International Journal of Social Science & Economic Research
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Title:
KNOWLEDGE, POWER, POLICY: TRACING THE RTI ACT'S ROLE IN CATALYZING INDIA'S POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION

Authors:
Priyanshi Bhartia

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Priyanshi Bhartia
Sanskriti -The Gurukul

MLA 8
Bhartia, Priyanshi. "KNOWLEDGE, POWER, POLICY: TRACING THE RTI ACT'S ROLE IN CATALYZING INDIA'S POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 4, no. 10, Oct. 2019, pp. 6391-6398, ijsser.org/more2019.php?id=491. Accessed Oct. 2019.
APA
Bhartia, P. (2019, October). KNOWLEDGE, POWER, POLICY: TRACING THE RTI ACT'S ROLE IN CATALYZING INDIA'S POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 4(10), 6391-6398. Retrieved from ijsser.org/more2019.php?id=491
Chicago
Bhartia, Priyanshi. "KNOWLEDGE, POWER, POLICY: TRACING THE RTI ACT'S ROLE IN CATALYZING INDIA'S POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 4, no. 10 (October 2019), 6391-6398. Accessed October, 2019. ijsser.org/more2019.php?id=491.

References
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Abstract:
The Right to Information Act is legislation that aims to secure the Right To Information of every Indian citizen and provides for practical measures that are necessary for the actualization of the same. This paper has sought to trace the importance of access to information about government functioning in democracies, especially one as populous and diverse as India. The Right to Information Act has not only made governance more transparent and public officials more accountable but it has enhanced the ability of people to make informed choices and engage in productive political discourse. The power of information at the hands of the people has enforced state officials and departments into action. The Right to Information Act has helped guarantee social justice to the most oppressed communities in India. RTI requests and actions have even forced institutions including the Supreme Court to act in situations where the state machinery has been ignorant or careless. However, a recent amendment to the RTI Act, passed by the Indian Parliament in August 2019 threatens the autonomy of the institutions that are established to enforce it. This paper has also examined the impact that this amendment could have on the systems of checks and balances that ensures governance by the people in Indian democracy.

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