The most often quoted definition of Begging lies in theBombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959 though there can be some minor variants to this definition in other concerned state laws. As per Section 2(1) of the Act,  “Begging” means-

• Soliciting or receiving alms, in a public place whether or not under any pretence such as singing, dancing, fortune telling, performing or offering any article for sale;
• entering on any private premises for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms;
• exposing or exhibiting any sore, wound injury, deformity of diseases whether of a human being or animal, for extorting alms;
• allowing oneself to be used as an exhibit for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms;
• having no visible means of subsistence and wandering about or remaining in any public place in such condition or manner, which makes it likely that the person doing so exist for soliciting or receiving alms;

The definition however, does not include soliciting or receiving money or food for a purpose authorized by any law or by any competent authorities. The Bombay Act gives powers to enforcement agencies, to arrest without warrant, those persons found begging, and put them in any certified institutions for a period of 1-3 years. If any person, who was detained in a Certified Institution, is found begging again, he shall on conviction for the first time can be ordered by the Court to be detained for not more than three years and on conviction for the second time, for a period of ten years. Further whoever employs or causes any person or child to resort to begging can be punished with imprisonment for a term of 1-3 years.

Presently, there is no Scheme of the Central Government on Beggary nor there is a central law on the matter. The States are responsible for taking necessary preventive and rehabilitative steps. Around 22 States / Union Territories have enacted their own anti-beggary legislation or adopted legislation enacted by other States/UTs. Existing State Anti Beggary Laws

Most of these legislations have provisions for punishment of persons who employ or cause persons to beg or use them for the purpose of begging.

Even though there are no specific central laws, Section 24(1) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 provides that whoever employs or uses any juvenile or the child for the purpose of begging or causes any juvenile to beg can be imprisoned upto three years and shall also be liable to fine.  Those who abets begging are also liable for the same punishment. Section 363A of Indian Penal Code (IPC) provides for punishment of a person who kidnaps or maims a minor for purposes of begging. Unauthorized vending/hawking and begging in trains and Railway premises is an offence under the provisions of Section 144 of the Railways Act, 1989.

Child beggars are treated as children in need of care and protection under the "Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS)" being implemented by the Ministry of Women and child Development. Further there are many government schemes for destitute men and women so that they do not take to streets. (For instance, under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) central assistance is also provided to States for giving pension to persons above 65 years, living below the poverty line, @ Rs. 200/- per month, which is meant to be supplemented by at least an equal contribution by the States.)

There is currently a thinking that any anti-begging legislation should stress more on prevention and rehabilitation of beggars and should curb the evil of what is called as 'organized begging racket' especially in cities, places of religious importance, etc.

Statistics

Persons like beggars, pensioners, etc., who receives income without doing any work are regarded as "non-workers" as per census of India and a state wise estimate of such non-workers are generated. As per the Census 2011, the number of Beggars, Vagrants etc.  in India is as follows:

However, these figures may be an underestimate of the number of beggars in India. For instance, Census 2011 states that there are 2073 beggars in Delhi. When the Government of Delhi had sponsored a survey of beggars in Delhi, in 2006 it reported the estimated (projected) number of beggars at 58,570. (However, out of surveyed beggars, 6 were found to be graduates and 4 were post graduates. As per the report, 22 beggars earned between Rs. 200/- to Rs. 500/- per day.) To take a cue from another related statistics, during the year 2006,  around 1,17,779 number of unauthorized vendors etc. have been arrested and prosecuted under section 144 of the Railways Act, 1989.

As per the first Socio Economic Cast Census of 2011 6.68 lakh or 0.37% of the rural households derive their income from Begging/charity/alms.