Understanding the Numbers: Why Is the Factories Act 1948 Called "63 of 1948"?

Dear sir,

Why should we call the Factories Act of 1948 as "63 of 1948" and its amendment as "20 of 1987"? What is meant by these act numbers "63" and "20"? Please explain.

Dear Bhaskar,

The "no" before "of" refers to the serial number of legislation by the Parliament, and the "no" after it refers to the year of legislation.

The numbers 63 and 20 denote the chronological order in which the legislature has passed the respective act, and thereafter, the year of passing the Act is referred to. The Factories Act 1948, having been passed by the Parliament, received the assent of the President of India on 23rd September 1948 and came into force on 1st April 1949.