Right to Information Wiki

PIO / FAA CPD — Full Curriculum

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 03 May 2026 08:32:40 +0000

2026/05/05 08:45	current
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	+	{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(pio faa cpd curriculum,rti course syllabus,12 modules rti,pio training syllabus,rti cpd modules,rti act training curriculum)&metatag-description=(Full 12-module curriculum for the PIO / FAA CPD course. Learning outcomes, required reading, drafting templates, self-check quiz for each module.)}}
	+
	+	====== PIO / FAA CPD — Full Curriculum ======
	+
	+	{{page>_snippets:dpdp-banner}}
	+
	+
	+
	+	Full 12-module curriculum for the PIO / FAA CPD course. Learning outcomes, required reading, drafting templates, self-check quiz for each module.
	+
	+	Part of the [[:cpd:start\|PIO / FAA CPD Course]].
	+
	+	<WRAP center round info 95%>
	+	12 modules · 30 hours · 200+ case citations · 50+ drafting templates. Each module below links to its own page, the required reading on RTI Wiki, the drafting templates, and the self-assessment quiz (available to enrolled students).
	+	</WRAP>
	+
	+	===== Module 1 — Foundations of the RTI Act, 2005 =====
	+
	+	[[:cpd:module-01\|Module 1 →]] · 2 hours · Quiz 10 Q
	+
	+	* Historical context: Right-to-know movements → RTI Act enactment
	+	* Preamble — the three purposes
	+	* Section 2 definitions — "information", "record", "right to information"
	+	* Section 2(h) — the four limbs of "public authority" and the //Thalappalam// test
	+	* Obligations on public authorities
	+
	+	Reading. [[:act\|The RTI Act 2005 index]] · [[:explanations\|Common terms]] · [[:kerala-hc-rti-rulings\|Thalappalam]].
	+
	+	===== Module 2 — Section 4: Suo-motu Disclosure =====
	+
	+	[[:cpd:module-02\|Module 2 →]] · 2 hours · Quiz 10 Q
	+
	+	* The 17 categories of §4(1)(b) — your first audit target
	+	* Proactive disclosure on the departmental website
	+	* §4(1)(c) and §4(1)(d) — reasons for policy and administrative decisions
	+	* How Section 4 reduces the RTI workload by 60%+
	+
	+	Template. A 17-point §4 self-audit spreadsheet for your department.
	+
	+	===== Module 3 — Section 6: Request Procedure =====
	+
	+	[[:cpd:module-03\|Module 3 →]] · 2 hours · Quiz 10 Q
	+
	+	* What counts as a request; form and fee (Central: Rs. 10; state variations)
	+	* §6(2) — the no-motive rule
	+	* §6(3) — transfer to the correct authority within 5 days
	+	* BPL exemption (§7(5))
	+	* Common applicant mistakes you should NOT rely on to reject
	+
	+	Template. §6(3) transfer-order template.
	+
	+	===== Module 4 — Section 7: Disposal =====
	+
	+	[[:cpd:module-04\|Module 4 →]] · 3 hours · Quiz 12 Q
	+
	+	* §7(1) — 30-day clock
	+	* §7(1) proviso — 48 hours for life-and-liberty
	+	* §7(2) — deemed refusal
	+	* §7(5) — fees; §7(6) — when additional fees fall away
	+	* §7(8)(i) — reasoned refusal (the most-appealed provision)
	+	* §7(9) — alternative form, NOT a ground of refusal
	+
	+	Reading. [[:pio-section-7-9-alternative-form\|§7(9) alternative form]] · [[:pio-deemed-refusal-section-7-2\|§7(2) deemed refusal]].
	+
	+	Template. §7(8)(i) reasoned-refusal letter (one page, reusable).
	+
	+	===== Module 5 — Section 8(1): The Ten Grounds =====
	+
	+	[[:cpd:module-05\|Module 5 →]] · 4 hours · Quiz 15 Q
	+
	+	* Clause-by-clause walk-through of §8(1)(a) to (j)
	+	* The harm-test requirement under each clause
	+	* Common misapplications and how SICs flag them
	+	* Post-14-November-2025 changes to §8(1)(j)
	+
	+	Reading. [[:explanations:grounds-for-rejection\|The ten grounds — full treatment]] · each PIO framework page linked from there.
