Section 1 — Short Title, Extent and Commencement

Section 1 of the RTI Act — Short Title, Extent and Commencement

Quick Reply: §1 does three things: names the Act (1(1)), extends it to the whole of India (1(2) — J&K included since 31 October 2019), and staggered commencement (1(3)): the institutional provisions took effect at once in mid-2005, and the citizen-facing machinery — the right to apply — from 12 October 2005, the RTI birthday.

In one line: Section 1 names the Act, fixes its geographical extent to the whole of India, and prescribes the commencement date — 12 October 2005 for most operative provisions, 15 June 2005 for certain preliminary provisions.

Key points

  • 1(1) — Act may be called the Right to Information Act, 2005.
  • 1(2) — Extends to the whole of India (originally excluded Jammu and Kashmir; that exception ceased on 31 October 2019 with the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act).
  • 1(3) — Provisions of sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) of section 4, sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 5, sections 12, 13, 15, 16, 24, 27 and 28 shall come into force at once (i.e., 15 June 2005). The remaining provisions shall come into force on the one hundred and twentieth day of enactment (i.e., 12 October 2005).

Legislative history

Commenced 12 October 2005. Extent updated on 31 October 2019 when J&K reorganisation brought the Union Territory within the Central RTI regime. No other amendments to Section 1.

Rulings and references

  • S.P. Gupta v. President of India, AIR 1982 SC 149 — Article 19(1)(a) foundation.
  • PUCL v. UoI, (2003) 4 SCC 399 — Right to know predated the Act.

Practical note

Referenced in every constitutional challenge to the Act to fix its scope. For J&K residents, Section 1 is the anchor for their post-2019 right to file Central RTIs.

Call to action

For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the First RTI template or the First Appeal template. See How to fill an RTI application for structural help.

FAQs

When exactly did citizens first file?

12 October 2005 — the 120th day after enactment, when §§4(1)'s remainder, 6, 7, 8 and the appeal machinery came alive.

I am in Jammu and Kashmir — which RTI applies?

The central Act, since 31 October 2019; the old J&K RTI Act 2009 went with the reorganisation. File with the J&K public authority's PIO like anywhere else.

Why does commencement split matter?

Because anything a public authority did before 12 October 2005 sits outside the request machinery — the Act is not retrospective.

Sources

  1. Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 1 (verbatim on the Act page).
  2. Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 — central RTI extended from 31 October 2019.
  3. Central Information Commission — constituted with effect from 12 October 2005 (cic.gov.in).
  4. Department of Personnel and Training, Guide on the RTI Act, 2005.

Last reviewed on: 27 August 2026. Junk template description rebuilt; FAQ added; commencement dates and J&K extension re-verified.

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