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+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(RTI Act explained,Section 8 explanation,Section 19 explanation,RTI plain English,RTI commentary,RTI Act guide India)
+metatag-description=(Plain-English explainers for every key section of the RTI Act 2005 - Section 6 filing, 7 deadlines, 8 exemptions, 19 appeals. 2026 DPDP-aware.)}}
+====== RTI Act explanations — plain English by section ======
+{{ :social:auto:explanations.png?direct&1200 |RTI Act explanations — plain English by section — RTI Wiki}}
+<WRAP center round info 95%>
+**Quick Reply:** Plain-English explainers for every key section of the RTI Act 2005 - Section 6 filing, 7 deadlines, 8 exemptions, 19 appeals. 2026 DPDP-aware.
+</WRAP>
+**This is the master directory of plain-English explanations of every important section of the Right to Information Act, 2005, with the latest amendments from the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (in force from 14 November 2025) factored in. Each section page is written for citizens, not lawyers — direct, with examples, with how to use the section in your own RTI.**
+===== Filing (§6) =====
+  * **§6(1)** — Right to file. Every citizen of India can file. No need to give reasons.
+  * **§6(2)** — No reasons. The PIO **cannot** ask why you want the information.
+  * **§6(3)** — Transfer. If your application reaches the wrong office, the PIO must transfer it within **5 days** to the right authority.
+===== Reply (§7) =====
+  * **§7(1)** — **30 days** to reply. **48 hours** if life or liberty is at stake.
+  * **§7(2)** — Deemed refusal. If the PIO does not reply by Day 30, treat the silence as a refusal — file First Appeal under §19(1).
+  * **§7(3)** — Additional fee. PIO may demand photocopy / inspection charges before disclosure.
+  * **§7(5)** — **BPL exemption**. Below-Poverty-Line applicants pay zero.
+  * **§7(6)** — If PIO does not reply by Day 30 OR fee is not demanded by Day 30, info MUST be supplied free.
+===== Exemptions (§8 + §9) =====
+  * **§8(1)(a)** — Sovereignty + integrity + security of state.
+  * **§8(1)(b)** — Court forbids.
+  * **§8(1)(c)** — Privilege of Parliament / State Legislature.
+  * **§8(1)(d)** — Commercial confidence + trade secret + IP.
+  * **§8(1)(e)** — Fiduciary relationship.
+  * **§8(1)(f)** — Foreign government info in confidence.
+  * **§8(1)(g)** — Would endanger life, source, or process.
+  * **§8(1)(h)** — Impeded process of investigation / prosecution.
+  * **§8(1)(i)** — Cabinet papers (with carve-out post-decision).
+  * **§8(1)(j)** — **Personal information** — proviso amended by DPDP §44(3); public-interest test now under §8(2).
+  * **§8(2)** — **Public-interest override** for §8(1) exemptions.
+  * **§8(3)** — Records older than 20 years cannot be denied even if §8(1) applies (with limited exception).
+  * **§9** — Third-party copyright.
+===== Severability + transfer + third party (§10 + §11) =====
+  * **§10(1)** — **Severability**. If part of the info is exempt, the rest must be disclosed separately.
+  * **§10(2)** — **Reasoned severance order**. PIO must record why each portion is severed.
+  * **§11** — **Third-party consultation**. If the info pertains to a third party, PIO must give them a 5-day notice + 10-day reply window before disclosing.
+===== Appeals (§19) =====
+  * **§19(1)** — **First Appeal** to the FAA, within **30 days** of PIO refusal.
+  * **§19(3)** — **Second Appeal** to CIC / SIC, within **90 days** of FAA refusal.
+  * **§19(8)(b)** — IC may award **compensation** for any loss / detriment suffered.
+===== Penalty (§20) =====
+  * **§20(1)** — IC may impose penalty on PIO of **₹250 per day** (cap ₹25,000) for malafide refusal, delay, or false information.
+  * **§20(2)** — IC may recommend **disciplinary action** against the PIO.
+===== Detailed section-by-section explainers =====
+We have a deeper page for each section at:
+  * [[:act#section-6request-for-obtaining-information|§6 — Application procedure]]
+  * [[:act#section-7disposal-of-request|§7 — Reply timelines]]
+  * [[:act#section-8exemption-from-disclosure-of-information|§8 — Exemptions]]
+  * [[:act#section-10severability|§10 — Severability]]
+  * [[:act#section-11third-party-information|§11 — Third-party consultation]]
+  * [[:act#section-19appeal|§19 — Appeals]]
+  * [[:act#section-20penalties|§20 — Penalty]]
+===== Citations and sources =====
+  * **Right to Information Act, 2005** — [[:act|full text]].
+  * **Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023**, §44(3) — amends §8(1)(j) proviso.
+  * **DPDP Rules, 2025** — notified 14 November 2025.
+  * Landmark cases: see [[:important-decisions|Important RTI decisions]].
+===== Related on RTI Wiki =====
+  * [[:act|RTI Act, 2005 — full annotated text]]
+  * [[:important-decisions|Master directory of landmark RTI rulings]]
+  * [[:cases|Case-law database (300+)]]
+  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]]
+  * [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/first-appeal-app.html|First Appeal Builder]]
+//Last reviewed: 4 May 2026.//
+{{tag>rti-act-2005 explanations section-by-section plain-english dpdp-impact 2026}}