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Glossary
| Term (EN) | Definition | Exam Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| MWPSC Act | Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 | Act name |
| Senior Citizen | Indian citizen aged 60 years or above — Section 2(h) | PYQ both years |
| Parent | Father/mother — biological, adoptive, or step (Section 2(d)) | Definition |
| Children | Adult son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter — Section 2(a) | PYQ 2023 |
| Relative | Legal heir who would inherit SC's property; not a child — Section 2(g) | PYQ 2021 |
| Maintenance | Food, clothing, residence, medical attendance — Section 2(c) | Comprehensive definition |
| Childless SC | SC without children; relatives obligated to maintain | Section 2(b) |
| Maintenance Tribunal | SDM-presided body for maintenance applications (Section 7) | Key institution |
| Sub-Divisional Magistrate | SDM — presides Maintenance Tribunal at sub-division level | Tribunal head |
| Appellate Tribunal | District Magistrate — hears appeal within 60 days (Section 16) | Appeal forum |
| Maximum Maintenance | ₹10,000/month central limit; states can increase | Monetary limit |
| 90-Day Limit | Tribunal must decide within 90 days (120 with extension) | Time limit |
| Conciliation | Tribunal's first step — attempt amicable settlement (Section 9) | Procedure |
| Interim Maintenance | Monthly allowance during pending proceedings (Section 15) | Procedural relief |
| Section 23 Void Transfer | Gift/transfer with maintenance condition void if condition breached | Key provision |
| Ab Initio | From the very beginning — transfer deemed void from start under S.23 | Legal term |
| Abandonment | Intentional desertion of senior citizen — Section 24 | Criminalised |
| Old Age Home | Govt-mandated facility per district; min 150 persons (Section 19) | State duty |
| Suo Motu | Tribunal can take cognisance on its own without formal application | Tribunal power |
| Default | Failure to pay maintenance ordered — attracts warrant, imprisonment | Enforcement |
| Section 125 CrPC/BNSS | Maintenance provision in criminal law — parallel remedy to MWPSC | Comparison |
| Mukhyamantri Vriddhjan Samman Pension | Rajasthan BPL elderly pension scheme | Rajasthan |
| Legal Heir | Person entitled to inherit property under personal law or succession law | Relative definition |
| Childless | Having no children; relatives then become obligated to maintain | Coverage |
| 2019 Amendment Bill | Proposed removal of ₹10,000 cap; private old age home regulation; emotional care | Pending reform |
Sources: Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 (Act 56 of 2007); MWPSC Rules 2009; Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill 2019; Sudha Mishra v. Surya Charan Mishra (2014 Allahabad HC); NCRB Crime in India 2022; Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment; Rajasthan Social Justice and Empowerment Department; RPSC Mains 2026 Syllabus.