What does Section 13 of the Indian Contract Act define?

Section 13 of the Indian Contract Act deals specifically with the concept of consent, highlighting its importance in forming a valid contract. Consent is defined as the mutual agreement between two or more parties, indicating that all parties have a shared understanding and willingness to enter into the contract.

This section elaborates that consent must be free and not obtained through any undue influence, coercion, fraud, misrepresentation, or mistake. Therefore, this provision essentially establishes the foundational requirement that for any contract to be valid, the parties must demonstrate genuine consent to the terms set forth.

The other options refer to distinct concepts that, while relevant to contract law, are covered under different sections of the Act. For instance, coercion is defined in Section 15, which explains how consent can be invalidated if it is obtained through threats or pressure. Fraud and misrepresentation, which can also vitiate consent, are addressed in Sections 17 and 18 respectively. Thus, while these concepts are critical to understanding contract validity, it is the definition of consent in Section 13 that is pivotal as it directly underpins the entire contractual agreement.