	+
	+	Template. Clause-selection checklist (one-page flow-chart).
	+
	+	===== Module 6 — Section 8(2) & the DPDP 2025 Amendment =====
	+
	+	[[:cpd:module-06\|Module 6 →]] · 3 hours · Quiz 10 Q
	+
	+	* §8(2) — public-interest override, the master mechanism
	+	* Post-14-November-2025 framework: §8(1)(j) narrows; §8(2) carries the balance
	+	* The //Puttaswamy// proportionality test
	+	* Drafting a §8(2) balancing note
	+
	+	Reading. [[:pio-section-8-1-j-framework\|§8(1)(j) after DPDP]] · [[:faa-privacy-public-interest-balancing\|Privacy vs public-interest]].
	+
	+	Template. §8(2) balancing worksheet.
	+
	+	===== Module 7 — Section 10 Severability and Section 9 Copyright =====
	+
	+	[[:cpd:module-07\|Module 7 →]] · 2 hours · Quiz 10 Q
	+
	+	* §10 — the duty to sever and release the non-exempt part
	+	* Blanket refusal = §10 violation (//GMC Thiruvananthapuram//)
	+	* §9 — copyright other than the State
	+	* State-copyright materials are always disclosable
	+
	+	Reading. [[:pio-section-10-severability\|§10 severability]].
	+
	+	Template. §10 severed-copy cover sheet.
	+
	+	===== Module 8 — Section 11 Third-party Procedure =====
	+
	+	[[:cpd:module-08\|Module 8 →]] · 3 hours · Quiz 12 Q
	+
	+	* The mandatory 5-day notice
	+	* The third party's 10-day response window
	+	* The 40-day total ceiling
	+	* //C. Muniyappan// — what happens when §11 is skipped
	+	* Drafting the third-party representation and the PIO's reasoned balance
	+
	+	Reading. [[:pio-section-11-third-party\|§11 procedure]].
	+
	+	Template. §11 notice + decision-memo pair.
	+
	+	===== Module 9 — Section 19: Appeals =====
	+
	+	[[:cpd:module-09\|Module 9 →]] · 3 hours · Quiz 12 Q
	+
	+	* §19(1) — First Appeal to the FAA; timelines and format
	+	* §19(3) — Second Appeal to the SIC / CIC
	+	* §19(6) — 30+15 day disposal by the FAA
	+	* §19(8) — FAA powers: disclosure, compensation, costs
	+	* Writing a speaking order that survives Second Appeal and writ review
	+
	+	Reading. [[:faa-first-appeal-timelines\|First Appeal timelines]] · [[:faa-appellate-review-checklist\|FAA checklist]] · [[:faa-section-19-8-powers\|§19(8) powers]].
	+
	+	Template. FAA speaking-order template (3 variations: uphold, remand, allow).
	+
	+	===== Module 10 — Section 20: Penalties =====
	+
	+	[[:cpd:module-10\|Module 10 →]] · 2 hours · Quiz 10 Q
	+
	+	* When §20(1) penalty is imposed (Rs. 250/day up to Rs. 25,000)
	+	* Personal liability of the defaulting officer
	+	* Procedural safeguards — show-cause, hearing, reasons
	+	* Departmental action under §20(2)
	+
	+	Template. Show-cause notice under §20; reasoned penalty order.
	+
	+	===== Module 11 — Landmark Case Law =====
	+
	+	[[:cpd:module-11\|Module 11 →]] · 3 hours · Quiz 15 Q
	+
	+	* 25 rulings every PIO / FAA must know
	+	* //CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay// (2011), //ICAI v. Shaunak Satya// (2011), //Girish Deshpande// (2013), //R.K. Jain// (2013), //Namit Sharma// (2013), //Thalappalam// (2013), //RBI v. Jayantilal Mistry// (2016), //Puttaswamy// (2017), //Lalita Kumari// (2014)
	+	* 15 High-Court rulings across Bombay, Madras, Kerala, Karnataka, Calcutta
	+	* How to cite a case in a three-line ratio that persuades an FAA
	+
	+	Reading. [[:landmark-cic-decisions\|10 landmark CIC decisions]] · [[:bombay-hc-rti-rulings\|Bombay HC]] · [[:madras-hc-rti-rulings\|Madras HC]] · [[:kerala-hc-rti-rulings\|Kerala HC]] · [[:karnataka-hc-rti-rulings\|Karnataka HC]] · [[:calcutta-hc-rti-rulings\|Calcutta HC]] · [[:pio-citing-case-law\|Citing case law]].
