Assertion (A): Right to information Act (2005) was enacted in India to bring in transparency and accountability in governance.
Reason (R): The US government has passed such an Act.
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(C) (A) is true but (R) is false
(D) (A) is false but (R) is true
Correct Ans: (A)
Explanation:
The Right to Information (RTI) Act, enacted in 2005, empowers Indian citizens to access government records, ensuring transparency and accountability. This law allows people to question public authorities, promoting good governance and reducing corruption. So, the assertion (A) is true because RTI strengthens democracy by making government processes more open.
The reason (R) is also true, as the United States passed a similar law, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), in 1966. Many other countries, like Canada, the UK, and Australia, also have freedom of information laws.
However, India’s RTI Act was not enacted solely because the US had one. Instead, it emerged from public demand for transparency and legal advocacy efforts. Still, since both statements are true, and (R) is related to (A), the correct answer is (A).
The RTI Act has helped expose corruption scandals, misuse of public funds, and inefficiencies. Citizens have used it to seek information on policies, government spending, and decision-making. However, challenges like bureaucratic delays, vague exemptions, and threats to activists still exist.
Because transparency is crucial for democracy, governments must strengthen RTI implementation and protect whistleblowers. This will ensure greater public participation in governance and uphold the right to information as a fundamental right.
