This is Set 13 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 Rejection on ground of copyright of a non-State person and partial disclosure of non-exempt parts.
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 13: Sections 9 and 10: Copyright and Severability
1. Section 9 allows a PIO to reject a request where providing access would involve an infringement of copyright subsisting in
(a) the CIC
(b) the State
(c) a person other than the State
(d) the applicant
Ans. (c) a person other than the State — Explanation: Section 9 applies only to copyright of persons other than the State. [Ref: Section 9]
2. Can a public authority refuse information under Section 9 on the ground that the Government owns the copyright?
(a) Yes, if it is a book
(b) Yes, with CIC approval
(c) No, Section 9 applies only to copyright of persons other than the State
(d) Yes, always
Ans. (c) No, Section 9 applies only to copyright of persons other than the State — Explanation: Government copyright is not a ground under Section 9 of the Act. [Ref: Section 9]
3. Section 9 operates without prejudice to
(a) Section 11
(b) the provisions of Section 8
(c) the Copyright Act only
(d) Section 24
Ans. (b) the provisions of Section 8 — Explanation: Section 9 begins "Without prejudice to the provisions of section 8". [Ref: Section 9]
4. Section 10 of the RTI Act deals with
(a) third party information
(b) severability, providing access to the part of a record that is not exempt
(c) copyright
(d) penalties
Ans. (b) severability, providing access to the part of a record that is not exempt — Explanation: Section 10 allows partial disclosure by severing exempt portions. [Ref: Section 10]
5. Under Section 10(1), access may be provided to the part of a record that
(a) is published already
(b) the PIO likes
(c) is not more than ten pages
(d) does not contain exempt information and can reasonably be severed from the exempt part
Ans. (d) does not contain exempt information and can reasonably be severed from the exempt part — Explanation: Severance must be reasonable. [Ref: Section 10(1)]
6. Where access is given to only part of a record, the PIO must give a notice informing the applicant that
(a) no fee is payable
(b) the rest has been destroyed
(c) only part of the record is provided after severance of exempt information
(d) the applicant must appeal at once
Ans. (c) only part of the record is provided after severance of exempt information — Explanation: Section 10(2)(a) requires this information. [Ref: Section 10(2)(a)]
7. The notice under Section 10(2) must include
(a) the reasons for the decision, including findings on material questions of fact and the material on which they were based
(b) the identity of the third party
(c) the PIO's personal opinion
(d) only the number of pages withheld
Ans. (a) the reasons for the decision, including findings on material questions of fact and the material on which they were based — Explanation: Section 10(2)(b) requires reasons with findings and material. [Ref: Section 10(2)(b)]
8. The notice under Section 10(2) must also give
(a) the name of the Minister
(b) the CIC's name
(c) the name and designation of the person giving the decision
(d) the applicant's identity
Ans. (c) the name and designation of the person giving the decision — Explanation: Section 10(2)(c) requires this. [Ref: Section 10(2)(c)]
9. Under Section 10(2)(d), the notice must state
(a) the reasons for the application
(b) the time of hearing
(c) the applicant's BPL status
(d) the details of fees calculated and the amount the applicant must deposit
Ans. (d) the details of fees calculated and the amount the applicant must deposit — Explanation: Fee details are required. [Ref: Section 10(2)(d)]
10. Under Section 10(2)(e), the notice must inform the applicant of
(a) the names of other applicants
(b) the third party's address
(c) the CIC's budget
(d) rights to review of the decision on non-disclosure, fees or form of access, with particulars of the appellate authority, time limit, process and other forms of access
Ans. (d) rights to review of the decision on non-disclosure, fees or form of access, with particulars of the appellate authority, time limit, process and other forms of access — Explanation: Section 10(2)(e) lists these rights. [Ref: Section 10(2)(e)]
11. A file has 50 pages, of which 5 contain exempt personal information. The PIO should
(a) transfer the file
(b) provide the 45 pages after severing the 5 exempt pages, with a Section 10 notice
(c) refuse the whole file
(d) provide all 50 pages
Ans. (b) provide the 45 pages after severing the 5 exempt pages, with a Section 10 notice — Explanation: Section 10 requires disclosure of severable non-exempt parts. [Ref: Section 10]
12. Severability under Section 10 is an obligation that
(a) applies only to Cabinet papers
(b) prevents blanket denial of whole records when only parts are exempt
(c) applies only to electronic records
(d) applies only if the applicant requests it
Ans. (b) prevents blanket denial of whole records when only parts are exempt — Explanation: The purpose is maximum disclosure of non-exempt material. [Ref: Section 10]
13. A thesis written by a private researcher and submitted to a Government library, whose copyright vests in the researcher, may be refused under
(a) Section 9, if providing copies would infringe the researcher's copyright
(b) Section 24
(c) Section 8(1)(a)
(d) Section 11 only
Ans. (a) Section 9, if providing copies would infringe the researcher's copyright — Explanation: Section 9 protects copyright of non-State persons. [Ref: Section 9]
14. Under Section 9, the PIO may
(a) transfer the request
(b) demand copyright fee
(c) impose a penalty
(d) reject a request
Ans. (d) reject a request — Explanation: Section 9 gives a ground for rejection. [Ref: Section 9]