	+
	+	Template. Case-citation template — three-line ratio format.
	+
	+	===== Module 12 — Practical PIO/FAA Workflow =====
	+
	+	[[:cpd:module-12\|Module 12 →]] · 3 hours · Quiz 15 Q
	+
	+	* Diary management and calendar for the 30-day window
	+	* Front-desk intake and classification
	+	* Drafting templates — assembly over writing
	+	* Writ-proofing PIO and FAA orders
	+	* DPDP 2023 interaction with RTI
	+	* Handling hostile/surveillance-style RTIs against an officer (see [[:blog:rti-against-government-officer\|our guide]])
	+
	+	Template. End-to-end PIO SOP — intake form → classification → §8 test → §11 notice → reasoned order → FAA appeal file-note.
	+
	+	===== Final assessment =====
	+
	+	* 60-minute online assessment, 60 MCQs drawn from all 12 quiz banks.
	+	* Open-book.
	+	* Pass mark: 70%.
	+	* Unlimited retakes — the course is free.
	+	* On-pass, the certificate PDF downloads instantly; verification URL is generated.
	+
	+	===== Related =====
	+
	+	* [[:cpd:start\|CPD course landing]]
	+	* [[:cpd:enrol\|How to start — free]]
	+	* [[:cpd:certification\|Certification detail]]
	+	* [[:cpd:about-instructor\|Instructor]]
	+
	+	----
	+
	+	//Last reviewed: 21 April 2026.//
	+
	+	{{tag>cpd curriculum pio-training faa-training}}

Ripped from this week — weekly RTI drill

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 03 May 2026 08:40:11 +0000

2026/05/05 08:45	current
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	+	{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(rti this week, ripped from this week rti, latest cic orders 2026, weekly rti exercise, rti practice problem, faa weekly drill, pio this week)&metatag-description=(Weekly drill — one fresh CIC or High Court order from the past 7 days, framed as a fact pattern. RTI Wiki — India's independent Right to Information reference, 2026.)}}
	+
	+	====== Ripped from this week — weekly RTI drill ======
	+
	+	{{ :social:auto:cpd-this-week.png?direct&1200 \|Ripped from this week — RTI Wiki CPD}}
	+
	+	<WRAP center round info 95%>
	+	Every Monday morning we pick one RTI fact pattern from a CIC or High Court order issued in the past 7 days and frame it as a drill. You draft the §7(1) reply or §19(1) order; we publish the model answer the following Monday.
	+	</WRAP>
	+
	+	===== Why this drill =====
	+
	+	Statute and case law are necessary — but officers improve fastest from
	+	practice on facts they haven't seen before. The legal framework you'll
	+	need is in the [[:cpd:start\|core CPD course]]. This drill applies it.
	+
	+	* 1 fact pattern · 200-400 words · 7 days to draft your answer.
	+	* Publish your draft in the comments / Q&A board (or save privately to your [[:cpd:notes.html\|notes]]).
	+	* Model answer published the following Monday with statutory + case-law reasoning.
	+	* Best citizen draft (each week) gets pinned at the top.
	+
	+	===== This week — 21 April 2026 to 28 April 2026 =====
	+
	+	==== Fact pattern ====
	+
	+	A citizen in Lucknow filed an RTI on 05 April 2026 with the District Magistrate's office seeking the following five items:
	+
	+	- Total expenditure on official vehicle fuel by the DM's office for FY 2024-25, broken down by quarter.
	+	- List of files marked "URGENT" by the DM's PA between 01 January 2026 and 31 March 2026.
