Direct answer. Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act 2005 makes proactive disclosure compulsory for every public authority, not optional. Seventeen specified categories of information must be published on the authority's website (and updated every year) so that citizens have to seek formal RTIs as a last resort. Failure to comply is independently actionable before the Information Commission under Section 4(4) read with Section 19(8)(a). The full 17-point checklist with sub-points and updated 2026 guidance is below.
Section 4(1)(b) is the single most important compliance obligation of every public authority under the RTI Act. Proactive disclosure cuts down RTI workload, builds public trust, and brings the office in line with Citizens' Charter standards. Departments routinely fail Section 4(1)(b) audits because they treat it as a “publish-and-forget” web page. This checklist is designed for an annual sign-off by the public authority's head of office.
The table below tracks the seventeen statutory clauses, what each requires, the format expected, and a tick column for the audit officer.
| # | Clause | What to publish | Format expected | Annual update? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4(1)(b)(i) | Particulars of the organisation, functions and duties | Org chart + functions document | Yes |
| 2 | 4(1)(b)(ii) | Powers and duties of officers and employees | Designation-wise table | Yes |
| 3 | 4(1)(b)(iii) | Procedure followed in decision-making, including channels of supervision and accountability | Workflow diagram + delegation matrix | On change |
| 4 | 4(1)(b)(iv) | Norms set for the discharge of functions | SLAs, time-norms, citizen charter | Yes |
| 5 | 4(1)(b)(v) | Rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records held by the authority or used by employees | Hyperlinked PDFs of latest versions | On change |
| 6 | 4(1)(b)(vi) | Statement of categories of documents held by it or under its control | Categorised list with retention periods | Yes |
| 7 | 4(1)(b)(vii) | Particulars of any arrangement for consultation or representation by members of the public | Consultation policy + recent rounds | Yes |
| 8 | 4(1)(b)(viii) | Statement of boards, councils, committees and other bodies (with members and minutes accessibility) | Constitution + composition + minutes link | Yes |
| 9 | 4(1)(b)(ix) | Directory of officers and employees | Name, designation, phone, email, room | Half-yearly |
| 10 | 4(1)(b)(x) | Monthly remuneration of officers and employees, including system of compensation | Pay-band table | Yearly |
| 11 | 4(1)(b)(xi) | Budget allocated to each agency, plan, programme, capital and disbursements | Budget document with break-up | Yearly |
| 12 | 4(1)(b)(xii) | Manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including amounts allocated and beneficiaries | Beneficiary list (district-wise) + amount | Quarterly |
| 13 | 4(1)(b)(xiii) | Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorisations granted by it | Permit register | Quarterly |
| 14 | 4(1)(b)(xiv) | Information available in electronic form (including data held) | Data inventory + open-data links | Yes |
| 15 | 4(1)(b)(xv) | Particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including library/reading room | Public information facility details | Yes |
| 16 | 4(1)(b)(xvi) | Names, designations and other particulars of the PIOs and FAAs | PIO/FAA contact card | On change |
| 17 | 4(1)(b)(xvii) | Such other information as may be prescribed | Department-specific extras | Yes |
By 30 April every year, the head of office should sign off:
No. It is a mandatory statutory duty. The word used in the section is “shall”.
Only “public authorities” as defined in Section 2(h). Substantially financed NGOs are covered; pure private companies are not.
Notified intelligence and security organisations under Section 24 are excluded from most of the Act, but information on corruption and human-rights violations is not. Even excluded agencies must publish basic Section 4 details.
At least every six months and immediately after any senior transfer.
No. Section 4(4)(b) requires dissemination “in local languages and the most effective method of communication”.
(a) deals with record management — keeping records duly catalogued, indexed and computerised. (b) deals with disclosure — putting 17 specified categories online.
The Information Commissions, in the course of second appeals; the Comptroller & Auditor General in compliance audits; civil-society scoring (RAAG, CHRI) reports.
Last reviewed: 9 May 2026.