Section 1: Short title, extent and commencement
Right to Information Act, 2005 · Current English text and original study guidance. Independent educational content, not legal advice or a government service.
Understand this section
The Act now extends to the whole of India. The former Jammu and Kashmir exclusion was removed with effect from 31 October 2019. Different provisions had different commencement dates; do not treat the enactment date as the start date for every provision.
Original Banaka explanation · checked 30 September 2026 · not a substitute for the statute.
Related guide, examples and knowledge check →English statutory text
DoPT consolidated edition, 18 November 2025. Line wrapping and PDF footnote numbers removed; consolidation brackets and omission marks retained. See the official PDF for amendment footnotes and schedules.
1. Short title, extent and commencement.
(1) This Act may be called the Right to Information Act, 2005.
(2) It extends to the whole of India ***.
(3) The provisions of sub-section (1) of section 4, sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 5, sections 12, 13, 15,16, 24, 27 and 28 shall come into force at once, and the remaining provisions of this Act shall come into force on the one hundred and twentieth day of its enactment.