Archive · 12 Dec 2025
Govt counters Rahul on CIC appointments
The government and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi have different opinions about who was chosen for important jobs in the Central Information Commission (CIC).
The government says they picked five people from groups that often face disadvantages, including one from the Scheduled Castes (SC), one from the Scheduled Tribes (ST), one from the Other Backward Classes (OBC), one from minority communities, and one woman.
Rahul Gandhi, however, said he disagreed with these choices.
The CIC is a big deal because it helps people get information from the government.
The government also mentioned that during a previous government's time (2005-2014), no one from the SC or ST communities was appointed to these jobs, but the current government has made some changes, like appointing the first-ever SC Chief Information Commissioner in 2023.
Government sources claim five of eight recommended candidates for CIC vacancies are from disadvantaged groups.
Rahul Gandhi dissented, alleging lack of representation from SC, ST, OBC, and minority communities.
The recommended candidates include one each from SC, ST, OBC, minority, and one woman.
The CIC has never had an SC Chief Information Commissioner until Heeralal Samariya's appointment in 2023.
During the UPA government's tenure (2005-2014), no SC/ST members were appointed to the CIC.
- Who
- Government sources and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi
- What
- Disagreement over the representation of disadvantaged groups in CIC appointments
- When
- Meeting held on December 10, 2023
- Where
- India
- Why
- To fill vacancies in the Central Information Commission (CIC)
- Number of vacancies
- 8
- Recommended candidates from disadvantaged groups
- 5
- SC representative
- 1
- ST representative
- 1
- OBC representative
- 1
- Minority representative
- 1
- Woman representative
- 1
- First SC Chief Information Commissioner
- Heeralal Samariya (2023)