The Right to Information Act, 2005 has recognized access to information as a key development issue, because it has the potential to empower the citizen in relation to the state, make administration more accountable and participatory, ensure greater transparency and act as a deterrent to the arbitrary exercise of official power. Access to information holds the key to citizens’ awareness of and ability to access their other rights and equips citizens to participate meaningfully in the development process.

The ‘Capacity Building for Access to Information Project’ is a joint initiative of the Department for Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that aims to build capacity for effective implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005. It takes a comprehensive approach in pursuit of increased access to information for improved governance. It aims to enhance the capacities of government officials as information providers, and citizens as information seekers, and a range of stakeholders to facilitate the sharing of information. The project aims to strengthen and institutionalize mechanisms for improved government-citizen interface, and pave the way for the operationalisation of Right to Information by means of consultative processes for consensus building, and through documentation, research and advocacy efforts.