Section 2. Definitions

2. Definitions.— In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, — (a) "agency" includes a person or persons engaged by the appropriate Government, directly or by outsourcing, for collection of statistics; (b) "appropriate Government" means- - (i) any Ministry or Department in the Central Government; or - (ii) any Ministry or Department in a State Government or Union territory Administration; or (iii) any local government that is to say, Panchayats or Municipalities, as the case may be, in relation to the collection of statistics under a direction issued by it under section 3; (c) "informant" means any person, who supplies or is required to supply statistical information and includes a owner or occupier or person in-charge or his authorised representative in respect of persons or a firm registered under the Indian Partnership Act, 1932 (9 of 1932) or a co-operative society registered under any Co-operative Societies Act or a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) or a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860) or any association recognised or registered under any law for the time being in force; (d) "information schedule" means any book, document, form, card, tape, disc or any storage media on which information required is entered or recorded or is required to be entered or recorded for statistical purposes under this Act; 4[(da) "nodal officer" means the officer designated as a nodal officer under sub-section (1) of section 3A;]. (e) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 1. Subs. by Act 21 of 2017, s. 2, for sub-section (2) (w.e.f. 3-10-2017). 2. The proviso omitted by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, vide notification No. S.O. 1123(E) dated (18-3-2020) and vide Union Territory of Ladakh Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, Notification No. S.O. 3774(E), dated (23-10-2020).