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Glossary — 25 Terms
| Term (EN) | Definition | Exam Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Family | Household of couple + unmarried children; 54.4% of Indian households (2011) | Family structure |
| Joint Family | Multi-generational family sharing residence and resources; declining in India | Family types |
| Arranged Marriage | Family-arranged marriage; 93% of Indian marriages (IHDS) | Marriage in India |
| Sharda Act | 1929 — India's first child marriage restraint law (girls 14, boys 18) | PYQ 2021 |
| PCMA | Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 — girls 18, boys 21 minimum age | Child marriage law |
| Special Marriage Act | 1954 — civil marriage without caste/religion requirement | Inter-faith/caste marriage |
| Dowry | Gifts/property given by bride's family to groom; banned by Dowry Prohibition Act 1961 | Marriage problem |
| POCSO | Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 | Child protection |
| DV Act | Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 | Women's safety |
| Elderly | Persons aged 60+ years; 138 million in India (2021) | Elder welfare |
| Maintenance Act | Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 (amended 2019) | Elder right |
| Elder Abuse | Physical, emotional, financial exploitation of older persons; 20% face it (NITI 2020) | Elder problem |
| Active Ageing | WHO framework: health, participation, security for older persons | WHO policy |
| PwD | Persons with Disabilities; 2.68 crore = 2.21% population (Census 2011) | RPwD context |
| RPwD Act | Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 — 21 types; 4% reservation | PwD law |
| UNCRPD | UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006); India ratified 2007 | International law |
| UDID Card | Unique Disability ID — digital identification for PwD to access benefits | PwD scheme |
| Cyber Crime | Criminal activity involving computers, networks, or internet | Topic priority |
| Phishing | Fake websites/emails designed to steal user credentials or financial information | Cyber crime type |
| Ransomware | Malware that encrypts victim's data and demands payment for decryption | Cyber crime type |
| IT Act 2000 | Information Technology Act — India's primary cyber law (amended 2008) | Legal framework |
| CERT-In | Indian Computer Emergency Response Team — national cyber security agency (2004) | Institution |
| Social Media | Digital platforms for user-generated content and social interaction | New social phenomenon |
| Fake News | False or misleading information spread rapidly through social media and messaging apps | Social media harm |
| DPDP Act | Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 — consent-based data protection | Data law |
Sources: Census of India 2011 (family/disability data); NFHS-5 (2019–21) — marriage age, child marriage; IHDS 2011–12 (arranged/inter-caste marriage); NCRB Crime in India 2022 (cyber crime); NITI Aayog — Senior Citizens Report 2020; UNFPA India Ageing Report 2023; IT Act 2000 (amended 2008); RPwD Act 2016; UNCRPD 2006; Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023; IT Intermediary Guidelines 2021; Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015 SC); Navtej Singh Johar v. UoI (2018 SC); Anuradha Bhasin v. UoI (2020 SC); TRAI Telecom Sector Data 2022; NIMHANS Youth Mental Health Survey 2019; Oxfam Digital Gender Divide Report 2020.