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+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(section 3 rti act, citizenship right-to-information, rti india, rti act 2005)
+metatag-description=(Section 3 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Right to Information. Section 3 is the substantive grant — 'Subject to the provisions of this Act, all citizens shall have the right to information.' It is the entitlement; Section 6 is the procedure; S...)}}
+====== Section 3 — Right to Information ======
+{{ :social:auto:act-section-3.png?direct&1200 |Section 3 of the RTI Act — Right to Information}}
+<WRAP center round info 95%>
+**In one line:** Section 3 is the substantive grant — 'Subject to the provisions of this Act, all citizens shall have the right to information.' It is the entitlement; Section 6 is the procedure; Section 8 the exceptions.
+</WRAP>
+===== Key points =====
+  * The right vests in 'citizens' — read with the Citizenship Act, 1955.
+  * 'Subject to the provisions of this Act' means bounded by Sections 8, 9 and 24.
+  * Not available to: foreign nationals, OCI/PIO-card holders, corporations as juristic persons, unregistered associations (with exceptions for representative filing).
+===== Legislative history =====
+No amendments. The one constitutional challenge — Commissioner's remuneration review in //Namit Sharma// — did not touch Section 3.
+===== Rulings and references =====
+  * **//S.P. Gupta v. President of India//, AIR 1982 SC 149** — right to know is part of Article 19(1)(a).
+  * **//State of U.P. v. Raj Narain//, (1975) 4 SCC 428** — foundational right-to-know jurisprudence.
+  * **//Raj Sharma v. CIC//, Delhi HC (2016)** — foreign citizens cannot file directly; but can through a citizen proxy.
+  * **CIC orders** — Aadhaar, passport, or voter-ID proof of citizenship may be asked only if genuinely in doubt.
+===== Practical note =====
+Sign your RTI yourself if you are a citizen. If a non-citizen, an Indian citizen (relative, advocate) must sign. For public-interest litigation under Section 6(2), no reason needed, so citizenship rather than purpose is the only threshold.
+===== Call to action =====
+For drafting RTIs or appeals engaging this section, use the [[:templates:first-rti|First RTI template]] or the [[:templates:first-appeal|First Appeal template]]. See [[:guide:applicant:application:how-fill-rti-application-form|How to fill an RTI application]] for structural help.
+===== Related =====
+  * [[act|Back to the full RTI Act]]
+  * [[act:section-6|Section 6 — Request for information]]
+  * [[act:section-7|Section 7 — Disposal]]
+  * [[act:section-8|Section 8 — Exemptions]]
+  * [[act:section-19|Section 19 — Appeals]]
+  * [[explanations|All explanations]]
+  * [[:important-decisions:start|Landmark RTI decisions]]
+===== Sources =====
+  - Right to Information Act, 2005, Section 3.
+  - RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 (where applicable).
+  - DPDP Rules, 2025, notified 14 November 2025 (where applicable).
+  - Department of Personnel and Training, //Guide on the RTI Act, 2005//.
+//Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026//
+{{tag>rti act section-3 citizenship right-to-information 2026}}

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