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Birth and Death Act, 1969

Definitions and interpretation

In force Act 18 of 1969 As on 18 Oct 2026

Read from the scanned gazette. India Code publishes no text for this Act, so the text below was read from the Government's own scan by machine and split into sections by its numbering. It has not been checked against the page word by word. Where it matters, read the scan. Read the scan.

Act 18 of 1969

This is a second copy of a Central Act. India Code files it on Punjab's shelf as well as under Parliament, and the text is the same enactment. Read it at The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, which is the record this site keeps current.

Read from the scanned gazette. India Code publishes no text for this Act, so this text was read from the Government's own scan by machine and split into sections by its numbering. It has not been checked against the page word by word. Where it matters, read the scan. Read the scan.

Section 2 of Birth and Death Act, 1969 deals with definitions and interpretation. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) "birth" means live-birth or still-birth ;

Definitions and interpretation- (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) "birth" means live-birth or still-birth ;

(b) "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 of 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. CHAPTER II REGISTRATION ESTABLISHMENT

Section 2, Birth and Death Act, 1969 (Act 18 of 1969).

Questions about Section 2

What does Section 2 of the Birth and Death Act deal with?

Section 2 of the Birth and Death Act is headed "Definitions and interpretation". In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) "birth" means live-birth or still-birth ;

How do I find court cases under Section 2 of the Birth and Death Act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Birth Death Act 1969 2, section 2 Birth Death Act 1969, section 2 of the Birth and Death Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.

When was the Birth and Death Act enacted?

Birth and Death Act was enacted in 1969 as Act 18 of 1969. India Code records no commencement date for it. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Read from the Government's own scanned gazette with Azure Document Intelligence, then split into sections by their numbering. India Code publishes no text for this Act. The scan itself is mirrored into our own storage and served at /scan/91099d82-b0a4-4388-ad7f-862ea0fad684.pdf, so the reading here can be checked against the page it came from without depending on India Code's own copy staying where it is (it was at https://indiacode.gov.in/server/api/core/bitstreams/69529474-96f7-4d84-9072-5257101e07eb/content). This page is not a substitute for legal advice.