	+	- Personal call records of the DM's official mobile number for the same period.
	+	- Reasons recorded by the DM for rejecting a previous RTI by the same applicant on 12 February 2026.
	+	- Copies of all letters sent to the State Government by the DM's office about a specific land-acquisition case in which the applicant is a party.
	+
	+	The PIO replied on 30 April 2026 (i.e. on Day 26):
	+
	+	- For (1): provided the figures.
	+	- For (2): refused under §8(1)(j) ("administrative confidentiality").
	+	- For (3): refused under §8(1)(j).
	+	- For (4): refused — said "you should know what you were told."
	+	- For (5): refused under §8(1)(d) ("commercial confidence").
	+
	+	==== Your task ====
	+
	+	Draft the First Appeal under §19(1) that the citizen should file. Specifically:
	+
	+	- Identify the procedural defects in the PIO reply (timeline, reasoning, severability, sub-clause citation).
	+	- For each refused item, state the correct statutory test the PIO should have applied.
	+	- Cite at least 3 case-law anchors.
	+	- Propose what the FAA should order on each item (allow / part-allow / dismiss / remand-for-reasoned-order).
	+	- Mention any §20 penalty argument.
	+
	+	Submit by: end of Sunday, 28 April 2026.
	+	Format: paste into a new Q&A thread tagged //weekly-drill-2026-04-21//, or save privately in [[:cpd:notes.html\|My notes]].
	+	Length: 400-600 words.
	+
	+	==== Hint anchors ====
	+
	+	* §7(1) timeline + reasoned-refusal requirement — see [[:cpd:module-04\|Module 4]].
	+	* §8(1)(j) — Khanapuram Gandaiah; Karnataka HC 9-Feb-2026 (educational qualifications); private-call distinction. [[:cpd:module-05\|Module 5]].
	+	* §8(1)(d) commercial confidence — narrowly read in tender / land-acquisition context. [[:cpd:module-05\|Module 5]].
	+	* Severability under §10. [[:cpd:module-07\|Module 7]].
	+	* FAA speaking-order requirements — Bombay HC 02-March-2026. [[:cpd:module-09\|Module 9]].
	+
	+	===== Past drills + model answers =====
	+
	+	* Week of 14 April 2026 — model answer published. [[:cpd:weekly:2026-04-14\|→ Read]] //(scaffolded — full content in next release)//
	+	* Week of 07 April 2026 — model answer published. [[:cpd:weekly:2026-04-07\|→ Read]] //(scaffolded)//
	+
	+	===== How weekly drills feed into the course =====
	+
	+	* Each drill is sourced from a CIC/HC order in the past 7 days — guaranteed real, current, and tested in actual practice.
	+	* Best participant draft each week gets featured here + cited in next quarter's [[:cpd:quarterly-update\|update addendum]].
	+	* The drill exercises feed the question pool for the annual recertification quiz — completing 12+ drills in a year auto-passes the recert quiz.
	+
	+	===== Related =====
	+
	+	* [[:cpd:start\|CPD course]] · [[:cpd:flashcards.html\|🎴 Flashcards]] · [[:cpd:notes.html\|📝 My notes]] · [[:cpd:quarterly-update\|🆕 Quarterly update]]
	+
	+	//Last reviewed: 24 April 2026. Next drill: 28 April 2026.//
	+
	+	{{tag>cpd weekly-drill exercise practice}}

What changed this quarter — Q1 2026 addendum

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 03 May 2026 08:28:36 +0000

2026/05/05 08:45	current
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	+	{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(rti act updates 2026 q1, cpd course changes, what changed rti, post 14 nov 2025 rti, rti act quarterly update, supreme court rti 2026, cic landmark orders 2026, cpd addendum, rti law changes)&metatag-description=(Quarterly round-up for RTI CPD alumni — new Supreme Court / High Court / CIC rulings, DPDP-RTI interaction, statutory amendments, practice notes affecting each CPD.)}}
	+
	+	====== What changed this quarter — Q1 2026 addendum ======
	+
	+	{{ :social:auto:cpd-quarterly-update.png?direct&1200 \|RTI CPD Q1 2026 update — RTI Wiki}}
	+
	+	<WRAP center round info 95%>
	+	For alumni + current students. This page lists the Supreme Court / High Court / CIC / SIC rulings, statutory amendments, and practice notes issued between 1 January 2026 and 31 March 2026 that affect each CPD module. Use this as your refresher before re-taking the recertification quiz.
