This is Set 7 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 Form and language of request, fee, assistance for oral requests, no reasons required and transfer of applications.
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 7: Section 6: Request for Obtaining Information
1. Under Section 6(1), a request for information can be made
(a) only in person
(b) only by registered post
(c) only through a lawyer
(d) in writing or through electronic means
Ans. (d) in writing or through electronic means — Explanation: Section 6(1) allows written or electronic requests. [Ref: Section 6(1)]
2. A request under Section 6(1) may be in
(a) English or Hindi or the official language of the area
(b) English only
(c) any foreign language
(d) Hindi only
Ans. (a) English or Hindi or the official language of the area — Explanation: Section 6(1) allows these three options. [Ref: Section 6(1)]
3. A request under Section 6(1) must be accompanied by
(a) an affidavit
(b) an identity card
(c) a reason for seeking information
(d) such fee as may be prescribed
Ans. (d) such fee as may be prescribed — Explanation: Section 6(1) requires the prescribed fee, which is ₹10 under the Central rules. [Ref: Section 6(1); Rule 3]
4. Where a request cannot be made in writing, the PIO shall
(a) ask the person to come with a lawyer
(b) reject the request
(c) render all reasonable assistance to the person making the request orally to reduce it to writing
(d) forward it to the CIC
Ans. (c) render all reasonable assistance to the person making the request orally to reduce it to writing — Explanation: The proviso to Section 6(1) requires assistance to reduce oral requests to writing. [Ref: Section 6(1), proviso]
5. Under Section 6(2), an applicant
(a) is not required to give any reason for requesting information
(b) must show legal interest
(c) must give an affidavit of purpose
(d) must give detailed reasons
Ans. (a) is not required to give any reason for requesting information — Explanation: Section 6(2) bars asking for reasons. [Ref: Section 6(2)]
6. Under Section 6(2), the only personal details an applicant must give are
(a) date of birth and occupation
(b) those necessary for contacting him or her
(c) PAN and Aadhaar
(d) caste and religion
Ans. (b) those necessary for contacting him or her — Explanation: Section 6(2) limits personal details to contact details. [Ref: Section 6(2)]
7. Where the requested information is held by another public authority, the PIO must transfer the application within
(a) forty-eight hours
(b) thirty days
(c) five days from receipt
(d) ten days
Ans. (c) five days from receipt — Explanation: Section 6(3) requires transfer as soon as practicable but not later than five days. [Ref: Section 6(3)]
8. When transferring an application under Section 6(3), the PIO must
(a) refund the fee
(b) seek fresh fee from the applicant
(c) ask the applicant's permission
(d) inform the applicant immediately about the transfer
Ans. (d) inform the applicant immediately about the transfer — Explanation: Section 6(3) requires immediate intimation to the applicant. [Ref: Section 6(3)]
9. Section 6(3) applies where the information is
(a) about a third party
(b) older than 20 years
(c) held by another public authority, or its subject matter is more closely connected with another public authority's functions
(d) exempt under Section 8
Ans. (c) held by another public authority, or its subject matter is more closely connected with another public authority's functions — Explanation: Both situations allow transfer under Section 6(3). [Ref: Section 6(3)]
10. The time limit of five days for transfer under Section 6(3) is counted from
(a) the date of receipt of the application
(b) the date of payment of additional fee
(c) the date of the application
(d) the date of hearing
Ans. (a) the date of receipt of the application — Explanation: Transfer must be within five days from receipt. [Ref: Section 6(3)]
11. An application addressed to a public authority should be addressed to
(a) the CPIO or SPIO of the concerned public authority
(b) the CIC
(c) the First Appellate Authority
(d) the Minister
Ans. (a) the CPIO or SPIO of the concerned public authority — Explanation: Section 6(1) requires the request to be made to the PIO. [Ref: Section 6(1)]
