The Economic Survey 2025-26 called for a calibrated review of India’s Right to Information (RTI) Act, stressing that uncontrolled disclosure can undermine effective governance if it leaves little room for honest internal reflection.
The survey describes the 2005 RTI Act as one of India’s strongest democratic reforms and a cornerstone of anti-corruption efforts. But he argues that transparency should be seen as a means to better governance rather than an end in itself, warning that “publicity celebrated regardless of its contribution to governance” can weaken decision-making.
The survey stops short of recommending any dilution of the basic intent of the law. Instead, he argues for refining the application of RTI in “narrowly defined areas of internal reasoning”, stressing that any review must retain its role as an accountability tool.
Concerns about abuse and friction in administration
The survey’s argument reflects the bureaucracy’s long-standing concern about misuse of RTI, including repeated, voluminous or strategic requests for information that can overwhelm officials and slow down administrative functioning. Government data shows a steady increase in RTI applications, with the number of filings surpassing 17.5 lakh in 2023-2024, up from 13.7 lakh in 2019-20, indicating growing citizen interest even as concerns about abuse and administrative burdens have increased.
Officials also flagged instances where RTI was used as a tool of harassment rather than disclosure in public interest.
In Hyderabad in 2025, the police filed a complaint against a retired DSP who was accused of filing repeated RTI applications to harass serving officers, causing administrative disruption. The same year in Punjab, the State Information Commission dismissed 24 RTI appeals as vexatious and warned of personal vendettas. Similarly, the Central Information Commission condemned the applicant’s 235 RTI filings and called the misuse a “weapon of revenge”. Earlier this month, the Information Commission in Urida ordered a bribery probe of a habitual RTI applicant.
The survey links this to a wider concern that decision-making will become excessively risk-averse in an environment of real-time control.
Global comparison
The survey draws on international experience to support this. He notes that while India’s RTI regime is among the most extensive globally, other democracies provide clearer exemptions for internal political considerations. In the US, interagency memoranda and internal personnel rules are exempt from publication. Sweden protects discussions of fiscal and monetary policy, while the UK allows exceptions if disclosure could harm the public interest, including ministerial veto powers.
The survey also cites former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s later admission that unlimited transparency made governance difficult because it limited confidential discussions on complex issues.
A fine balance
Despite these arguments, the survey challenge could present significant political and institutional challenges. It will not be easy to reopen or change a law that has exposed corruption, improved service delivery and empowered citizens, especially at the local level.
The survey takes these concerns into account, framing the problem as one of “institutional design” rather than intent. He argues that transparency works best when combined with a protected space for learning, debate and course correction within the state. Whether this stance translates into legislative or administrative changes remains to be seen.
For now, the message is clear. The government signals the need for a complex balance of protecting citizens’ right to information while ensuring that fear of disclosure does not come at the expense of sound policymaking.
