This is Set 12 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 Personal information after the DPDP Act amendment, Official Secrets Act override and information older than twenty years.
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 12: Section 8(1)(j), 8(2) and 8(3): Personal Information, Public Interest and Twenty-Year Rule
1. As amended by Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act now exempts
(a) information which relates to personal information having no relationship to public activity, unless larger public interest justifies disclosure
(b) information which relates to personal information
(c) all information about third parties
(d) information about all Government servants
Ans. (b) information which relates to personal information — Explanation: The DPDP Act substituted clause (j) with the shorter wording, removing the public activity and larger public interest qualifications. [Ref: Section 8(1)(j); DPDP Act, 2023, Section 44(3)]
2. The amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act made by the DPDP Act, 2023 was brought into force in
(a) August 2023, on enactment
(b) October 2019
(c) November 2025, along with notification of the DPDP Rules, 2025
(d) it has not been brought into force
Ans. (c) November 2025, along with notification of the DPDP Rules, 2025 — Explanation: The Central Government notified the RTI amendment to take effect immediately in November 2025, while most DPDP obligations were phased over eighteen months. [Ref: DPDP Act, 2023, Section 44(3); notification of November 2025]
3. Before the 2023 amendment, Section 8(1)(j) allowed disclosure of personal information if
(a) the CPIO or appellate authority was satisfied that larger public interest justified it
(b) the third party consented in writing only
(c) the CIC approved in every case
(d) the information was older than 20 years
Ans. (a) the CPIO or appellate authority was satisfied that larger public interest justified it — Explanation: The original clause had a larger public interest exception and a public activity test. [Ref: Section 8(1)(j) (pre-amendment)]
4. In Girish Ramchandra Deshpande v. CIC (2012), the Supreme Court held that service records, disciplinary orders and income tax returns of an employee are
(a) Cabinet papers
(b) commercial confidence
(c) personal information exempt under Section 8(1)(j), unless larger public interest is shown
(d) always disclosable
Ans. (c) personal information exempt under Section 8(1)(j), unless larger public interest is shown — Explanation: This was decided under the original wording of Section 8(1)(j). [Ref: Section 8(1)(j); Girish Ramchandra Deshpande (2012)]
5. The DPDP Act amendment to Section 8(1)(j) is significant because it
(a) removes the express larger public interest override from clause (j)
(b) abolishes Section 8(2)
(c) extends the RTI Act to private companies
(d) repeals the RTI Act
Ans. (a) removes the express larger public interest override from clause (j) — Explanation: The new clause simply exempts information relating to personal information. [Ref: Section 8(1)(j) as amended]
6. Section 8(2) permits a public authority to allow access to information exempt under Section 8(1) or the Official Secrets Act if
(a) the CIC orders it in every case
(b) the information is not marked secret
(c) the applicant pays double fee
(d) public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests
Ans. (d) public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests — Explanation: Section 8(2) contains the general public interest override. [Ref: Section 8(2)]
7. Section 8(2) begins with "Notwithstanding anything in" which law?
(a) The Indian Evidence Act, 1872
(b) The Official Secrets Act, 1923
(c) The Public Records Act, 1993
(d) The Information Technology Act, 2000
Ans. (b) The Official Secrets Act, 1923 — Explanation: Section 8(2) overrides the Official Secrets Act and the exemptions in Section 8(1). [Ref: Section 8(2)]
8. Under Section 8(3), information relating to an event that took place how many years before the request shall be provided?
(a) Twenty-five years
(b) Thirty years
(c) Twenty years
(d) Ten years
Ans. (c) Twenty years — Explanation: Section 8(3) applies to events twenty years before the request. [Ref: Section 8(3)]
9. The twenty-year rule in Section 8(3) is subject to
(a) all clauses of Section 8(1)
(b) no exemption
(c) clause (j) only
(d) clauses (a), (c) and (i) of Section 8(1)
Ans. (d) clauses (a), (c) and (i) of Section 8(1) — Explanation: Security, legislative privilege and Cabinet papers remain protected even after twenty years. [Ref: Section 8(3)]
10. Under Section 8(3), if a question arises about the date from which twenty years is computed, the decision of
(a) the Supreme Court is required
(b) the PIO shall be final
(c) the CIC shall be final without appeal
(d) the Central Government shall be final, subject to the usual appeals under the Act
Ans. (d) the Central Government shall be final, subject to the usual appeals under the Act — Explanation: Section 8(3) makes the Central Government's decision final, subject to appeals. [Ref: Section 8(3)]
11. An applicant seeks records of a 1990 land allotment in 2026. The PIO cannot refuse it on the ground of
(a) Section 8(1)(a) security
(b) Section 8(1)(c) legislative privilege
(c) Section 8(1)(i) Cabinet papers
(d) Section 8(1)(d) commercial confidence, since twenty years have passed
Ans. (d) Section 8(1)(d) commercial confidence, since twenty years have passed — Explanation: After twenty years only clauses 8(1)(a), 8(1)(c) and 8(1)(i) survive. [Ref: Section 8(3)]
12. Section 8(3) does NOT require public authorities to
(a) preserve records beyond their normal retention periods
(b) follow appeals on the date dispute
(c) disclose old information subject to exceptions
(d) compute the twenty-year period
Ans. (a) preserve records beyond their normal retention periods — Explanation: Section 8(3) applies to information that exists; it does not alter record retention rules. [Ref: Section 8(3)]
13. The general public interest override in the RTI Act is found in
(a) Section 24
(b) Section 8(2)
(c) Section 9
(d) Section 8(3)
Ans. (b) Section 8(2) — Explanation: Section 8(2) allows disclosure where public interest outweighs harm. [Ref: Section 8(2)]
14. In CPIO, Supreme Court v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal (2019), the Court held that disclosure of judges' asset declarations
(a) is not barred merely because it is personal information; it must be decided case by case
(b) is mandatory in every case
(c) is outside the RTI Act
(d) is absolutely barred
Ans. (a) is not barred merely because it is personal information; it must be decided case by case — Explanation: The Court balanced the right to information with privacy under the then Section 8(1)(j). [Ref: Section 8(1)(j); Subhash Chandra Agarwal (2019)]
