Information Commission Urges RTI Act Inclusion in College Curriculum

Quick Summary

• The Karnataka State Facts Commission recommended including a lesson on the Right to Information (RTI) Act in pre-university and degree course curricula to promote openness and combat corruption.
• A proposal has been made to discuss this recommendation in a high-level meeting presided over by Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta on July 14.
• Suggestions include incorporating RTI-related content into competitive exams conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) and Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA).
• Training for government officials on the RTI Act was advocated, with institutions such as District Training Institutes and Administrative training Institutes proposed as venues for this training.
• Commissioners highlighted inefficiencies in utilizing the RTI dashboard on DPAR’s website, recommending its management be handed over to the information Commission.
• Infrastructure proposals included building another floor at Karnataka Mahiti Soudha to accommodate court halls currently housed in rented buildings. Posting gunmen at court halls for security was also suggested.

Indian Opinion analysis

The recommendations are aimed at strengthening public awareness and institutional understanding of the RTI Act, which remains vital after two decades of implementation but is still underutilized according to concerns expressed by commissioners. Integrating RTI into educational curricula could help cultivate awareness among future generations, while inclusion in competitive exams may improve practical knowledge among professionals entering governance roles.

The emphasis on better training mechanisms reflects an effort toward institutional capacity-building within government structures-essential for obvious functioning.Addressing infrastructural gaps like expanding facilities highlights operational challenges faced by entities implementing transparency measures.These measures collectively point toward bridging gaps between legislation and effective execution, with implications extending beyond administrative accountability to possibly fostering broader civic engagement through information access.

Read More: Published – July 12, 2025 09:03 pm IST