- The debate over balancing the Right to Information (RTI) with the Right to Privacy has intensified with petitions challenging amendments to the RTI Act under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. - Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act previously exempted personal information unless larger public interest justified disclosure, but amendments have altered exemptions related to all personal information. - Critics argue that a blanket restriction on disclosing personal data could shield public servants from accountability and undermine transparency. - Harmonising transparency legislation with data privacy laws requires a calibrated, case-by-case evaluation of public interest versus private harm rather than absolute exemptions. - **Right to Information (RTI) Act:** A landmark 2005 Indian legislation empowering citizens to request information from public authorities, promoting transparency, curbing corruption, and ensuring accountability across government bodies. - **Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act:** A 2023 legislative framework enacted to govern the processing of digital personal data, balancing individual privacy rights with lawful data processing needs. - **Supreme Court of India:** The apex judicial body of India vested with the power of judicial review, responsible for interpreting the Constitution and adjudicating conflicts between statutory laws and fundamental rights. **Introduction** The editorial discusses petitions challenging amendments to the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which widen exemptions on personal information under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) framework. It emphasizes the complex judicial and legislative challenge of balancing citizens' right to know and hold public authorities accountable with the fundamental right to privacy, warning against overbroad restrictions that could weaken transparency. **Core Issue and Detailed Points** - The debate over balancing the Right to Information (RTI) with the Right to Privacy has intensified with petitions challenging amendments to the RTI Act under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. - Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act previously exempted personal information unless larger public interest justified disclosure, but amendments have altered exemptions related to all personal information. - Critics argue that a blanket restriction on disclosing personal data could shield public servants from accountability and undermine transparency. - Harmonising transparency legislation with data privacy laws requires a calibrated, case-by-case evaluation of public interest versus private harm rather than absolute exemptions. **Key Statutory Bodies, Acts & Concepts** - **Right to Information (RTI) Act:** A landmark 2005 Indian legislation empowering citizens to request information from public authorities, promoting transparency, curbing corruption, and ensuring accountability across government bodies. - **Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act:** A 2023 legislative framework enacted to govern the processing of digital personal data, balancing individual privacy rights with lawful data processing needs. - **Supreme Court of India:** The apex judicial body of India vested with the power of judicial review, responsible for interpreting the Constitution and adjudicating conflicts between statutory laws and fundamental rights.