This is Set 6 of 40 in the smartvidya question bank on the Right to Information Act, 2005 and RTI Rules, 2012, with the latest amendments. Part II: Right to information and obligations of public authorities. This set covers Designation of CPIOs and SPIOs, Assistant PIOs, duties of PIOs and assistance from other officers.
Try each question first, then tap Show answer to see the correct option, a short explanation and the section or rule reference. The questions are useful for departmental and promotion examinations, for PIOs and First Appellate Authorities, and for citizens who use the RTI Act.
Set 6: Section 5: Public Information Officers
1. Under Section 5(1), every public authority was to designate Public Information Officers within
(a) one year
(b) one hundred and twenty days
(c) one hundred days of the enactment of the Act
(d) thirty days
Ans. (c) one hundred days of the enactment of the Act — Explanation: Section 5(1) fixed 100 days for designation of CPIOs and SPIOs. [Ref: Section 5(1)]
2. Public Information Officers are to be designated in
(a) only the Ministry
(b) all administrative units or offices under the public authority, as necessary
(c) only the head office
(d) only district offices
Ans. (b) all administrative units or offices under the public authority, as necessary — Explanation: Section 5(1) requires as many PIOs as necessary in all administrative units or offices. [Ref: Section 5(1)]
3. Assistant Public Information Officers are designated under Section 5(2) at
(a) each sub-divisional level or other sub-district level
(b) the CIC office
(c) the Ministry only
(d) the State capital only
Ans. (a) each sub-divisional level or other sub-district level — Explanation: APIOs receive applications and appeals at sub-divisional or sub-district level. [Ref: Section 5(2)]
4. The role of an Assistant Public Information Officer is to
(a) receive applications or appeals and forward them to the PIO or the appellate authority or Commission
(b) impose penalties
(c) decide RTI applications
(d) hear second appeals
Ans. (a) receive applications or appeals and forward them to the PIO or the appellate authority or Commission — Explanation: Section 5(2) gives the APIO a receiving and forwarding role. [Ref: Section 5(2)]
5. An APIO must forward an application or appeal to the PIO, appellate authority or Commission
(a) within thirty days
(b) within ten days
(c) forthwith
(d) at the end of the month
Ans. (c) forthwith — Explanation: Section 5(2) requires the APIO to forward forthwith. [Ref: Section 5(2)]
6. Where an application is submitted through an APIO, the time for reply under Section 7(1) is extended by
(a) thirty days
(b) ten days
(c) five days
(d) fifteen days
Ans. (c) five days — Explanation: The proviso to Section 5(2) adds five days to the time limit. [Ref: Section 5(2), proviso]
7. Section 5(3) requires every PIO to
(a) ask applicants for reasons
(b) forward all requests to the CIC
(c) verify the citizenship documents of every applicant
(d) deal with requests and render reasonable assistance to persons seeking information
Ans. (d) deal with requests and render reasonable assistance to persons seeking information — Explanation: Section 5(3) imposes a duty of reasonable assistance on PIOs. [Ref: Section 5(3)]
8. For the proper discharge of duties, a PIO may seek the assistance of
(a) only the Head of Office
(b) any other officer as he or she considers necessary
(c) private consultants
(d) only the CIC
Ans. (b) any other officer as he or she considers necessary — Explanation: Section 5(4) allows the PIO to seek help from any other officer. [Ref: Section 5(4)]
9. An officer whose assistance is sought by the PIO under Section 5(4) must
(a) render all assistance and is treated as a PIO for the purpose of contravention
(b) refer the matter to the CIC
(c) refuse if busy
(d) seek a fee from the applicant
Ans. (a) render all assistance and is treated as a PIO for the purpose of contravention — Explanation: Section 5(5) treats such an officer as a PIO for any contravention of the Act. [Ref: Section 5(5)]
10. The "deemed PIO" concept under Section 5(5) means that
(a) the APIO decides applications
(b) every officer is a PIO for all purposes
(c) the First Appellate Authority is a PIO
(d) an officer whose help is sought is liable like a PIO for contraventions
Ans. (d) an officer whose help is sought is liable like a PIO for contraventions — Explanation: This ensures accountability of officers who hold the information. [Ref: Section 5(5)]
11. Who designates the PIOs in a public authority?
(a) The public authority itself
(b) The CIC
(c) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha
(d) The Ministry of Law
Ans. (a) The public authority itself — Explanation: Section 5(1) places the duty on every public authority. [Ref: Section 5(1)]
12. Failure to appoint a PIO enables a person to complain to the Information Commission under
(a) Section 20(2)
(b) Section 11(1)
(c) Section 19(1)
(d) Section 18(1)(a)
Ans. (d) Section 18(1)(a) — Explanation: Section 18(1)(a) covers inability to submit a request because no PIO has been appointed. [Ref: Section 18(1)(a)]
13. In the Department of Posts, which officers have been notified as CAPIOs for receiving RTI applications for Central public authorities?
