Who is a Chief Information Commissioner? He is appointed by…; Know the whole process

PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi had a meeting to decide the Chief Information Commissioner. Scroll down to read details.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had a meeting on Wednesday afternoon to select the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC). Alongside the Chief Information Commissioner, the leaders were to fill eight seats for the panel, too. Here, we take you through the entire process and details about who the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) is and how he’s appointed.

Who is the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC)?

The Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) heads the Central Information Commission, which consists of a designated panel. He has to hear the subsequent appeals from the citizens who are not given the required information from public authorities. Their responsibility includes investigating matters concerning RTI (Right to Information) requests.

He holds the power to order enquiries into the actions of some public authorities. The Chief Information Officer can penalise the Public Information Officers (PIOs) if they unjustifiably refuse to comply with the RTI Act.

How is the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) appointed?

The Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) is appointed by the President of India. Before the appointment, the CIC is nominated by a panel consisting of the Prime Minister of India, a Union Cabinet Minister who is appointed by the Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition.

Last Chief Information Commissioner (CIC)

The last Chief Information Commissioner, Heeralal Samariya, joined the office on November 6, 2023. He vacated the office on September 13, 2025, after turning 65.