The word “article” in this Act refers to:

This question defines a key term within the Act. Legal statutes often include a definitions section to clarify the scope of terms used. In the Punjab Prevention of Hoarding Act 2020, the word "article" specifically refers to Scheduled articles specified in the Act. This means the Act does not apply to just "any commodity," "all imported goods," or "agricultural products only," but rather to a predefined list of essential goods that are susceptible to hoarding, as detailed in the Act's schedule. This precise definition limits the Act's application to specific, critical items.