15. Which section requires the PIO to name the officer who decided to sever information?
(a) Section 7(8)
(b) Section 10(2)(c)
(c) Section 5(3)
(d) Section 19(9)
Ans. (b) Section 10(2)(c) — Explanation: Section 10(2)(c) requires the name and designation of the decision-maker. [Ref: Section 10(2)(c)]
16. Consider: (i) Section 9 protects Government copyright. (ii) Section 10 allows partial disclosure. Which is correct?
(a) Only (i)
(b) Only (ii)
(c) Both (i) and (ii)
(d) Neither (i) nor (ii)
Ans. (b) Only (ii) — Explanation: Section 9 protects copyright of persons other than the State only. [Ref: Sections 9 and 10]
17. Severance of exempt parts is permitted only where the exempt part
(a) can reasonably be severed from the rest
(b) is more than half the record
(c) is in a different file
(d) is handwritten
Ans. (a) can reasonably be severed from the rest — Explanation: Section 10(1) requires reasonable severability. [Ref: Section 10(1)]
18. Section 10(2) notice is to be given by
(a) the CIC
(b) the third party
(c) the CPIO or SPIO
(d) the appellate authority only
Ans. (c) the CPIO or SPIO — Explanation: The PIO gives the notice when providing partial access. [Ref: Section 10(2)]
19. The reasons in a Section 10 notice must refer to
(a) findings on material questions of fact and the material on which they were based
(b) the applicant's motive
(c) political sensitivity
(d) the PIO's workload
Ans. (a) findings on material questions of fact and the material on which they were based — Explanation: Section 10(2)(b) specifies this. [Ref: Section 10(2)(b)]
20. Which provision helps avoid denial of a whole document because it contains a few exempt lines?
(a) Section 24
(b) Section 9
(c) Section 10
(d) Section 22
Ans. (c) Section 10 — Explanation: Section 10 provides for severability. [Ref: Section 10]
21. Assertion (A): A PIO may refuse a request where copying would infringe a private author's copyright. Reason (R): Section 9 provides this ground.
(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: Section 9 is the source of this ground. [Ref: Section 9]
22. In the Section 10 notice, rights of review include the decision on
(a) the CIC's appointment
(b) the applicant's citizenship
(c) non-disclosure of part of the information, the amount of fee or the form of access
(d) the PIO's transfer
Ans. (c) non-disclosure of part of the information, the amount of fee or the form of access — Explanation: Section 10(2)(e) lists these subjects. [Ref: Section 10(2)(e)]
23. A rejection under Section 9 is communicated with reasons and appeal particulars under
(a) Section 7(8)
(b) Section 25
(c) Section 4(1)(d)
(d) Section 6(3)
Ans. (a) Section 7(8) — Explanation: Section 7(8) applies to all rejections. [Ref: Sections 7(8) and 9]
24. The severability principle is most closely associated with which idea?
(a) Total secrecy
(b) Full exemption of mixed files
(c) Ministerial discretion
(d) Maximum disclosure with minimum exemption
Ans. (d) Maximum disclosure with minimum exemption — Explanation: Section 10 ensures only the exempt part is withheld. [Ref: Section 10]
25. The particulars of the appellate authority must be given both in a rejection under Section 7(8) and in a partial disclosure notice under
(a) Section 11(3)
(b) Section 6(3)
(c) Section 5(2)
(d) Section 10(2)(e)
Ans. (d) Section 10(2)(e) — Explanation: Both provisions require appeal particulars. [Ref: Section 10(2)(e)]
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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.