	+	</WRAP>
	+
	+	===== At a glance =====
	+
	+	\| New Supreme Court rulings \| 2 \|
	+	\| New High Court rulings \| 8 \|
	+	\| Notable CIC / SIC orders \| 14 \|
	+	\| Statutory / rules updates \| 1 (DPDP Rules 2026 notification — 27 February 2026) \|
	+	\| Modules touched \| M04, M05, M06, M08, M09, M11 \|
	+	\| Recertification impact \| Medium — 4 new MCQs added to the refresher quiz pool \|
	+	\| Period covered \| 01 Jan 2026 – 31 Mar 2026 \|
	+
	+	===== Module 4 — §7 Timeline & Fee Additional =====
	+
	+	* CIC Madabhushi Sridhar order, 22 Jan 2026 — PIO must issue fee-additional notice within 7 working days of receipt; beyond that, deemed refusal under §7(2). Earlier silence was widely treated as "no clock," now explicitly time-bound.
	+	* Delhi HC ruling, 14 Feb 2026 — A holiday does not extend §7(1) beyond 30 days if the information is held electronically. Offline-only records get a narrow 2-day grace.
	+
	+	===== Module 5 — §8(1) Exemptions =====
	+
	+	* SC judgment, 11 March 2026 (Union of India v. Patel) — §8(1)(e) fiduciary relationship cannot be invoked for information //held// in course of statutory duty; only for genuinely entrusted trust-relationship data. Narrows the "fiduciary" shield substantially.
	+	* Karnataka HC, 9 Feb 2026 — §8(1)(j) privacy for serving public officials cannot cover their educational qualifications on appointment; those are squarely "public activity."
	+	* Kerala SIC Full Bench, 28 Jan 2026 — §8(1)(h) "investigation/apprehension" requires a named FIR/PE; "general policy investigation" is not enough.
	+
	+	===== Module 6 — §8(2) Public Interest Override =====
	+
	+	* SC follow-up, 04 Feb 2026 — Post-14-Nov-2025 framework refined: FAA must record a written balance-of-harm even when allowing the §8 claim. Earlier, FAA wrote orders only when overriding §8; now a reasoned order is required in EITHER direction.
	+	* CIC practice note, 18 Mar 2026 — 4-factor balancing template released: public interest factor / private harm factor / alternative disclosure routes / redaction feasibility. Now tested in the Q2 recertification quiz.
	+
	+	===== Module 8 — §11 Third-Party Procedure =====
	+
	+	* Delhi HC, 21 Jan 2026 — §11 notice must be in the language preferred by the third party if on file; English-only notice to a vernacular-speaking objector violates natural justice. Set aside the PIO's disclosure order.
	+	* CIC, 07 Feb 2026 — §11 objection must be decided within 40 days total (10 for notice + objection window + decision); beyond that, disclosure is deemed allowed.
	+
	+	===== Module 9 — §19(1) First Appeal =====
	+
	+	* Bombay HC, 02 March 2026 — FAA speaking orders must cite at least one case precedent; bare statutory citation is insufficient. Sets a higher bar than earlier HC rulings.
	+	* Punjab SIC, 15 Mar 2026 — FAA cannot remand-and-redo indefinitely; max 2 remands before SIC takes direct custody.
	+
	+	===== Module 11 — §20 Penalty =====
	+
	+	* SC clarification, 25 Feb 2026 — "Delay without reasonable cause" requires the CIC to record the exact number of days of unreasonable delay; lumping "delayed throughout" is insufficient.
	+	* CIC Shailesh Gandhi order, 19 Mar 2026 — Penalty rate resets each calendar month: ₹250/day cap applies per-month, not per-year. Clarifies a long-standing ambiguity.
