Dr Jitendra Singh Launches RTI E-Journal, Backs Transparency
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh today released the latest edition of the RTI Journal and launched a digital version on the NFICI website. The event took place during the 15th Annual General Body Meeting of the Central Information Commission (CIC) in New Delhi. Senior officials including CIC Heeralal Samariya and state commissioners were also present.
Strengthening Transparency Through RTI
Dr. Singh praised the CIC and State Commissions for achieving near 100% disposal of RTI applications, even during the COVID-19 lockdown. He credited digital tools and remote sittings for ensuring uninterrupted public access to information.
He stressed that RTI remains central to citizen-centric governance. With digital platforms such as CPGRAMS, the government is ensuring that transparency and accountability remain cornerstones of its administrative approach.
Key Reforms to Improve Governance
Highlighting reforms since 2014, Dr. Singh recalled the abolition of over 1,600 obsolete rules. One of the earliest changes was ending the requirement for gazetted officer attestation of documents. “This reform signaled that the government trusts the youth, who make up 70% of India’s population,” he said.
Another landmark reform was the abolition of interviews for Group B and C recruitment in government jobs. According to Dr. Singh, this bold decision eliminated nepotism, strengthened merit-based hiring, and improved public trust in the system.
RTI Disposal and Citizen Experience
Dr. Singh shared details of the ‘Human Desk’ experiment, which introduced personal feedback calls to RTI applicants. “Disposal of cases is important, but so is citizen satisfaction. A personal interaction after disposal ensures that people feel heard,” he said.
He further suggested that as most government orders are already available online, repetitive or avoidable RTI queries should be reduced. Instead, focus must remain on genuine information needs, supported by clear SOPs for redressal.
NFICI’s Role and Future Path
The Minister lauded the National Federation of Information Commissions in India (NFICI) as a collaborative platform for sharing best practices among central and state commissions. He urged information commissioners to be proactive in providing suggestions during their tenure, so reforms can be implemented in real time.
Digital Governance for the Future
Dr. Singh emphasized that under the government’s principle of “Maximum Governance, Minimum Government”, technology-driven mechanisms have become vital. Platforms like CPGRAMS, online grievance systems, and digital RTI journals mark a shift towards efficient, transparent governance.
“RTI is not just about accessing information. It is about reorienting governance towards trust, objectivity, and citizen satisfaction,” he concluded.
