Article 306: Definitions and interpretations

1) Unless the subject or the context otherwise requires, in this Constitution,-

(a) “minorities” means ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups whose population is less than the percentage specified by the Federal law, and includes groups that have their distinct ethnic, religious, or linguistic characteristics, aspirations to protect such features, and are subjected to discrimination and oppression.

(b) “law” means a Federal law, State law, and Local law,

(c) “Article” means an article of this Constitution,

(d) “Municipality” means and includes a Municipal Corporation and Sub-municipal Corporation.

(e) “citizen” means a citizen of Nepal,

(f) “State” means the area and form of a federal unit of Nepal divided into the Federal units in accordance with this Constitution,

(g) “remuneration” means and includes salary, allowance, pension, and any other form of emolument and facility,

(h) “State power” means the power relating to the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary of the state, and includes residual power.

(i) “Bill” means a draft of an amendment to the Constitution or of an Act which has been introduced in the Federal Parliament or a State Assembly,

(j) “Federation” means the federal level that is the apex unit of the federal structure,

(k) “Federal Units” means the Federation, State, and Local levels,

(l) “Constitutional Bodies” means the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, Auditor General, Public Service Commission, Election Commission, National Human Rights Commission, National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission, National Women Commission, National Dalit Commission, National Madhesi Inclusion Commission, Indigenous Nationalities Commission, Commission, Tharu Commission, and Muslim Commission.

(m) “marginalised” means communities that are made politically, economically, and socially backward, are unable to enjoy services and facilities because of discrimination and oppression, and of geographical remoteness, or are deprived thereof, and are in a lower status than the human development standards mentioned in Federal law, and includes highly marginalised groups and groups on the verge of extinction.

(n) “Local level” means the Village Bodies, Municipalities, and District Assemblies to be established in accordance with this Constitution.

2) Unless the subject or the context otherwise requires, the legal provisions relating to the interpretation of laws shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, apply to the interpretation of this Constitution in the same manner as those provisions apply to the interpretation of the Nepal laws.