In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) "children" includes son, daughter, grandson and grand-daughter but does not include a minor;
(b) "maintenance" includes provision for food, clothing, residence and medical attendance and treatment;
(c) "minor" means a person who, under the provisions of the Majority Act, 1875 (9 of 1875) has not attained the age of majority;
(d) "parent" means father or mother whether biological, adoptive or step father or step mother, as the case may be, whether or not the father or the mother is a senior citizen;
(e) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made by the State Government under this Act;
(f) "property" means property of any kind, whether movable or immovable, ancestral or self acquired, tangible or intangible and includes rights or interests in such property;
(g) "relative" means any legal heir of the childless senior citizen who is not a minor and is in possession of or would inherit his property after his death;
(h) "senior citizen" means any person being a citizen of India, who has attained the age of sixty years or above;
(i) "Tribunal" means the Maintenance Tribunal constituted under section 7;
(j) "welfare" means provision for food, health care, recreation centres and other amenities necessary for the senior citizens.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 2
Section 2 provides essential statutory definitions under the Act, establishing the criteria for 'senior citizen' (60+ years), 'parent', 'children', 'relative', and an expansive definition of 'maintenance'.
Note that a 'parent' need not be 60 years old to claim maintenance under the Act; any age qualifies so long as they are unable to maintain themselves. For non-parent senior citizens, they must be at least 60 years old and claim against inheriting 'relatives'.