UPSC Mains 2019 GS4 Q4 — Citizens Charter & RTI
(a) Explain the basic principles of citizens charter movement and bring out its importance. (150 words) (b) There is a view that the Official Secrets Act is an obstacle to the implementation of Right to Information Act. Do you agree with the view ? Discuss. (150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Explainbring outDiscuss
- Scope keywords
- basic principles of citizens charter movementimportanceOfficial Secrets ActobstacleRight to Information Act
- Implicit sub-parts
- Tracing the evolution from the UK model to the Sevottam model in India
- The inherent contradiction between Section 5 of OSA and Section 8/22 of RTI
- Judicial and Second ARC perspectives on reconciling secrecy with transparency
- Mechanisms to balance national security with public accountability
- Common pitfalls
- Listing the 6 principles of Citizen's Charter without explaining their role in 'movement' or governance reform
- Writing a generic essay on RTI benefits instead of focusing on the specific legislative conflict with OSA
- Failing to mention Section 22 of the RTI Act which gives it an overriding effect over OSA
- Not providing a balanced conclusion on whether 'secrecy' is still legitimate for national security
- Dimensions required
- Administrative (Sevottam model)Legal/Statutory (OSA vs RTI conflict)Ethical (Transparency vs Confidentiality)Judicial (Second ARC recommendations/Supreme Court views)
- Marks allocation hint
For (a), allocate 75 words by briefly listing the 6 principles and linking importance to 'Public Service Delivery'. For (b), use the remaining 75 words to highlight the 'Overriding Effect' of RTI while acknowledging OSA's role in security; avoid a one-sided critique of the OSA.
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