(a) None, as post offices cannot receive RTI applications
(b) Only Head Post Masters of State capitals
(c) Only the Director General of Posts
(d) Designated post office officials across the country
Ans. (d) Designated post office officials across the country — Explanation: The Department of Posts designated officials at post offices as CAPIOs to receive and forward applications to Central public authorities. [Ref: Section 5(2); DoPT and Department of Posts arrangements]
14. Under Section 5(3), the PIO must also render reasonable assistance where
(a) the applicant wants legal advice
(b) the applicant wants to file a civil suit
(c) the applicant needs help in seeking information
(d) the applicant asks for an interview
Ans. (c) the applicant needs help in seeking information — Explanation: Section 5(3) is a general duty of assistance to persons seeking information. [Ref: Section 5(3)]
15. The time limit under Section 5(1) for designating PIOs was counted from
(a) the enactment of the Act
(b) the publication of rules
(c) the date of the first request
(d) the constitution of the CIC
Ans. (a) the enactment of the Act — Explanation: Section 5(1) refers to 100 days of enactment. [Ref: Section 5(1)]
16. Assistant Public Information Officers also receive
(a) only complaints to courts
(b) first appeals and second appeals for forwarding
(c) only applications
(d) only fee payments
Ans. (b) first appeals and second appeals for forwarding — Explanation: Section 5(2) mentions applications and appeals. [Ref: Section 5(2)]
17. A PIO who seeks information from a Section Officer who refuses to give it, causing delay, may find that
(a) the Section Officer can be held liable as a deemed PIO
(b) the CIC cannot act
(c) the applicant must refile
(d) only the PIO is penalised in all cases
Ans. (a) the Section Officer can be held liable as a deemed PIO — Explanation: Section 5(5) makes the assisting officer liable like a PIO. [Ref: Section 5(5)]
18. A public authority with many offices should designate
(a) no PIO if it has a website
(b) as many PIOs as necessary in its administrative units
(c) PIOs only in headquarters
(d) only one PIO for the whole country
Ans. (b) as many PIOs as necessary in its administrative units — Explanation: Section 5(1) requires adequate designation. [Ref: Section 5(1)]
19. The First Appellate Authority under the RTI Rules, 2012 is an officer
(a) junior to the CPIO
(b) of the CIC
(c) senior in rank to the CPIO
(d) of the State Government
Ans. (c) senior in rank to the CPIO — Explanation: Rule 2 of the RTI Rules, 2012 defines First Appellate Authority as an officer senior in rank to the CPIO. [Ref: Rule 2, RTI Rules 2012; Section 19(1)]
20. Which of the following correctly describes a CPIO?
(a) An officer designated under Section 5(1) by a Central public authority, including a CAPIO
(b) Any officer of the Government of India
(c) A State Government officer
(d) A Commissioner appointed under Section 12
Ans. (a) An officer designated under Section 5(1) by a Central public authority, including a CAPIO — Explanation: Section 2(c) read with Section 5 defines the CPIO. [Ref: Sections 2(c) and 5]
21. A Section 5(4) request for help by the PIO can be made to
(a) only officers in the same building
(b) only the Secretary
(c) only officers of the same rank
(d) any other officer considered necessary
Ans. (d) any other officer considered necessary — Explanation: Section 5(4) does not restrict the officers whose help can be sought. [Ref: Section 5(4)]
22. Consider: (i) APIOs decide RTI applications. (ii) APIOs forward applications to the PIO. Which is correct?
(a) Only (i)
(b) Only (ii)
(c) Both (i) and (ii)
(d) Neither (i) nor (ii)
Ans. (b) Only (ii) — Explanation: APIOs only receive and forward; PIOs decide applications. [Ref: Section 5(2)]
23. The additional five days under the proviso to Section 5(2) apply because
(a) the information is older than 20 years
(b) the application is first received by an APIO who must forward it
(c) the applicant asked for urgent information
(d) the information involves a third party
Ans. (b) the application is first received by an APIO who must forward it — Explanation: The proviso accounts for forwarding time through an APIO. [Ref: Section 5(2), proviso]
24. A PIO's duty under Section 5(3) is best described as
(a) hearing first appeals
(b) framing RTI rules
(c) auditing public authorities
(d) dealing with requests and assisting persons seeking information
Ans. (d) dealing with requests and assisting persons seeking information — Explanation: Section 5(3) describes the PIO's core duty. [Ref: Section 5(3)]
25. The deemed PIO under Section 5(5) can be subjected to
(a) no action under the Act
(b) only a warning
(c) penalty under Section 20, as a PIO for contravention purposes
(d) only an inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act
Ans. (c) penalty under Section 20, as a PIO for contravention purposes — Explanation: Being treated as a PIO, such an officer can face penalties for contraventions. [Ref: Sections 5(5) and 20]
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Next: Set 7. See all sets under the label RTI Act. For exam preparation, attempt the full set before checking answers and revise the topic of every question you miss.
These questions are prepared for practice from the Right to Information Act, 2005 as amended (including the 2019 amendment and the November 2025 change to Section 8(1)(j) made by the DPDP Act, 2023), the RTI Rules, 2012 and the 2019 Rules. Check the latest notifications and DoPT instructions before relying on any detail.