expenditure, minutes of meetings, etc., are often included in these guidelines as examples of information that should be made available suo motu to enhance transparency and accountability. This practice is rooted in the foundational principle of proactive disclosure outlined in Section 4.