News:

• The Assam government appointed Samudra Gupta Kashyap as the State Information Commissioner (SIC), a first time the coveted post going to a journalist.
• A well-known name in Assam’s journalism, Kashyap has also been working as a State resource person for the RTI Act.

State Information Commission:

• The State Information Commission will be constituted by the State Government through a Gazette notification.
• It will have one State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC) and not more than 10 State Information Commissioners (SIC) to be appointed by the Governor. 
• The Right to Information Act, 2005 provides for the creation of State Information Commission at the State level.

Composition of State Information Commission

• The Commission consists of a State Chief Information commissioner and ten State Information Commissioners.
• They are appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the committee consisting of the Chief Minister as Chairperson, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and a state Cabinet Minister nominated by the Chief Minister.
• They should be person of eminence in public life and should not hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any profession.

Tenure and Service

• The State Chief Information Commissioner and a State Information Commissioner hold office for a term of 5 years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• They are not eligible for reappointment.