The Right to Information Act – overview and applications MCQs With Answer is a practical guide for B.Pharm students to understand RTI basics, legal provisions, and how transparency affects pharmaceutical regulation. This introduction covers RTI scope, key authorities, timelines, exemptions, and penalties, with pharmacy-relevant examples such as access to drug approval records, clinical trial permissions, procurement documents, and public health data. Knowing how to file requests, identify Public Information Officers (PIOs), and interpret exemptions helps future pharmacists engage in ethical practice, ensure regulatory compliance, and promote accountability in drug safety and public procurement. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What year was the Right to Information (RTI) Act enacted in India?
- 2000
- 2005
- 2010
- 1995
Correct Answer: 2005
Q2. Who is eligible to file an RTI application under the RTI Act?
- Only Indian citizens
- Any person including foreign nationals
- Only government employees
- Only legal professionals
Correct Answer: Any person including foreign nationals
Q3. Which official is primarily responsible for receiving and responding to RTI applications in a public authority?
- First Appellate Authority
- Public Information Officer (PIO)
- Central Information Commissioner
- Head Clerk
Correct Answer: Public Information Officer (PIO)
Q4. What is the standard time limit for a PIO to provide information under the RTI Act?
- 15 days
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 90 days
Correct Answer: 30 days
Q5. When does the RTI Act require information to be provided within 48 hours?
- For all RTI applications
- When information concerns life or liberty of a person
- For applications about drug pricing only
- When the applicant is a medical practitioner
Correct Answer: When information concerns life or liberty of a person
Q6. Which section of the RTI Act broadly lists exemptions where information may be withheld?
- Section 4
- Section 8
- Section 19
- Section 2
Correct Answer: Section 8
Q7. Under the RTI Act, which of the following is considered a public authority?
- Private retail pharmacy with no government funding
- Government-run drug procurement agency
- Foreign pharmaceutical company with no Indian operations
- Private clinic wholly funded by patients
Correct Answer: Government-run drug procurement agency
Q8. Can RTI be used to access clinical trial approval documents held by a regulatory authority?
- No, clinical trial documents are always exempt
- Yes, subject to exemptions like commercial confidence and personal privacy
- Only if the trial failed
- Yes, but only by the trial sponsor
Correct Answer: Yes, subject to exemptions like commercial confidence and personal privacy
Q9. Which body hears appeals if an applicant is dissatisfied with PIO’s RTI response at the central level?
- Central Information Commission
- Supreme Court
- State Governor
- Public Accounts Committee
Correct Answer: Central Information Commission
Q10. What is the penalty a PIO can be fined for unreasonable delay or incorrect information (per day)?
- Rs 100 per day
- Rs 250 per day
- Rs 500 per day
- Rs 1000 per day
Correct Answer: Rs 250 per day
Q11. In a pharmaceutical context, which of the following RTI requests is most likely to be allowed?
- Trade secrets of a private manufacturer
- Government tender documents for public drug procurement
- Personal medical records of another patient
- Unpublished proprietary R&D protocols
Correct Answer: Government tender documents for public drug procurement
Q12. How long does an applicant have to file a first appeal under the RTI Act?
- 15 days from receipt of decision
- 30 days from receipt of decision
- 60 days from receipt of decision
- 90 days from receipt of decision
Correct Answer: 30 days from receipt of decision
Q13. Which of the following types of information can be refused under the RTI Act on grounds of “commercial confidence”?
- Manufacturer’s trade secrets disclosed to a regulatory body
- Basic drug approval status
- Publicly available price list
- Government policy documents
Correct Answer: Manufacturer’s trade secrets disclosed to a regulatory body
Q14. Who is the First Appellate Authority in a public authority?
- The same person as the PIO
- An officer designated to hear first appeals within the public authority
- The Central Information Commissioner
- The police superintendent
Correct Answer: An officer designated to hear first appeals within the public authority
Q15. Does the RTI Act allow access to one’s own medical records held by a public hospital?
- No, medical records are always exempt
- Yes, an individual can obtain their own medical records
- Only with a court order
- Only if the hospital is privately funded
Correct Answer: Yes, an individual can obtain their own medical records
Q16. What is the role of the Central/State Information Commission under RTI?
