← All questionsGS4 · 2017 · Case Studies — Public Sector ·Misuse of RTI
QUESTION 14
GS4
20 marks

You are a Public Information Officer. While RTI promotes transparency and accountability, you observe applications filed on behalf of interested stakeholders and instances of activists using RTI to extort decision-makers, potentially harming administration and genuine applicants. What measures would you suggest to distinguish genuine from non-genuine applications? Give merits and demerits of your suggestions.

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14 min
250 words
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What the examiner wants

Distinguish: answer the exact PYQ as framed — “You are a Public Information Officer. While RTI promotes transparency and accountability, you observe applications filed on behalf of interested stakeholders and instances of activists using RTI to extort decision-makers, potentially harming administration an…” Treat each scoring limb separately instead of writing a general note on Misuse of RTI.

DistinguishBring out the differences clearly, point by point.

Demand-wise check

  1. 1Map the stakeholders, facts, competing obligations and the ethical/public-interest conflict embedded in the case≈65 words
  2. 2Answer each explicit sub-question in the case and compare feasible options using legality, consequences, rights, fairness and integrity≈65 words
  3. 3Choose and justify an implementable course of action, including safeguards, accountability and follow-through≈65 words

Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.

Answer plan

Key facts and stakeholdersEthical/legal issuesRealistic options with consequencesReasoned choiceImplementation safeguards and accountability

Where marks usually go

  • Writing generally about Misuse of RTI without directly resolving: “You are a Public Information Officer.”
  • Under-developing the second scoring limb: “While RTI promotes transparency and accountability, you observe applications filed on behalf of interested stakeholders and instances of activists using RTI to extort decisio…”

Value addition

  • Stakeholder map + options-versus-values decision matrix
    → Draw it in the body, next to the point it supports.

Official source anchors

These are authoritative sources selected for this exact PYQ. Where a card is an official-domain anchor rather than a fact-level citation, verify the precise provision, definition or data point on the linked source before using it.