Central Information Commission
Yash vs National Testing Agency on 12 February, 2026
केन्द्रीय सूचना आयोग
Central Information Commission
बाबा गंगनाथ मागग, मुननरका
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
नई निल्ली, New Delhi - 110067
File No: CIC/NTAGN/A/2025/604612
Yash .....अपीलकर्ाग/Appellant
VERSUS
बनाम
PIO,
NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY, RTI CELL,
FIRST FLOOR, NSIC-MDBP BUILDING, OKHLA
INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, NEW DELHI-110020 ....प्रनर्वािीगण /Respondent
Date of Hearing : 11.02.2026
Date of Decision : 11.02.2026
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER : Sudha Rani Relangi
Relevant facts emerging from appeal:
RTI application filed on : 05.01.2025
CPIO replied on : 11.01.2025
First appeal filed on : 11.01.2025
First Appellate Authority's order : 20.01.2025
2nd Appeal/Complaint dated : 25.01.2025
Information sought:
1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 05.01.2025 seeking the following information:-
" 1. Reference Materials for Exam Questions: • Please provide a list of textbooks, reference materials, or other academic resources officially referred to or relied upon by the NTA for framing questions and preparing the answer keys for exams like NEET-UG or JEE- Main.Page 1 of 4
2. Official Guidelines/Recommendations:
• Has NTA issued any official circulars, notifications, or guidelines recommending specific study materials or books for students preparing for its exams? If yes, kindly provide copies of the same.
3. Conflict Resolution Policy:
• Please share the official guidelines or policies followed by NTA for addressing discrepancies raised during the answer key objection process. The purpose of this request is to ensure students can prepare for NTA- conducted exams in alignment with official guidelines and avoid discrepancies arising from conflicting study materials."
2. The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 11.01.2025 stating as under:-
"In this regard kindly visit INTA website and the URL path for NEET is:-
https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s37bctec1d9c3426357e69acd5bf320061/ uploads/2024/12/2024123021.PDF for JEE https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/c3f8e59f4n2fe7c5705bf878bbd494ccdf/u ploads/2024/10/2024102841.pdf."
3. Aggrieved by the decision of the CPIO, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 11.01.2025. The FAA vide its order dated 20.01.2025, upheld reply of the CPIO and also provided specific path of URL to the Appellant.
4. Challenging the FAA's order, Appellant is before the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.
Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:
The following were present:-
Appellant: Shri Yash present through video conference. Respondent: Shri Anil Dhiman, Deputy Director/PIO along with Dr. Ravish G.K., Asst. Director present in person.
5. Written statement filed by the Appellant and PIO is taken on record.
Page 2 of 46. Appellant contended that during pendency of this Second Appeal he received a modified reply from the PIO on 12.07.2025 which was inordinately delayed and also there is contradictions in the reply given to him in the first instance, then by FAA and in the revised reply dated 12.07.2025. Appellant prayed the Commission to intervene in the matter.
7. PIO submitted that a point wise updated reply has been provided to the Appellant through online portal on 12.07.2025 informing him at point No. 1 of RTI application that he may refer to NCERT text books, for point No. 2, no such official circular is available and against point No. 3, Appellant was informed that he may refer to Information Bulletin of NTA JEE( Main) 2025. PIO apprised the Bench that question papers are prepared by the experts based on the syllabus mentioned in Information Bulletin which is already in public domain. For point No. 1, PIO in addition explained that NTA is only an exams conducting body which never issued any additional study materials, as such. Decision:
8. Heard the parties.
9. The Commission, upon perusal of the records observes that as far as RTI Application in question is concerned, it was suitably replied to the Appellant vide letter dated 11.01.2025, 20.01.2025 and 12.07.2025 in terms of the RTI Act, 2005, which was duly acknowledged by the Appellant. Further, the Appellant failed to substantiate the ground of dissatisfaction vis-à-vis RTI application in question. The written statement dated 28.01.2026 filed by the CPIO is comprehensive and self-explanatory which gave reference to the fact that no additional study material are issued by NTA for conducting exams and the question papers are prepared on the basis of syllabus mentioned in the public domain which relates to CBSE text books only. A copy of written statement was already supplied to the Appellant.
10. There is no mala fide denial of information or otherwise found on the part of CPIO in the instant case which calls for any action under Section 20 of the RTI Act, 2005. In this regard, Commission relied on a judgment of the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi in the decision of Col. Rajendra Singh v. Central Information Commission and Anr. WP (C) 5469 of 2008 dated 20.03.2009 wherein it was held as under:
"....Section 20, no doubt empowers the CIC to take penal action and direct payment of such compensation or penalty as is warranted. Yet the Page 3 of 4 Commission has to be satisfied that the delay occurred was without reasonable cause or the request was denied malafidely.
xxx ......The preceding discussion shows that at least in the opinion of this Court, there are no allegations to establish that the information was withheld malafide or unduly delayed so as to lead to an inference that petitioner was responsible for unreasonably withholding it."
11. In the light of above, intervention of the Commission is not warranted in the matter.
The appeal is disposed of accordingly.
Sd/-
Sudha Rani Relangi (सुधा रानी रे लंगी) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयुक्त) Authenticated true copy (अनिप्रमानणर् सत्यानपर् प्रनर्) (Anil Kumar Mehta) Dy. Registrar 011- 26767500 Date Shri Yash Page 4 of 4 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-
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