In India, the first political commitment to the citizen’s right to information emerged on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections in 1977, influenced by public resentment against information suppression and press censorship during the 1975-77 internal emergency. The National Front Government renewed this commitment, spurred by public frustration over the previous government’s reluctance to disclose information on issues like the Bofors scandal.

• The NDA coalition’s National Agenda for Governance emphasized transparency, introducing the Freedom of Information Bill, 2000. The Supreme Court of India has declared the right to information a fundamental right, and its denial a violation of the Right to Life. In May 1997, a Chief Ministers’ Conference unanimously recognized the need for right-to-information legislation.
• A Working Group on Right to Information, chaired by Shri H.D. Shourie, was tasked with examining the feasibility and need for such legislation. The group recommended amendments to existing rules and submitted a draft Freedom of Information Bill. This bill, after extensive deliberation, was introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2000, passed by both Houses in 2002, and received Presidential assent in January 2003.
• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, and Law and Justice later recommended repealing the 2002 Act, proposing amendments for a more effective right-to-information framework. The National Advisory Council suggested changes to ensure smoother and greater access to information. These included establishing an appellate machinery with investigative powers, penal provisions for failure to provide information, and mechanisms for maximum disclosure and minimum exemptions.

The Government of India resolved to repeal the Freedom of Information Act, 2002, replacing it with more progressive legislation aligned with constitutional provisions. This new legislation aims to provide an effective framework for effectuating the right to information recognized under Article 19 of the Constitution of India