2. Definitions and interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires :-

⁰¹[(a) “Aadhaar number” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in *clause (a) of section 2 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of  Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016;]

⁰¹[(aa) “adoption” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in *clause (2) of section 2 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015;]

(⁰¹[ab]) "birth" means live-birth or still birth;

⁰²[(b) “database” means the organised collection of data, generally stored and accessed in electronic form from a computer network;]

(⁰²[ba]) "death" means the permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live-birth has taken place;

(c) "foetal death" means absence of all evidence of life prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception irrespective of the duration of pregnancy;

(d) "live-birth" means the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which, after such expulsion or extraction, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, and each product of such birth is considered live-born ;

(e) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 

(f) "State Government", in relation to a Union territory, means the Administrator thereof;

(g) "still-birth' means foetal death where a product of conception has attained at least the prescribed period of gestation.

(2) Any reference in this Act to any law which is not in force in any area shall, in relation to that area, be construed as a reference to the corresponding law, if any, in force in that area. 

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01. New clause (a) and clause (aa) inserted by Act 20 of 2023 w.e.f. 01.10.2023 after renumbering the existing clause “(a)” as “(ab)”.

02. New clause (b) inserted by Act 20 of 2023 w.e.f. 01.10.2023 after renumbering the existing clause “(b)” as “(ba)”.

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*See notes on page