Former Justice Secretary Raj Kumar Goyal Appointed CIC Under RTI Act, 2005

Former IAS officer and ex-Justice Secretary Raj Kumar Goyal has taken oath as the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of India on 15 December 2025, filling a key vacancy in the country’s transparency watchdog.
The oath of office was administered by Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, marking a new phase for the Central Information Commission under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

His appointment is significant for strengthening transparency, accountability, and citizens’ right to information in public administration.

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Former Justice Secretary Raj Kumar Goyal Appointed CIC Under RTI Act, 2005

Swearing-in Ceremony

The swearing-in ceremony was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 15 December 2025 and was attended by several senior dignitaries, including:

• Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan
• Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P K Mishra
• Minister of State for Personnel Dr Jitendra Singh

Later the same day, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued the official notification confirming the appointment.
As per the notification, Raj Kumar Goyal assumed office from the forenoon of 15 December 2025.

Key Highlights

• Appointee: Raj Kumar Goyal
• Position: Chief Information Commissioner (CIC)
• Date of Assumption: 15 December 2025
• Tenure: 3 years (as per RTI Act, 2005)
• Oath Administered By: President of India

The CIC post had been vacant since September 2025, after Heeralal Samariya demitted office.

Background of Raj Kumar Goyal

• 1990-batch IAS officer
• Former Justice Secretary, Ministry of Law & Justice
• Served in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
• Initially belonged to the Jammu & Kashmir cadre, later part of the AGMUT cadre

His long administrative experience is expected to strengthen the functioning of the transparency regime.

Appointment Process under RTI Act, 2005

The Chief Information Commissioner is appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a committee consisting of:

• Prime Minister – Chairperson
• Union Home Minister
• Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha

The same committee also recommends the appointment of Information Commissioners.

About the Central Information Commission

• Statutory Basis: Right to Information Act, 2005
• Role: Ensures transparency and accountability by adjudicating appeals and complaints related to RTI requests
• Composition:
  • One Chief Information Commissioner
  • Up to 10 Information Commissioners

At present, Anandi Ramalingam and Vinod Kumar Tiwari are serving as Information Commissioners.

Other Appointments as Information Commissioners

Alongside the appointment of the new CIC, several names have been recommended as Information Commissioners, including:

• Jaya Verma Sinha (former Railway Board Chairperson)
• Swagat Das (former IPS officer)
• Sanjeev Kumar Jindal (former CSS officer)
• Surendra Singh Meena (former IAS officer)
• Khushwant Singh Sethi (former IFS officer)

These appointments are crucial to reduce the backlog of RTI appeals and complaints.

Exam-Oriented Key Facts

• New CIC: Raj Kumar Goyal
• Date of Appointment: 15 December 2025
• Tenure of CIC: 3 years
• Oath Administered By: President Droupadi Murmu
• Governing Law: Right to Information Act, 2005
• Vacancy Since: September 2025
• Maximum ICs Allowed: 10
• Current ICs: Anandi Ramalingam, Vinod Kumar Tiwari

Question & Answer

Q1. Who has been appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner of India in December 2025?
(a) Heeralal Samariya
(b) Raj Kumar Goyal
(c) Jaya Verma Sinha
(d) Vinod Kumar Tiwari
Answer: Raj Kumar Goyal

Q2. Who administered the oath to the new Chief Information Commissioner in December 2025?
(a) Prime Minister of India
(b) Vice-President of India
(c) President of India
(d) Chief Justice of India
Answer: President of India

Q3. What is the tenure of the Chief Information Commissioner under the RTI Act, 2005?
(a) 2 years
(b) 3 years
(c) 4 years
(d) 5 years
Answer: 3 years

Q4. The Chief Information Commissioner is appointed under which provision of law?
(a) Article 324 of the Constitution
(b) Section 12 of the RTI Act, 2005
(c) Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013
(d) Official Secrets Act, 1923
Answer: Section 12 of the RTI Act, 2005

Q5. Raj Kumar Goyal is a former officer of which service?
(a) IPS
(b) IFS
(c) IAS
(d) IRS
Answer: IAS

Q6. The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners derive their powers from which legislation?
(a) Official Secrets Act, 1923
(b) Right to Information Act, 2005
(c) Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013
(d) RTI Rules, 2019
Answer: Right to Information Act, 2005

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