15. Which recent law amended the RTI Act in respect of personal information?
(a) The Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014
(b) The Information Technology Act, 2000
(c) The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
(d) The Official Secrets (Amendment) Act, 2023
Ans. (c) The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 — Explanation: Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act substituted Section 8(1)(j). [Ref: DPDP Act, 2023, Section 44(3)]
16. After the DPDP amendment, can personal information still be disclosed where public interest outweighs harm?
(a) No, Section 8(2) was repealed
(b) Only under Section 24
(c) Yes, the general override in Section 8(2) remains available to the public authority
(d) Only with the Prime Minister's approval
Ans. (c) Yes, the general override in Section 8(2) remains available to the public authority — Explanation: Section 8(2) was not amended and still permits disclosure in overriding public interest. [Ref: Section 8(2)]
17. Section 8(2) is a discretion vested in
(a) the applicant
(b) Parliament
(c) the third party
(d) the public authority
Ans. (d) the public authority — Explanation: Section 8(2) says a public authority may allow access. [Ref: Section 8(2)]
18. Consider: (i) Section 8(3) applies to events twenty years old. (ii) Section 8(3) overrides clause (a) of Section 8(1). 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 8(3) is subject to clauses 8(1)(a), 8(1)(c) and 8(1)(i). [Ref: Section 8(3)]
19. The original Section 8(1)(j) referred to disclosure that would cause unwarranted invasion of
(a) legislative privilege
(b) the privacy of the individual
(c) the competitive position of a firm
(d) the security of the State
Ans. (b) the privacy of the individual — Explanation: The original clause protected against unwarranted invasion of privacy. [Ref: Section 8(1)(j) (pre-amendment)]
20. The right to privacy was declared a fundamental right by the Supreme Court in
(a) Kesavananda Bharati (1973)
(b) Indra Sawhney (1992)
(c) Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017)
(d) Maneka Gandhi (1978)
Ans. (c) Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) — Explanation: This judgment underlies the later data protection law and its interaction with RTI. [Ref: Puttaswamy (2017)]
21. Which provision of the RTI Act allows access to information exempt under the Official Secrets Act?
(a) Section 9
(b) Section 8(2), in overriding public interest
(c) Section 11(1)
(d) Section 24(1)
Ans. (b) Section 8(2), in overriding public interest — Explanation: Section 8(2) overrides the Official Secrets Act where public interest is greater. [Ref: Section 8(2)]
22. Assertion (A): Information on a 1995 Cabinet decision may still be withheld in 2026 if Section 8(1)(i) applies. Reason (R): Section 8(3) is subject to clauses (a), (c) and (i) of Section 8(1).
(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: Cabinet papers remain protected under clause (i) even after twenty years. [Ref: Section 8(3)]
23. The words "larger public interest" appear in the RTI Act in
(a) Section 9 only
(b) Section 24 only
(c) Section 6(2)
(d) Section 8(1)(d) and 8(1)(e)
Ans. (d) Section 8(1)(d) and 8(1)(e) — Explanation: Clauses 8(1)(d) and 8(1)(e) refer to larger public interest; Section 8(2) uses "public interest". [Ref: Section 8(1)(d) and (e)]
24. Personal information about a third party held by a public authority, after the 2023 amendment, is exempt under
(a) Section 8(1)(a)
(b) Section 8(1)(j)
(c) Section 9
(d) Section 8(1)(d)
Ans. (b) Section 8(1)(j) — Explanation: Clause (j) now covers information relating to personal information. [Ref: Section 8(1)(j)]
25. The DPDP Act, 2023 received Presidential assent in
(a) June 2005
(b) August 2023
(c) July 2019
(d) November 2025
Ans. (b) August 2023 — Explanation: The DPDP Act was enacted in August 2023; its RTI amendment came into force in November 2025. [Ref: DPDP Act, 2023]
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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.