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+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(section 4 rti act, section 4 1 b rti, 17 categories rti, proactive disclosure rti, suo motu rti, anjali bhardwaj rti)
+metatag-description=(Section 4 of the RTI Act — proactive disclosure by public authorities. 17 mandatory categories under 4(1)(b), 4(2) dissemination, 4(3) media. Full reference with case law, 2026.)}}
+====== Section 4 — Obligations of Public Authorities ======
+{{ :social:auto:act-section-4.png?direct&1200 |Section 4 — Obligations of Public Authorities}}
+{{page>snippets:dpdp-banner}}
+<WRAP center round info 95%>
+**In one line:** Section 4 places a **proactive duty** on every public authority to publish information on its own — without waiting for RTI applications. The core is Section 4(1)(b) with 17 categories. Sub-sections 4(1)(c)-(d) require pre-decision publication and reasoned orders. Section 4(2)-(4) require electronic dissemination in local language.
+</WRAP>
+===== Why Section 4 matters =====
+A compliant Section 4 disclosure **eliminates 60-70 percent of potential RTIs**. The Supreme Court in //Anjali Bhardwaj v. UoI//, (2020) 11 SCC 345 treated non-compliance as a contributor to Information Commission backlogs. A fully-functional Section 4 page on every department's website is the Act's **preventive medicine**.
+===== The 17 categories (Section 4(1)(b)) =====
+See our full [[:explanations:suo-moto-disclosure-under-rti|Suo Motu Disclosure explainer]] with the 17-category table + flow diagram. Summary:
+  * Organisation, functions, duties, decision-making, rules, documents held, public-consultation arrangements, committees/boards with minutes, directory of officers, monthly pay, budget, subsidy execution, beneficiary list, electronic information, citizen facilities, PIO contact.
+===== Legislative history =====
+  * **12 October 2005** — commenced.
+  * **2006, 2013 DoPT OMs** — operational guidance issued.
+  * **2019 amendment** — no change to Section 4.
+  * **DPDP 2025** — indirectly touches Section 4 to the extent beneficiary-list publication under 4(1)(b)(xiii) must respect the amended Section 8(1)(j) privacy test.
+===== Landmark rulings =====
+  * **//Anjali Bhardwaj v. Union of India//, (2020) 11 SCC 345** — SC directions on Commission oversight of Section 4 implementation.
+  * **//State of U.P. v. Raj Narain//, (1975) 4 SCC 428** — foundational right-to-know jurisprudence later crystallised in Section 4.
+  * **CIC Decision //CIC/SA/A/2013/000132//** — Commission can direct time-bound publication with monthly progress reports.
+  * **//S.P. Gupta v. President of India//**, AIR 1982 SC 149 — right of citizens to know the functioning of government.
+===== Enforcement under 4 =====
+Two routes when a public authority is non-compliant:
+  - File an RTI under Section 6 seeking the 17 categories. If refused, 19(1) then 19(3).
+  - File a **Section 18 complaint** directly to the Information Commission — no RTI needed.
+Section 19(8)(a)(vi) empowers the Commission to direct compliance with Section 4(1)(b).
+===== Drafting =====
+Template in your RTI to trigger Section 4 audit:
+<code>
+. A copy of the Section 4(1)(b) information published by
+   [department] as on [date], sub-clauses (i) to (xvii),
+   with URLs and last-updated dates for each.
+. A copy of the Section 4 compliance report filed by
+   [department] with the Information Commission for the
+   last three financial years.
+</code>
+===== Related =====
+  * [[act|Back to the full RTI Act]]
+  * [[act:section-6|Section 6 — Request]]
+  * [[act:section-18|Section 18 — Complaint]]
+  * [[act:section-19|Section 19 — Appeals]]
+  * [[:explanations:suo-moto-disclosure-under-rti|Detailed explainer — Suo motu disclosure]]
+  * [[:templates:first-rti|First RTI template]]
+===== Sources =====
+  - RTI Act, 2005, Section 4.
+  - //Anjali Bhardwaj v. Union of India//, (2020) 11 SCC 345.
+  - //State of U.P. v. Raj Narain//, (1975) 4 SCC 428.
+  - //S.P. Gupta v. President of India//, AIR 1982 SC 149.
+  - DoPT OM No. 1/6/2011-IR dated 15 April 2013.
+//Last reviewed on: 21 April 2026//
+{{tag>rti act section-4 suo-motu 17-categories obligations 2026}}

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