Indian Polity and Governance

21. Which of the following sections of RTI Act, 2005 provide that a public

Which of the following sections of RTI Act, 2005 provide that a public information officer may seek the assistance of any other officer for proper discharge of his/her duties?

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Sub-sections (3) and (4) of Section 4
Sub-sections (4) and (5) of Section 5
Sub-sections (5) and (6) of Section 6
Sub-sections (6) and (7) of Section 7
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UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
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The correct answer is B) Sub-sections (4) and (5) of Section 5. Section 5 of the RTI Act, 2005 deals with the designation of Public Information Officers.
Section 5(4) states that “The Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, may seek the assistance of any other officer, as he or she considers necessary, for the proper discharge of his or her duties.” Section 5(5) further clarifies that “Any officer, whose assistance has been sought under sub-section (4), shall render all assistance to the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, seeking his or her assistance and for the purpose of contravention of the provisions of this Act, such other officer shall be treated as a Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be.”
Section 4 deals with the obligations of public authorities regarding proactive disclosure. Section 6 deals with the request for information. Section 7 deals with the disposal of requests.

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22. Consider the following statements regarding the functions of RTI cell:

Consider the following statements regarding the functions of RTI cell:
1. The cell will be a single reference point to receive applications, appeals, complaints and decisions of Central Information Commission.
2. The cell will ensure uploading of all applications and appeals received by it on the RTI-MIS.
3. The cell will ensure uploading of all complaints and decisions of CIC on the DMIS (computerised diary system).
Which of the above statements are correct?

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1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
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The correct answer is D) 1, 2 and 3. All three statements describe typical and advisable functions of an RTI cell within a public authority for efficient management of RTI-related work.
While the RTI Act does not explicitly mandate the creation of an “RTI cell”, it is a common administrative practice for public authorities to establish a dedicated section or designate officers to handle RTI applications, appeals, and related correspondence. Such a cell acts as a central point for receiving and distributing requests, tracking their disposal, managing appeals and complaints, and often utilizes management information systems (like RTI-MIS) and diary systems (like DMIS) for record-keeping and monitoring as per administrative guidelines.
Statement 1 promotes efficiency and avoids confusion by centralizing the receipt point. Statement 2 aligns with the digital record-keeping and monitoring initiatives often implemented by governments (e.g., the online RTI portal). Statement 3 is also consistent with the need to track all incoming and outgoing RTI-related communication, including decisions from the Central Information Commission. Therefore, all three are valid functions of such a cell.

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23. Which one of the following Sections of RTI Act, 2005 enables the Gover

Which one of the following Sections of RTI Act, 2005 enables the Government to prescribe application fee for supply of information?

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Section 6(1)
Section 8(1)
Section 10(1)
Section 12(1)
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
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The correct answer is A) Section 6(1). Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 states the manner of making a request for information and mentions that the request should be “accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed”. This section provides the basis for requiring an application fee, which the appropriate Government is then empowered to prescribe through rules made under Section 27.
Section 6(1) is the specific provision that mentions the requirement of a prescribed fee for submitting an RTI application. While Section 27 grants the general rule-making power, Section 6(1) is where the application fee requirement is stipulated within the request process itself, necessitating its prescription by rules.
Section 8(1) lists exemptions. Section 10(1) deals with severability of information. Section 12(1) deals with the constitution of the Central Information Commission. Section 7 also mentions fees for providing the information itself, beyond the initial application fee mentioned in Section 6(1).

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24. Refusal to accept an application on the ground that the demand draft/b

Refusal to accept an application on the ground that the demand draft/bankers cheque/IPO submitted by the applicant has been drawn in the name of the accounts officer may amount to refusal to accept the application. It may result into imposition of penalty by the Central Information Commission on the concerned Central Public Information Officer under which one of the following Sections of RTI Act, 2005 ?

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Section 16
Section 18
Section 20
Section 22
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UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
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The correct answer is C) Section 20. Section 20 of the RTI Act, 2005 empowers the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission to impose a penalty on the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) or the State Public Information Officer (SPIO) for various defaults, including refusing to receive an application.
Section 20(1) specifies that a penalty of two hundred and fifty rupees each day till application is received or information is furnished, subject to a maximum of twenty-five thousand rupees, may be imposed if the PIO has, without any reasonable cause, refused to receive an application for information or has not furnished information within the time specified, or malafidely denied the request, or knowingly given incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroyed information which was the subject of the request or obstructed in any manner in furnishing the information. Refusal to accept an application on an unreasonable ground like the fee payment mode can fall under refusal to receive the application without reasonable cause.
Section 16 relates to the constitution of the State Information Commission. Section 18 deals with the powers and functions of the Information Commissions, including entertaining and inquiring into complaints. While a complaint about the refusal would be made under Section 18, the penalty is imposed under Section 20. Section 22 gives the Act overriding effect over inconsistent laws.

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25. The purpose of suo motu disclosures under which one of the following s

The purpose of suo motu disclosures under which one of the following sections of the RTI Act, 2005 is to place a large amount of information in public domain on a proactive basis to make the functioning of the public authorities more transparent and also to reduce the need for individual RTI applications ?

