The Government of India has enacted the Right to Information Act, 2005 (http://www.persmin.nic.in) which has come into effect from October 12, 2005. The Right to Information under this Act is meant to give to the citizens of India access to information under control of public authorities to promote transparency and accountability in these organisations. The Act, under Sections 8 and 9, provides for certain categories of information to be exempt from disclosure. The Act also provides for appointment of a Chief Public Information Officer to deal with requests for information.

Can the Reserve Bank of India refuse to give me information?

The Right to Information Act, 2005 under Sections 8 and 9 exempts certain categories of information from disclosures. These include:

• Information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, relation with foreign State or lead to incitement of an offence.

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• Information which has been expressly forbidden to be published by any court of law or tribunal or the disclosure of which may constitute contempt of court;

• Information, the disclosure of which would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the State Legislature;

• Information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information;

• Information available to a person in his fiduciary relationship, unless the competent authority is satisfied that the larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information;

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• Information received in confidence from foreign Government; information, the disclosure of which would endanger the life or physical safety of any person or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for law enforcement or security purposes;

• Information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders;

• Cabinet papers including records of deliberations of the Council of Ministers, Secretaries and other officers;

• Information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual.