Table of Contents
Module 01 — Foundations of the RTI Act, 2005
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Module 1 anchors the RTI Act, 2005 in its Preamble — transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority. Section 2(f) gives an inclusive definition of 'information', Section 2(h) defines 'public authority' via a two-step test (ownership/control OR substantial financing), and Section 2(j) lists the right — inspection, notes, certified copies, and electronic data.
Part of the PIO / FAA CPD Course · Full curriculum.
Module 1 · ~2 hours · 10-question self-check quiz. This module covers Foundations of the RTI Act, 2005 and produces a reusable drafting template you can use in your own RTI workflow.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this module you will be able to:
- Explain the three purposes of the RTI Act from its Preamble
- Identify what is 'information' and what is a 'record' under §2(f) and §2(i)
- Apply the four-limb test of 'public authority' under §2(h) — including the Thalappalam substantial-financing test
Required reading
Each link below takes you to the detailed practitioner article in the RTI Wiki knowledge base. Use these as your primary text for the module.
Drafting template
Public-authority self-classification worksheet — a single-page flowchart that runs any body (NGO / coop / trust / PSU / ULB) through the §2(h) test.
Enrolled students receive the fillable Word / Google Docs version in the course dashboard.
Exercise
Classify five real-world bodies — a state co-operative bank, an IIT, a public trust, a private school receiving state grant, and a statutory commission — under §2(h).
Key citations
- §2(f), §2(i), §2(h)
- Thalappalam Service Cooperative Bank v. State of Kerala, (2013) 16 SCC 82
Self-check quiz
- 10 multiple-choice questions, drawn from the reading above.
- Open-book. No time limit.
- You must score at least 70% to unlock the next module (quiz score contributes to the 30 CPD hours).
- Available on the course dashboard after enrolment.
Navigation
Ready to test your understanding? Take the Module 1 quiz in the course dashboard. 10 randomised questions · 70% to pass · unlimited attempts.