<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said transparency and accountability are very important for a democratic and participative governance.&nbsp;</span></div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br />''</div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Addressing a gathering after inaugurating a new building of Central Information Commission at Munirka in New Delhi, he said, a transparent system ensures accountability towards the public.&nbsp;</div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br />''</div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Mr Modi said, empowered citizens are one of the strongest pillars of democracy. He said, in the last four years, the government has tried to inform and empower the citizens by using various mediums.&nbsp;</div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br />''</div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Mr Modi said, Ask, Listen, Interact, Act and Inform are the five pillars of today's Information Highway.&nbsp;</div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br />''</div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">He said, today, India is moving fast towards a digitally-empowered society. He said, the use of Information Technology is not only making the procedures simpler but also ensures transparency and quality of services.</div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br />''</div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The Prime Minister said, reforms at the grassroots level and bringing transparency in the system resulted in the completion of various projects on time. He said, such changes in the system are being seen from Parliament to Panchayat level.&nbsp;</div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br />''</div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Mr Modi also informed that through PRAGATI, he has reviewed projects worth 9.5 lakh crore rupees. He said, the government has abolished 1400 old Acts which were not relevant to the present times.</div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br />''</div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">On the occasion, the Prime Minister launched the CIC Mobile App which will facilitate the people in filing application and complaints besides getting the latest information about the Commission.&nbsp;</div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br />''</div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Mr Modi also lauded the Commission for introducing various citizen-centric initiatives for disposal of RTI-related queries. He said, CIC is playing a big role in bringing accountability and transparency.&nbsp;</div>