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Home India Ministry of Law and Justice Notifications Government is promoting alternate dispute resoluti... (Official PDF)
Date: 13th August 2026 Category: Press Release Jurisdiction: India, Central Government

Government is promoting alternate dispute resolution mechanisms including mediation

Issued by Ministry of Law and Justice

Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice on 13th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.

Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

Executive Summary The Government of India is actively promoting Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, specifically mediation, to provide a less adversarial substitute for conventional litigation. Key legislative frameworks, including the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, and the Mediation Act, 2023, mandate pre-institution mediation for commercial disputes and establish the Mediation Council of India. Significant milestones include the training of over 15,500 mediators and the operation of 1,846 ADR and Mediation Centres as of March 2026.

Key Points / Main Content

Legislative Framework and Mandatory Mediation

  • Commercial Courts Act, 2015: Section 12A mandates Pre-Institution Mediation and Settlement (PIMS) for commercial disputes of specified values. Parties must exhaust this remedy before approaching the Court unless urgent relief is required.
  • Mediation Act, 2023: Provides a statutory framework for institutional mediation and establishes the Mediation Council of India under Section 31 to recognize service providers.
  • Community Mediation: Section 43 of the Mediation Act, 2023, facilitates the resolution of local disputes affecting peace and harmony through community-based mediation.

Infrastructure and Institutional Support

  • National Infrastructure: As of March 2026, there are 452 ADR Centres and 1,394 Mediation Centres functioning across the country.
  • NALSA’s Role: The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) strengthens ADR centres and implements community mediation through State (SLSAs) and District (DLSAs) Legal Services Authorities.
  • Funding: NALSA provides grants-in-aid to the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC), constituted by the Supreme Court, to fund training programs.

Capacity Building and Training

  • Professional Training: A total of 4,681 Judicial Officers, 10,124 Lawyers, and 753 other mediators have been trained and deployed.
  • Specialized Programs: NALSA, in collaboration with the International Academy of Mediators, conducted 15-hour Advanced Commercial Mediation Training Programs in late 2024 and early 2025.
  • National Conferences: A national-level Mediation Conference was organized in March 2025 at Bharat Mandapam to raise awareness and build capacity among stakeholders.

Impact Analysis

Stakeholder: Parties to Commercial Disputes Impact Litigants are now legally required to attempt mediation for commercial disputes of a certain value before they can proceed to court adjudication. Action Required Parties must engage with PIMS authorities established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, to attempt an amicable settlement before filing a suit.

Stakeholder: Legal Professionals (Lawyers and Judicial Officers) Impact There is a significant shift toward mediation as a preferred dispute resolution mode, creating a high demand for trained mediators. Action Required Professionals should participate in training programs offered by the MCPC and NALSA to gain accreditation and enhance skills in handling complex commercial and community disputes.

Stakeholder: Legal Services Authorities (NALSA, SLSAs, and DLSAs) Impact These bodies are the primary implementers of the government’s mediation initiatives and are responsible for managing ADR infrastructure. Action Required These authorities must continue empanelling mediators, strengthening mediation centres, and facilitating community-based dispute resolution initiatives.

Stakeholder: Mediation Council of India Impact As a newly established national body, it holds the responsibility for regulating and promoting the mediation ecosystem. Action Required The Council must work towards recognizing mediation service providers and establishing mediation as a preferred mode of dispute resolution.

Key Entities Referenced

Mediation Act, 2023: The primary statutory framework governing institutional mediation, community mediation, and the establishment of the Mediation Council of India. Commercial Courts Act, 2015: Legislation that mandates pre-institution mediation and settlement (PIMS) for commercial disputes under Section 12A. National Legal Services Authority (NALSA): The central body responsible for promoting mediation, strengthening ADR centres, and funding training programs across the country. Mediation Council of India: A national-level body established under the Mediation Act, 2023 to promote mediation and recognize service providers. Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC): A committee constituted by the Supreme Court of India that provides mediation training to lawyers and legal professionals.
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Ministry of Law and Justice Government is promoting alternate dispute resolution mechanisms including mediation Government is continuously engaging with various stakeholders including High Courts and NALSA for raising awareness related to mediation and capacity building amongst stakeholders प्रव तथ: 13 AUG 2026 3:49PM by PIB Delhi The Government is promoting alternate dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms including mediation, as these mechanisms are less adversarial and are capable of providing a better substitute to the conventional methods of resolving disputes. i. Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015 provides for mandatory pre-institution mediation and settlement (PIMS) in commercial disputes of specified value, before instituting a suit except in cases in which urgent relief is contemplated by the party. The parties have to therefore 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 and prevent disputes which are thus amicably settled being taken to courts for adjudication. Authorities established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 are required to conduct PIMS under the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. ii. The Mediation Act, 2023, also lays down the statutory framework for mediation to be adopted by parties to a dispute, especially institutional mediation, wherein various stakeholders have also been identified to establish a robust and efficacious mediation ecosystem in the country. Section 31 of the Act provides for the establishment of Mediation Council of India as a national level body inter-alia for promoting mediation as a preferred mode of dispute resolution and for recognising mediation service providers in the country. Also, section 43 of the Act provides for resolution of any dispute which is likely to affect peace, harmony and tranquillity amongst the residents or families of any area or locality through community mediation. The Government is continuously engaging with various stakeholders including High Courts and NALSA for raising awareness related to mediation and capacity building amongst the stakeholders. In March 2025 a national level Mediation Conference was organised by Ld. Attorney General for India in association with Department of Legal Affairs and India International Arbitration Centre at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Further, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has been taking various steps to promote mediation across the country. These include strengthening ADR Centres and Mediation Centres functioning under the Legal Services Authorities, empanelling and training mediators, promoting pre-litigation andcommunity-based dispute resolution, and implementing the Community Mediation initiative through the State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) and District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs). NALSA provides funds out of grants in aid received from Govt of India to Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC) constituted by Supreme Court of India. MCPC provides training to lawyers to become trained mediators. Also, NALSA in collaboration with International Academy of Mediators successfully organized a 15 hours Advanced Commercial Mediation Training Program at the Supreme Court of India from 14th October-16th October, 2024 (Batch 1) and from 3rd March to 5th March,2025 (Batch 2). The three-day event brought together experienced legal professionals, mediators, and judges to enhance mediation skills, particularly in handling complex commercial disputes. As on March, 2026, there are 452 ADR Centres and 1,394 Mediation Centres functioning across the country. A total of 4,681 Judicial Officers, 10,124 Lawyers, and 753 other Mediators have been trained and deployed as Mediators. 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. ***** Samrat/Pranab/Sagar (रलीज़ आईडी: 2298890) आगंतुक पटल : 511 इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही , Tamil

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