Section 2. Definitions

CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY 1.[1] [Short title, extent, application and commencement].— (1) This Act may be called the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. (2) It shall extend to the whole of India[2] *. (3) It shall come into force on such date[3] as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint. 4[(4) Subject to the provisions of articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution, the provisions of this Act shall apply to conferment of rights on children to free and compulsory education. (5) Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to Madrasas, Vedic Pathsalas and educational institutions primarily imparting religious instruction.] 2. Definitions.— In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, — (a) "appropriate Government" means — (i) in relation to a school established, owned or controlled by the Central Government, or the administrator of the Union territory, having no legislature, the Central Government; (ii) in relation to a school, other than the school referred to in sub-clause (i), established within the territory of — (A) a State, the State Government; (B) a Union territory having legislature, the Government of that Union territory; (b) "capitation fee" means any kind of donation or contribution or payment other than the fee notified by the school; (c) "child" means a male or female child of the age of six to fourteen years; (d) "child belonging to disadvantaged group" means[5] [a child with disability or] a child belonging to the Scheduled Caste, the Scheduled Tribe, the socially and educationally backward class or such other group having disadvantage owing to social, cultural, economical, geographical, linguistic, gender or such other factor, as may be specified by the appropriate Government, by notification; (e) "child belonging to weaker section" means a child belonging to such parent or guardian whose annual income is lower than the minimum limit specified by the appropriate Government, by notification; 5 [(ee) "child with disability" includes, — (A) a child with "disability" as defined in clause (i) of section 2 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (1 of 1996); Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 1. Subs. by Act 2 of 2018, s. 3 and The Second Schedule, for "the marginal heading" (w.e.f. 5-1-2018). 2. The words "except the State of Jammu and Kashmir" omitted by Act 34 of 2019, s. 95 and the Fifth Schedule (w.e.f. 31-10-2019).