(1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) ‘‘Act’’ means the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013);
(b) ‘‘Annexure’’ means Annexure to these rules;
(c) “Certifying Authority” for the purpose of ‘‘Digital Signature Certificate’’ means a person who has been granted a licence to issue it under section 24 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000).
(d) “Digital Signature” means digital signature as defined under clause (p) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000;(21 of 2000);
(e) “Digital Signature Certificate” means a Digital Signature Certificate as defined under clause (q) of subsection (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);
(f) “electronic record” means electronic record as defined under clause (t) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000; (21 of 2000);
(g) “electronic registry” means an electronic repository or storage system of the Central Government in which the information or documents are received, stored, protected and preserved in electronic form;
(h) “electronic mail” means message sent, received or forwarded in digital form using any electronic communication mechanism such that the message so sent, received or forwarded is storable and retrievable;
(i) ‘‘Form’’ or “e-form” means a form set forth in Annexure to these rules which shall be used for the matter to which it relates;
(j) ‘‘Regional Director’’ means the person appointed by the Central Government in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs as a Regional Director;
(k) “Registrar’s Facilitation Office” means an office maintained by the Central Government or an agency authorised by it to facilitate e-filing of documents into the electronic registry and their inspection and viewing;
(l) “Straight Through Process” means the process in which an e-from is approved through system without manual interruption.
(2) Words and expressions used in these rules but not defined and defined in the Act and the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000) or in Companies (Specification of definitions details) Rules, 2014 shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in those Acts and the said rules.