The efforts of RTI activists in the US and India since November 2006 have been rewarded with the Indian Embassy in Washington DC being brought under the purview of the RTI Act, 2005. A Public Information Officer has accordingly been appointed to facilitate the service at the embassy.

Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in the US can exercise their right to information by filing an RTI at the embassy. The query would be forwarded to the department in India and a response is assured within 35 days.

NRIs have been quick to exercise their right, with 10 applications already filed within days of the announcement. Filing an RTI application, either in writing or electronically, is a simple process entailing a nominal payment of 24 cents to the Public Information Officer.

The Central Information Commission (CIC) in India has been very instrumental in bringing the Indian embassy in the US under the purview of the RTI Act.

The Right to Information Act came into force in October 2005 with the objective of bringing transparency and accountability in the functioning of every public body.

It grants citizens of India the access to information, and binds every public authority to maintain and index computerized and online records to facilitate access.

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