- To draft pharmaceutical policies
- To adjudicate second appeals and monitor compliance
- To license pharmacies
- To conduct criminal investigations
Correct Answer: To adjudicate second appeals and monitor compliance
Q17. Which of the following is a valid ground for rejection of an RTI application?
- Applicant requested information in a vague, unclear manner
- Information is already in the public domain
- Information would cause harm to national security (as exempted)
- All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Q18. Can RTI be used to obtain details of adverse drug reaction reports maintained by a government body?
- No, pharmacovigilance data is always secret
- Yes, subject to patient privacy and exemption considerations
- Only by pharmaceutical companies
- Only if the drug is banned
Correct Answer: Yes, subject to patient privacy and exemption considerations
Q19. Which section of the RTI Act provides for appointment of Central and State Information Commissioners?
- Section 12
- Section 15
- Section 17
- Section 21
Correct Answer: Section 15
Q20. If a PIO fails to provide information within the statutory time, what remedy does the applicant have?
- File a complaint to the police
- File an appeal to the First Appellate Authority or directly to Information Commission after timelines
- No remedy available
- File for bankruptcy
Correct Answer: File an appeal to the First Appellate Authority or directly to Information Commission after timelines
Q21. Which of the following is true about third-party information under RTI?
- PIO must always disclose third-party information without notice
- PIO should notify the third party if disclosure affects their commercial confidence
- Third-party information is never disclosable
- Third parties cannot participate in appeals
Correct Answer: PIO should notify the third party if disclosure affects their commercial confidence
Q22. In the context of drug regulation, RTI can help students and professionals by providing access to:
- Confidential patient names from a private clinic
- Regulatory inspection reports of government-run drug stores
- Proprietary manufacturing formulas of private firms
- Personal emails of drug inspectors unrelated to work
Correct Answer: Regulatory inspection reports of government-run drug stores
Q23. What is the maximum penalty amount a PIO can be directed to pay under RTI for non-compliance?
- Rs 5,000
- Rs 10,000
- Rs 25,000
- Rs 50,000
Correct Answer: Rs 25,000
Q24. Which of the following must a public authority proactively publish under Section 4 of the RTI Act?
- Manuals, rules, and procedures relevant to public
- Personal email correspondence of officers
- Private commercial contracts of third parties only
- Medical histories of patients
Correct Answer: Manuals, rules, and procedures relevant to public
Q25. Are research data and results generated by a government-funded pharmaceutical study accessible under RTI?
- Never accessible
- Accessible, but may be limited by exemptions like commercial confidence or national security
- Only accessible to foreign researchers
- Only accessible after 50 years
Correct Answer: Accessible, but may be limited by exemptions like commercial confidence or national security
Q26. Which authority can impose disciplinary action or penalty on a PIO for RTI violations?
- Central/State Information Commission
- Local municipal council
- Pharmacy Council
- Drug Controller General
Correct Answer: Central/State Information Commission
Q27. What should an RTI application ideally include to be effective?
- Vague request without specifying documents
- Clear description of information sought, applicant details, and contact information
- Demand for illegal disclosure
- Only a photograph
Correct Answer: Clear description of information sought, applicant details, and contact information
Q28. Can decisions of regulatory bodies like CDSCO be challenged or information sought via RTI?
- RTI cannot be used against CDSCO
- Yes, information held by CDSCO can be sought under RTI subject to exemptions
- Only courts can access CDSCO records
- Only licensed pharmacists can file such RTIs
Correct Answer: Yes, information held by CDSCO can be sought under RTI subject to exemptions
Q29. Which of the following best describes “information” under the RTI Act?
- Only printed documents
- Any material in any form, including records, memos, emails, opinions, and data
- Only verbal statements in court
- Only personal handwritten notes of citizens
Correct Answer: Any material in any form, including records, memos, emails, opinions, and data
Q30. How does RTI support ethical practice in the pharmaceutical sector for B.Pharm students?
- By encouraging secrecy and withholding information
- By promoting transparency in drug approval, procurement, and safety monitoring, enabling informed professional conduct
- By providing free drugs to students
- By replacing regulatory inspections entirely
Correct Answer: By promoting transparency in drug approval, procurement, and safety monitoring, enabling informed professional conduct
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
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