Overview

• Congress leaders allege systematic weakening since 2014, pointing to the CIC operating with only two commissioners and a vacant chief’s post since September 2025.
• Nationwide case pendency is reported at over 405,000 as of mid-2024, with about 23,000 matters pending at the CIC by November 2024.
• Critics say the 2019 RTI amendments put commissioners’ tenure and service conditions under executive control, a change still under Supreme Court challenge filed in December 2019.
• They warn the 2023 Digital Personal Data Protection Act expands “personal information” exemptions in ways that could block public-interest disclosures, citing Section 44(3) and related changes to Section 8(1)(j).
• The Congress cites RTI revelations on the PM’s degree, ration-card claims, demonetisation, wilful defaulters and black money to explain its charges, and it demands repeals, appointments and protections, while the BJP says the allegations are baseless and that digitisation has improved transparency.