12. Can a PIO reject an application because the applicant has not stated why the information is needed?
(a) Yes, if the information is voluminous
(b) No, Section 6(2) bars asking for reasons
(c) Yes, with CIC approval
(d) Yes, always
Ans. (b) No, Section 6(2) bars asking for reasons — Explanation: Section 6(2) protects applicants from having to justify requests. [Ref: Section 6(2)]
13. An application can be made to an APIO under Section 6(1) in respect of
(a) only State Government information
(b) only Supreme Court information
(c) information sought from a public authority, for forwarding to its PIO
(d) only appeals
Ans. (c) information sought from a public authority, for forwarding to its PIO — Explanation: Section 6(1) allows submission to the CAPIO or SAPIO. [Ref: Section 6(1); Section 5(2)]
14. Where only part of an application relates to another public authority, the PIO should
(a) reject the whole application
(b) return the application
(c) reply to nothing
(d) transfer that part to the other authority under Section 6(3) and answer the rest
Ans. (d) transfer that part to the other authority under Section 6(3) and answer the rest — Explanation: The part concerning another authority is transferred within five days. [Ref: Section 6(3)]
15. A Central Government online facility for filing RTI applications to Central public authorities is
(a) the e-Courts portal
(b) the GeM portal
(c) the RTI Online portal (rtionline.gov.in)
(d) the CPGRAMS portal only
Ans. (c) the RTI Online portal (rtionline.gov.in) — Explanation: DoPT runs RTI Online for filing applications and first appeals with online fee payment. [Ref: Section 6(1); DoPT RTI Online]
16. Under Section 6(1), electronic requests are permitted. This means an application by e-mail
(a) is never valid
(b) is valid only for State bodies
(c) is valid if the prescribed fee is paid in the manner allowed
(d) is valid without any fee
Ans. (c) is valid if the prescribed fee is paid in the manner allowed — Explanation: Electronic means are permitted, subject to payment of the prescribed fee. [Ref: Section 6(1)]
17. Which of the following details is an applicant NOT required to give?
(a) The prescribed fee
(b) An address for contact
(c) Particulars of the information sought
(d) The reason for seeking the information
Ans. (d) The reason for seeking the information — Explanation: Section 6(2) bars requiring reasons. [Ref: Section 6(2)]
18. A PIO receives an application on a subject handled by two other public authorities. He should
(a) reply to for all three authorities himself
(b) transfer the relevant parts to each concerned authority within five days and inform the applicant
(c) reject the application
(d) ask the applicant to apply again
Ans. (b) transfer the relevant parts to each concerned authority within five days and inform the applicant — Explanation: Section 6(3) applies to each authority concerned. [Ref: Section 6(3)]
19. Who renders assistance to an illiterate person who wishes to make an oral request?
(a) The CIC
(b) The PIO
(c) The applicant's advocate
(d) The Head of Department
Ans. (b) The PIO — Explanation: The proviso to Section 6(1) places this duty on the PIO. [Ref: Section 6(1), proviso]
20. The application fee prescribed under the RTI Rules, 2012 for Central public authorities is
(a) nil
(b) Rupees ten
(c) Rupees one hundred
(d) Rupees fifty
Ans. (b) Rupees ten — Explanation: Rule 3 prescribes ₹10 per application. [Ref: Rule 3, RTI Rules 2012]
21. An application transferred under Section 6(3) to another public authority is treated, for the time limit, as received by that authority from
(a) the date it was first filed
(b) the date of payment
(c) the date of its receipt by that authority
(d) the date of the first appeal
Ans. (c) the date of its receipt by that authority — Explanation: The receiving authority's time limit runs from its own receipt of the transferred application. [Ref: Section 7(1); DoPT guidelines]
22. Assertion (A): An RTI applicant need not give reasons. Reason (R): The right to information is a statutory right of every citizen subject only to the Act.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans. (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A — Explanation: Sections 3 and 6(2) together mean no justification is needed for exercising the right. [Ref: Sections 3 and 6(2)]
23. Consider: (i) A request may be made in the official language of the area. (ii) A request must be made only in English. Which is correct?
(a) Only (i)
(b) Only (ii)
(c) Both (i) and (ii)
(d) Neither (i) nor (ii)
Ans. (a) Only (i) — Explanation: Section 6(1) allows English, Hindi or the official language of the area. [Ref: Section 6(1)]
24. A request for information under Section 6 is to specify
(a) the applicant's income
(b) the purpose of the information
(c) the applicant's political views
(d) the particulars of the information sought
Ans. (d) the particulars of the information sought — Explanation: The applicant specifies the particulars of information sought, without reasons. [Ref: Section 6(1)]
25. A PIO who keeps an application that belongs to another authority for 25 days before transferring it
(a) acts properly if the fee is refunded
(b) violates the five-day limit in Section 6(3)
(c) acts properly if he informs the CIC
(d) acts properly
Ans. (b) violates the five-day limit in Section 6(3) — Explanation: Transfer must be within five days of receipt. [Ref: Section 6(3)]
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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.