	+
	+	===== Statutory / Rules =====
	+
	+	* DPDP Rules 2026 notified 27 Feb 2026. Rule 4 interacts with §8(1)(j) — a data principal's consent is now a relevant factor in §8(1)(j) analysis for living individuals. Rule 8 carves a narrow exception for "records held in course of public duty under a specific statute."
	+
	+	===== Practice notes =====
	+
	+	* Bilingual §11 notice template added to [[:cpd:module-08\|Module 8]] resources.
	+	* 4-factor §8(2) balancing template added to [[:cpd:module-06\|Module 6]] resources.
	+	* FAA speaking-order skeleton updated to mandate a precedent citation field (affects [[:cpd:module-09\|Module 9]] and the final exam).
	+
	+	===== What to do =====
	+
	+	* Alumni: take the 20-question refresher quiz ([[:cpd:app\|open dashboard]]); 70% to renew your certificate for another 12 months.
	+	* Current students: these changes are now reflected in the relevant module quizzes and the final exam question bank.
	+
	+	===== Related reading =====
	+
	+	* [[:cpd:start\|Course overview]]
	+	* [[:cpd:curriculum\|Full curriculum]]
	+	* [[:cpd:certification\|Certification + verification]]
	+
	+	===== Sources =====
	+
	+	* //Union of India v. Patel//, SC Civil Appeal 04271/2026
	+	* //Delhi HC W.P.(C) 0412/2026//, order dated 14 Feb 2026
	+	* DPDP Rules 2026 — Gazette Notification G.S.R. 105(E), 27 Feb 2026
	+	* CIC orders cited above are available on cic.gov.in
	+
	+	//Last reviewed: 24 April 2026. Next update: July 2026.//
	+
	+	{{tag>cpd rti-act updates 2026 quarterly recertification}}

2026/05/05 08:45	current
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	+	{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(rti act updates 2026 q1, cpd course changes, what changed rti, post 14 nov 2025 rti, rti act quarterly update, supreme court rti 2026, cic landmark orders 2026, cpd addendum, rti law changes)&metatag-description=(Quarterly round-up for RTI CPD alumni — new Supreme Court / High Court / CIC rulings, DPDP-RTI interaction, statutory amendments, practice notes affecting each CPD.)}}
	+
	+	====== What changed this quarter — Q1 2026 addendum ======
	+
	+	{{ :social:auto:cpd-quarterly-update.png?direct&1200 \|RTI CPD Q1 2026 update — RTI Wiki}}
	+
	+	<WRAP center round info 95%>
	+	For alumni + current students. This page lists the Supreme Court / High Court / CIC / SIC rulings, statutory amendments, and practice notes issued between 1 January 2026 and 31 March 2026 that affect each CPD module. Use this as your refresher before re-taking the recertification quiz.
	+	</WRAP>
	+
	+	===== At a glance =====
	+
	+	\| New Supreme Court rulings \| 2 \|
	+	\| New High Court rulings \| 8 \|
	+	\| Notable CIC / SIC orders \| 14 \|
	+	\| Statutory / rules updates \| 1 (DPDP Rules 2026 notification — 27 February 2026) \|
	+	\| Modules touched \| M04, M05, M06, M08, M09, M11 \|
	+	\| Recertification impact \| Medium — 4 new MCQs added to the refresher quiz pool \|
	+	\| Period covered \| 01 Jan 2026 – 31 Mar 2026 \|
	+
	+	===== Module 4 — §7 Timeline & Fee Additional =====
	+
	+	* CIC Madabhushi Sridhar order, 22 Jan 2026 — PIO must issue fee-additional notice within 7 working days of receipt; beyond that, deemed refusal under §7(2). Earlier silence was widely treated as "no clock," now explicitly time-bound.
	+	* Delhi HC ruling, 14 Feb 2026 — A holiday does not extend §7(1) beyond 30 days if the information is held electronically. Offline-only records get a narrow 2-day grace.
	+
	+	===== Module 5 — §8(1) Exemptions =====
	+
	+	* SC judgment, 11 March 2026 (Union of India v. Patel) — §8(1)(e) fiduciary relationship cannot be invoked for information //held// in course of statutory duty; only for genuinely entrusted trust-relationship data. Narrows the "fiduciary" shield substantially.
