RTI Act Amendments Under BJP Government Criticized for Weakening Transparency

Background of RTI Act The Right to Information (RTI) Act was enacted in 2005 by the UPA government, marking a significant step towards transparency and accountability in Indian democracy [1][2][3][4][8]. The Act empowers citizens to access information held by public authorities, fostering a more informed citizenry and holding the government accountable [1][4].

Amendments and Criticisms the influencer claims that the BJP government, since 2014, has introduced amendments that have weakened the RTI Act. Specifically, amendments in 2019 are highlighted.

While the provided context confirms that amendments were made in 2019 and that these amendments altered the terms and conditions of Information Commissioners, the specific details about the reduction in tenure from five to three years and the direct comparison of status to a Supreme Court judge versus a government secretary are not explicitly corroborated in the provided references [5][8]. Impact on Transparency and Accountability the influencer argues that these changes have led to a decline in India's global transparency ranking and have destroyed the culture of accountability.

The provided references do not contain information to verify the specific global ranking mentioned (eighth or ninth) [1][2][4][8]. The assertion about the destruction of the culture of transparency and the fear of penalties among bureaucrats is a strong claim that is presented as a consequence of the amendments and the current government's actions, making it a point of debate rather than a directly verifiable fact from the given sources.