• UGI USER
  • Nov 25, 2023
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CENTRE EXEMPTS CERT-IN FROM RTI ACT:

Why in the News?

  • The Union government, through the Department of Personnel and Training, has excluded the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) from the purview of the Right to Information Act (RTI).
  • CERT-In serves as the national nodal agency, responding to cybersecurity incidents and promoting security awareness among citizens.
  • It operates under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Source: VidhyaMitra

Exemption for Intelligence and Security Organizations

  • RTI Act exempts 27 intelligence and security organizations, including Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing, and National Technical Research Organisation, from its provisions.
  • The exemption, outlined in the Second Schedule of the RTI Act, applies to information related to allegations of corruption and human rights violations.

Recent Amendment

  • The recent amendment to the Second Schedule, adds CERT-In to the list of exempted organizations, highlighting its critical role in addressing cyber threats.
  • This follows the 2016 amendment when the Strategic Forces Command was included among the entities exempted from RTI.

Significance of CERT-In

  • CERT-In, responsible for investigating major cyber attacks, played a crucial role in responding to the ransomware attack on AIIMS in November 2022.

The exemption underscores the government’s focus on strengthening cybersecurity measures and facilitating unimpeded responses to cyber threats.