The Central Information Commission has said the blanket denial of information sought on Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act renewal applications by the Union ministry of home affairs "appears to be misplaced and without any basis", while observing that the CPIO prima facie "obstructed" the complainant's right to information.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an immediate stay on the controversial Maharashtra Right to Information (RTI) rules following a backlash from transparency advocates and a hunger strike threat by veteran anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare.
An RTI reply has revealed that over Rs 262 crore was spent on salaries, allowances, and facilities for Rajya Sabha MPs in the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26. This includes more than Rs 151 crore specifically for allowances and travel, with a significant increase in expenditure from the first to the second year.
An RTI activist, Simaranjit Singh, was shot dead near Maheru village in Punjab. Police have launched an investigation and are scanning CCTV footage to identify the assailants.
The Supreme Court has criticised RTI activism, calling it a "new business," while denying anticipatory bail to an activist accused of obstructing road construction work and intimidating public servants in Punjab.
The Central Information Commission has ruled that the Board of Control for Cricket in India does not qualify as a 'public authority' under the Right to Information Act, effectively placing it outside the scope of RTI disclosures.
The Delhi High Court has ruled that an individual cannot obtain details of their spouse's income from authorities by filing an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Dipke has clarified the funding of his US education, stating it was supported by a scholarship and an education loan, amidst growing scrutiny and calls for a probe into his finances.
The Maharashtra government has approved the deployment of sovereign artificial intelligence solutions from Sarvam AI for its departments, with a two-year outlay of Rs 11.26 crore. This initiative includes the Indus AI workspace for 2,500 users, ensuring government data remains within India, along with citizen outreach agents and speech models for the MahaAI platform.
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has publicly challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to disclose his educational degree. Dipke stated he is ready to make his US scholarship and loan documents public if PM Modi reveals his degree, amidst ongoing demands for verification of the Prime Minister's academic qualifications. Dipke also criticised the current political climate, citing concerns about party defections and the use of central agencies.
Rahul Gandhi voiced his disagreement with the selection of Raj Kumar Goyal as Chief Information Commissioner, proposing alternative candidates with extensive experience in public policy and law.
A Rajya Sabha lawmaker has filed a plea in the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi Police's alleged use of facial recognition technology and other biometric surveillance during a recent protest. The plea argues that such surveillance at peaceful assemblies is unconstitutional and lacks legal backing, seeking a declaration against its indiscriminate use and a mechanism for data access and deletion.
About 45 km from the tech hub of Bengaluru, the Karnataka government is planning a mega artificial intelligence (AI)-powered city with a budget of more than Rs 18,000 crore. To be spread over 9,000 acres, the project aims to follow the theme "Work, live, play" with technology as its core. At the centre of it are, however, thousands of farmers who are protesting against land acquisition by the government.
An RTI query reveals that only a fraction of Delhi's police stations have paralegal volunteers, and their assistance to POCSO victims is minimal, despite Supreme Court directives.
As activist Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike at Jantar Mantar entered the sixth day on Friday, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said he appeared "far weaker and more exhausted" and urged supporters across the country to observe a one-day fast in solidarity with the protest.
Larger NGOs could no longer work with smaller ones, especially those organisations working on the ground that had no means of or expertise in raising money themselves, reveals Aakar Patel.
An activist was beaten to death and a revenue official was seriously injured in an attack by unidentified men in Palghar district, Maharashtra. The incident occurred near a quarry in Shirgaon, prompting a police investigation into potential motives including land disputes and mining issues.
The murder of a Jalandhar-based RTI activist has sparked outrage and political condemnation in Punjab, with opposition parties criticising the AAP government's handling of law and order.
The Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) has denied an RTI request for data on oil imports from Russia, citing its 'commercial and confidential' nature and exemptions under the RTI Act. The Central Information Commission supported this decision, referencing strategic and economic interests.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant likened some unemployed youngsters to cockroaches, saying they become media, social media, and RTI activists and attack the system. The comments were made while hearing a petition from a lawyer seeking senior advocate designation.
'Once the numbers come out, they fear that the OBCs would start to demand, and articulate what they are lacking, why they are lacking and what should be done to go forward.'
An activist was murdered and a revenue officer seriously injured in an attack in Palghar district, Maharashtra. Police have arrested one person and are searching for four others involved in the ambush.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau of Jammu and Kashmir faces scrutiny due to a low conviction rate in corruption cases over the past six years, despite a high volume of complaints and enforcement actions.
Cockroach Janata Party, which according to Dipke had 201,000 followers on X, came about following a controversy over Chief Justice of India Surya Kant using "parasites" and "cockroaches" while pulling up a lawyer for his plea seeking senior designation.
The Central Information Commission has ordered the disclosure of an investigation into a retired IRS officer's alleged acquisition of assets under different identities and subsequent name change to claim ownership, deeming the case a potentially significant revelation.
The Punjab Assembly has passed the Punjab Prisons and Correctional Services Bill, 2026, to modernise the prison system, and the Societies Registration (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2026, to enhance transparency and accountability of societies.
'Every year we import approximately $70 billion worth of gold -- closer to $72 billion in 2025-2026, an all-time record.' 'There is no parallel for this anywhere in the world. And this love for gold will not disappear overnight.'
Hansraj College administration suspends at least 30 students for various reasons, including violence during the college festival and defaming the college on social media. The student union has condemned the move and is planning a protest.
The Bombay High Court dismissed a petition by Faheem Ansari, acquitted in the 26/11 terror attacks case, seeking a police clearance certificate to drive an autorickshaw, citing ongoing surveillance due to alleged links with Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The Supreme Court dismissed a petition related to the preliminary investigation report on the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, questioning the petitioner's motives and agenda.
The Delhi government has cancelled over 45,000 ration cards and is considering using artificial intelligence to identify ineligible beneficiaries in its public distribution system.
Kejriwal is seeking the recusal of a Delhi High Court judge in his liquor policy case, alleging a conflict of interest due to the judge's family ties to the central government's legal representation.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faces a significant setback as several of its Rajya Sabha MPs, including key figures like Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak, resign from the party, with some reportedly joining the BJP.
An RTI query reveals that only a fraction of Delhi's police stations have paralegal volunteers, and their assistance to POCSO victims is minimal, despite Supreme Court mandates.
An RTI query reveals that only a fraction of Delhi's police stations have paralegal volunteers, and their assistance in POCSO cases is minimal, despite a Supreme Court mandate.
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the Income Tax Department to disclose 'generic details of the net taxable income/gross income' of an estranged husband to his wife for pursuing maintenance proceedings. The commission stated that such information cannot be denied on privacy grounds in matrimonial disputes.
The Supreme Court of India has agreed to examine petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, focusing on concerns about its impact on the Right to Information Act.
In what can be construed as a relief to the BCCI, the Sports Ministry has amended the RTI-related provision of the National Sports Governance Bill, placing only those bodies under its ambit which rely on government grants and assistance.
The Central Information Commission, which is functioning at full strength for the first time after December 2016, will need to consider 31,000 appeals and complaints. It takes more than a year for a matter to be heard by the Commission.
Official records reveal that over one lakh mature trees have been felled in Assam since May 2016 for various development projects, raising concerns about ecological loss despite compensatory afforestation efforts.