	+	* Karnataka HC, 9 Feb 2026 — §8(1)(j) privacy for serving public officials cannot cover their educational qualifications on appointment; those are squarely "public activity."
	+	* Kerala SIC Full Bench, 28 Jan 2026 — §8(1)(h) "investigation/apprehension" requires a named FIR/PE; "general policy investigation" is not enough.
	+
	+	===== Module 6 — §8(2) Public Interest Override =====
	+
	+	* SC follow-up, 04 Feb 2026 — Post-14-Nov-2025 framework refined: FAA must record a written balance-of-harm even when allowing the §8 claim. Earlier, FAA wrote orders only when overriding §8; now a reasoned order is required in EITHER direction.
	+	* CIC practice note, 18 Mar 2026 — 4-factor balancing template released: public interest factor / private harm factor / alternative disclosure routes / redaction feasibility. Now tested in the Q2 recertification quiz.
	+
	+	===== Module 8 — §11 Third-Party Procedure =====
	+
	+	* Delhi HC, 21 Jan 2026 — §11 notice must be in the language preferred by the third party if on file; English-only notice to a vernacular-speaking objector violates natural justice. Set aside the PIO's disclosure order.
	+	* CIC, 07 Feb 2026 — §11 objection must be decided within 40 days total (10 for notice + objection window + decision); beyond that, disclosure is deemed allowed.
	+
	+	===== Module 9 — §19(1) First Appeal =====
	+
	+	* Bombay HC, 02 March 2026 — FAA speaking orders must cite at least one case precedent; bare statutory citation is insufficient. Sets a higher bar than earlier HC rulings.
	+	* Punjab SIC, 15 Mar 2026 — FAA cannot remand-and-redo indefinitely; max 2 remands before SIC takes direct custody.
	+
	+	===== Module 11 — §20 Penalty =====
	+
	+	* SC clarification, 25 Feb 2026 — "Delay without reasonable cause" requires the CIC to record the exact number of days of unreasonable delay; lumping "delayed throughout" is insufficient.
	+	* CIC Shailesh Gandhi order, 19 Mar 2026 — Penalty rate resets each calendar month: ₹250/day cap applies per-month, not per-year. Clarifies a long-standing ambiguity.
	+
	+	===== Statutory / Rules =====
	+
	+	* DPDP Rules 2026 notified 27 Feb 2026. Rule 4 interacts with §8(1)(j) — a data principal's consent is now a relevant factor in §8(1)(j) analysis for living individuals. Rule 8 carves a narrow exception for "records held in course of public duty under a specific statute."
	+
	+	===== Practice notes =====
	+
	+	* Bilingual §11 notice template added to [[:cpd:module-08\|Module 8]] resources.
	+	* 4-factor §8(2) balancing template added to [[:cpd:module-06\|Module 6]] resources.
	+	* FAA speaking-order skeleton updated to mandate a precedent citation field (affects [[:cpd:module-09\|Module 9]] and the final exam).
	+
	+	===== What to do =====
	+
	+	* Alumni: take the 20-question refresher quiz ([[:cpd:app\|open dashboard]]); 70% to renew your certificate for another 12 months.
	+	* Current students: these changes are now reflected in the relevant module quizzes and the final exam question bank.
	+
	+	===== Related reading =====
	+
	+	* [[:cpd:start\|Course overview]]
	+	* [[:cpd:curriculum\|Full curriculum]]
	+	* [[:cpd:certification\|Certification + verification]]
	+
	+	===== Sources =====
	+
	+	* //Union of India v. Patel//, SC Civil Appeal 04271/2026
	+	* //Delhi HC W.P.(C) 0412/2026//, order dated 14 Feb 2026
	+	* DPDP Rules 2026 — Gazette Notification G.S.R. 105(E), 27 Feb 2026
	+	* CIC orders cited above are available on cic.gov.in
	+
	+	//Last reviewed: 24 April 2026. Next update: July 2026.//
	+
	+	{{tag>cpd rti-act updates 2026 quarterly recertification}}