**Executive Summary**
This report, dated January 29, 2026, by PIB Delhi, details the number of commercial disputes settled through pre-institution mediation under the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, since its amendment in 2018. The report provides statistics on applications received for mediation, applications where mediation remains non-starter, and applications where parties reached a settlement. The report covers data from July 2018 to September 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Commercial Courts Act Amendment:**
* The Commercial Courts Act, 2015 was amended in 2018 to include Pre-Institution Mediation and Settlement (PIMS) under Section 12A.
* PIMS is mandatory for commercial disputes of specified value that do not require urgent interim relief before approaching the Court.
* **Mediation Statistics:** The document presents a table showing the following data for various periods:
* Number of applications received for mediation
* Number of applications where mediation remained non-starter
* Number of applications where parties reached a settlement.
* **Mediation Process & Duration:**
* The Commercial Courts (Pre-Institution Mediation and Settlement) Rules, 2018, outlines the pre-litigation mediation manner and procedure under Section 12A.
* Mediation process must be completed within three months from the date of receipt of application.
* The period may be extended by an additional two months with the consent of both parties.
* **Mediator Information**
* As of November 2025, there are 22,398 mediators across the country, according to the National Legal Service Authority.
* As per the Mediation Act, 2023, mediation institutes are responsible for training, education, and certification of mediators.
**Impact Analysis**
**Businesses/Parties involved in Commercial Disputes**
* **Impact:** Businesses involved in commercial disputes that do not require urgent interim relief are required to undergo pre-institution mediation. Successful mediation can lead to faster and more cost-effective resolution of disputes, reducing the burden on courts.
* **Action Required:** Parties should engage in the PIMS process as required by Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015 before initiating court proceedings.
**National Legal Service Authority**
* **Impact:** Has mediators across the country to assist with mediations.
* **Action Required:** No action specified
**Mediators and Mediation Institutes**
* **Impact:** Mediation Institutes provide training and certification
* **Action Required:** Adhere to Section 3(1) read with Section 42 of the Mediation Act, 2023
Key Entities Referenced
Commercial Courts Act, 2015: Governs the settlement of commercial disputes through pre-institution mediation.
Section 12A: Section in the Commercial Courts Act, 2015 that establishes the Pre-Institution Mediation and Settlement (PIMS) mechanism.
Pre-Institution Mediation and Settlement (PIMS): Mechanism for resolving commercial disputes of specified value before approaching the court, as per the Commercial Courts Act, 2015.
Commercial Courts (Pre-Institution Mediation and Settlement) Rules, 2018: Provides the manner and procedure of pre-litigation under Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015.
Mediation Act, 2023: Reference to an act related to mediation institutes.
Ministry of Law and Justice
Commercial disputes settled through pre-
institution mediation under the Commercial
Courts Act, 2015
MEDIATION CASES
प्रव तथ: 29 JAN 2026 8:30PM by PIB Delhi
The Commercial Courts Act, 2015 was amended in the year 2018, to provide inter-alia for Pre-
Institution Mediation and Settlement (PIMS) mechanism under Section 12A. Under this mechanism,
where a commercial dispute of specified value does not contemplate any urgent interim relief, the
parties have to first exhaust the mandatory remedy of PIMS before approaching the Court. This is
aimed at providing an opportunity to the parties to resolve the commercial disputes through mediation.
The details of commercial disputes settled through pre-institution mediation under the Commercial Courts
Act, 2015, since the amendment in the year 2018, are as follows:
Period No. of applications No. of application No. of application
received for mediation where mediation where parties reached
remains non-starter for settlement
July, 2018 to 3680 1660 25
March, 2019
2019-20 18080 14470 167
2020-21 18364 14014 186
2021-22 32335 28441 368
2022-23 46412 41898 1449
2023-24 51019 47185 1139
2024-25 59568 52730 877
2025-26(upto Sep 47218 30353 643
25)As on November 2025, the National Legal Service Authority has around 22,398 mediators across the
country and in various States. Further, as per Section 3 (l) read with Section 42 of the Mediation Act,
2023, a mediation institute is a body or organization that inter-alia provides training, continuous education
and certification of mediators.
The Commercial Courts (Pre-Institution Mediation and Settlement) Rules, 2018, provides for the manner
and procedure of pre-litigation under Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. Further, in terms
of Rule 3 of the Commercial Courts (Pre-Institution Mediation and Settlement) Rules, 2018, the mediation
process is to be completed within a period of three months from the date of receipt of application for pre-
institution mediation unless the period is extended for further two months with the consent of the applicant
and the opposite party. The legislative framework is in place to facilitate time bound conclusion of PIMS
mechanism under Section 12A of the Act.
This information was given by MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha
today.
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