New Delhi: In a bid to provide transparency in governance, Parliament on December 16 approved a historic Bill providing citizens statutory right to access to official information after government promised in the Rajya Sabha to fine-tune the measure based on experience.

The Freedom of Information Bill, which had earlier been passed by Lok Sabha, was passed by Rajya Sabha by a voice vote after negating the amendments moved by Congress member Prithviraj Chavan.

Of the nearly 200 countries in the world, only 20 countries including India have enacted such a provision and it was felt that the measure was only a step in the direction of providing transparency, openness and accountability in the governance, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension, Vasundhara Raje, said replying to a three-hour discussion.

PTI