Coercion in the Indian Contract Act primarily refers to what?

Coercion, as defined in the Indian Contract Act, refers to the act of forcing someone to enter into a contract against their will through intimidation or threats. This can manifest in various forms, such as threats to personal safety, threats to reputational harm, or threats related to property. The essence of coercion lies in the fact that the consent obtained under such circumstances is not genuine, as it is secured through undue pressure or force rather than free will.

Thus, the understanding that coercion involves manipulating another person's consent through intimidation captures the core principle of the legal definition. Recognizing this helps establish the validity of contracts, as agreements formed under coercive conditions are generally voidable.

In contrast, the other options reflect different concepts that do not align with the precise legal definition of coercion. While using threats to change someone's financial status may involve coercion, it’s not the primary definition as it lacks the direct reference to contract formation through intimidation. Manipulating facts relates more to misrepresentation, and offering incentives pertains to persuasion rather than coercion, which implies a lack of choice rather than the availability of options.