Department of Law, V.S.S.D. College, Kanpur Celebrates 21 Years of the Right to Information Act, 2005 on 12th October 2026.

The Department of Law, Vikramajit Singh Sanatan Dharma College, Kanpur, celebrated a significant milestone on 12th October 2026 — the *21st Anniversary of the Right to Information Act, 2005* — with an enriching and thought-provoking academic programme that brought together students, faculty, and legal minds in a celebration of one of India's most powerful democratic tools. The event was a testament to the department's commitment to going beyond the textbook and engaging students with the living, breathing laws that shape the rights of every citizen of this country. The programme was graced by the presence of our respected Principal, Prof. (Dr.) Neeru Tandon Ma'am, Senior Professor (Dr.) R.K. Pandey, Head Department of Law, Shri A.K. Upadhyay. The event was convened by Shri Vinod Kumar Verma and coordinated by Shri Rajiv Nayan Srivastav,Dr Praveen Shukla and Ms. Himani Agarwal "21 Years of the Right to Information Act,2005: Issues and Prospects". The address by *Shri A.K. Upadhyay Sir* was a moment of deep intellectual engagement for the entire gathering. Speaking with authority and insight, Sir reflected on the journey of the RTI Act,2005 over the past 21 years — its achievements, its limitations, and the road ahead. The centrepiece of the day was a *Speech Competition* held on the theme — "21 Years of the Right to Information Act: Issues and Prospects" — a theme as relevant today as the day the Act was first enacted. The competition witnessed enthusiastic and impressive participation from students of both the *LL.B.* and *B.A. LL.B.* programmes, who came prepared not just with knowledge of the law but with a genuine conviction about what it means for the citizens of this country. One after another, young voices rose to speak about transparency, accountability, and the power of the ordinary citizen to hold the state answerable. Students articulated with remarkable clarity how the RTI Act has been a game changer in exposing corruption, enabling access to government records, and empowering marginalised communities who previously had no voice before the system. We are delighted to announce the winners: 🥇 *First Prize — Ms. Kritika Sharma* 🥈 *Second Prize — Mr. Vinayak Yashansh Pandey* 🥉 *Third Prize — Mr. Kunal Kumar Rai* Heartiest congratulations to all three winners and to every participant who had the courage to stand up and speak. You made the department proud today. Adding a creative and impactful dimension to the event, Ms. Yukti Gupta, B.A.LL.B. First Semester, presented a compelling piece on in the Right to Information Act,2005 bringing to life the real-world significance of this legislation for the common citizen. Her presentation was appreciated by all present and demonstrated the remarkable potential of our first-year students.