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Section 2
Section 4
Section 6
Section 8
This question was previously asked in
UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
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The correct answer is B) Section 4. Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005 deals with the obligations of public authorities, specifically mandating the proactive or *suo motu* disclosure of certain information.
Section 4(1)(b) requires every public authority to publish specified information within one hundred and twenty days from the enactment of the Act. This proactive disclosure is intended to make the functioning of public authorities transparent and reduce the need for individuals to file RTI applications for this information.
Other sub-sections of Section 4 also relate to maintaining records, computerization, and disseminating information widely and easily accessible forms. Section 2 defines terms, Section 6 deals with the request for information by applicants, and Section 8 lists exemptions from disclosure.

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26. Designation of Central Assistant Public Information Officers by the pu

Designation of Central Assistant Public Information Officers by the public authorities is provided under which one of the following sections of the RTI Act, 2005 ?

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Section 3(1)
Section 3(2)
Section 4(1)
Section 5(2)
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UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
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Section 5(2) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 provides for the designation of Central Assistant Public Information Officers (CAPIOs) by public authorities.
Section 5 of the RTI Act deals with the designation of Information Officers. Section 5(1) mandates the designation of Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) or State Public Information Officers (SPIOs). Section 5(2) mandates the designation of CAPIOs or SAPIOs at sub-divisional or sub-district levels to receive applications/appeals and forward them to the respective PIO or Commission.
Section 3 of the Act guarantees the right to information to all citizens. Section 4 outlines the obligations of public authorities regarding proactive disclosure of information. Section 5 details the process for designating Public Information Officers and Assistant Public Information Officers.

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27. Which one of the following subjects does not fall under the control of

Which one of the following subjects does not fall under the control of Ministry of Mines ?

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Geological Survey of India
Indian Bureau of Mines
Metallurgical Grade Silicon
National Mines and Small Industries Corporation Limited
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UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
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“National Mines and Small Industries Corporation Limited” is not a valid entity or a subject that falls under the control of the Ministry of Mines. There is no such public sector undertaking under this Ministry.
The Ministry of Mines is responsible for geological surveys, mineral exploration, regulation of mines and minerals, and public sector undertakings related to major minerals like NMDC, NALCO, HCL. The National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) is a PSU under the Ministry of MSME, not the Ministry of Mines.
Options A (Geological Survey of India) and B (Indian Bureau of Mines) are key organizations under the Ministry of Mines. Option C (Metallurgical Grade Silicon) relates to processing minerals (like quartz) which are under the purview of the Ministry of Mines, although downstream metallurgy might also involve the Ministry of Steel.

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28. Which one of the following subjects does not fall under the control of

Which one of the following subjects does not fall under the control of Ministry of Minority Affairs ?

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All matters relating to minority communities except matters relating to law and order
Matters relating to the National Commission for Minorities Act
District Minorities Planning Committees
Representation of the Anglo-Indian Community
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UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
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Matters relating to the Representation of the Anglo-Indian Community do not primarily fall under the control of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. Constitutional provisions related to the nomination/representation of Anglo-Indians were historically dealt with by the Ministry of Home Affairs or Parliament/Assemblies themselves, and related welfare matters often fall under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs is the nodal ministry for affairs of the five notified religious minority communities (Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis) and Jains (added later) as per the National Commission for Minorities Act. The specific provisions for the Anglo-Indian community are distinct and handled by other ministries.
Options A, B, and C relate directly to the core mandate of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, including dealing with minority communities, administering the National Commission for Minorities Act, and implementing welfare schemes through structures like District Minorities Planning Committees.

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29. Which one of the following subjects does not fall under the control of

Which one of the following subjects does not fall under the control of the Department of Justice ?

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Legal aid to the poor
Court fees and Stamp duties in the Union Territories
Trusts and Trustees, Administrators, General and Official Trustees
Creation of All India Judicial Service
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UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
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Matters relating to Trusts and Trustees, Administrators, General and Official Trustees are listed under the Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice, not the Department of Justice.
The Department of Justice is responsible for the administration of justice, appointment of judges, judicial infrastructure, legal aid, and matters related to courts and their administration in Union Territories. The Legislative Department is primarily responsible for drafting legislation and matters related to specific laws like the Administrators General and Official Trustees Act.
Options A (Legal aid to the poor), B (Court fees and Stamp duties in UTs), and D (Creation of All India Judicial Service) fall under the purview of the Department of Justice as they relate to the administration of the justice system and legal access.

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30. Which one of the following subjects does not fall under the control of

Which one of the following subjects does not fall under the control of the Department of Official Language ?

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Implementation of the provisions of the Constitution relating to Official Language
Matters relating to Kendriya Hindi Samiti including its up-samitis
Constitution and Cadre management of the Central Secretariat Official Language Service
Implementation of model rules of business in Official Language for State Governments/Union Territory Administrations
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UPSC SO-Steno – 2018
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The implementation of model rules of business in Official Language for *State Governments* does not fall under the control of the Department of Official Language (DoOL). The DoOL is primarily responsible for implementing the provisions of the Official Languages Act, 1963, and the Official Languages Rules, 1976, which pertain to the use of Official Language (Hindi) for the official purposes of the *Union*.
States have their own official languages and the authority to frame their rules of business. While the DoOL promotes the use of Hindi and can provide guidance, it does not have the authority to implement or mandate model rules of business for State Governments.
Options A, B, and C pertain to the core functions of the Department of Official Language related to the implementation of official language policy for the Union government, management of related committees (like Kendriya Hindi Samiti), and administration of the Central Secretariat Official Language Service.

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