Date: 2026-04-28Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
IICA concludes first assessment of Arbitrator Qualifying Assessment Program (AQAP), aims to create a cadre of world-class Arbitrators for Viksit Bharat
**Executive Summary**
The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) successfully concluded its first assessment cycle of the Arbitrator Qualifying Assessment Program (AQAP) from April 24–26, 2026, in Manesar. This initiative aims to create a pool of globally benchmarked arbitrators to establish India as an international arbitration hub. The program focuses on transitioning the dispute resolution landscape toward an efficiency-driven, market-based approach to support India’s economic growth and "Viksit Bharat" vision.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Program Overview and Structure**
* Organized by the Centre of Excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution (CEADR) at the IICA campus.
* The AQAP is a 3-day, 3-tier rigorous assessment designed for certification as an arbitrator.
* The program is a first-of-its-kind initiative aligned with global benchmarks for professional training.
**Strategic Objectives**
* **Economic Growth:** Building a fast, efficient, and cost-effective dispute resolution system to support a multi-trillion-dollar economy.
* **Investment Confidence:** Addressing the backlog of legal cases and delays that currently discourage investment and weaken economic growth.
* **Professional Standards:** Shifting the industry mindset from "ad hoc" practices to a market-based, efficiency-driven approach to increase the credibility of arbitration.
**Broader ADR Initiatives**
* **IICA Certified Mediator Program (ICMP):** A 100+ hour, 3-month online program currently in its 23rd batch.
* **IICA Certified Arbitration Professional (ICAP):** A 250+ hour, 9-month hybrid program currently in its 2nd batch.
* **Legal Infrastructure Reform:** Recognizing that while the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) has improved business exits, broader legal reforms are necessary to enhance the dispute resolution ecosystem.
**Impact Analysis**
**Aspiring Arbitrators and Program Delegates**
**Impact**
Individuals gain access to rigorous, applied, and well-articulated certification that meets global professional standards.
**Action Required**
Delegates must shift their professional mindset toward efficiency and take responsibility for building shared confidence in the arbitration profession.
**International Businesses and Investors**
**Impact**
The creation of a cadre of world-class arbitrators provides businesses with more reliable, fast, and cost-effective mechanisms to resolve disputes.
**Action Required**
Stakeholders are encouraged to utilize India-based arbitration to resolve disputes as the legal infrastructure becomes more robust and benchmarked to global standards.
**Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) / CEADR**
**Impact**
The IICA establishes itself as a pivotal institution in augmenting India's ADR ecosystem and transforming the legal landscape.
**Action Required**
The institute must continue to manage and scale its flagship programs (ICMP, ICAP, and AQAP) to maintain a consistent pool of trained professionals.
Key Entities Referenced
Arbitrator Qualifying Assessment Program (AQAP): A 3-day, 3-tier rigorous assessment initiative designed to certify world-class arbitrators and establish India as an international hub for arbitration.
Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA): An institution under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs that spearheads training and certification programs in alternative dispute resolution through its Centre of Excellence in ADR.
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC): A key legislative reform referenced as a benchmark for improving business exit mechanisms and the overall efficiency of India's legal infrastructure.
IICA Certified Arbitration Professional (ICAP): A flagship 9-month hybrid professional certification program aimed at creating a pool of globally benchmarked arbitrators in India.
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
IICA concludes first assessment of Arbitrator
Qualifying Assessment Program (AQAP), aims to
create a cadre of world-class Arbitrators for
Viksit Bharat
Posted On: 28 APR 2026 4:59PM by PIB Delhi
The first assessment cycle of the IICA Arbitrator Qualifying Assessment Program (AQAP) was conducted
in-person from April 24-26, 2026, at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) Campus, Manesar.
The event was organised by the Centre of Excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution (CEADR), a 3-tier
rigorous assessment for certification as an arbitrator.
A first-of-its-kind initiative, the program aims at creating a pool of professionally trained and globally
benchmarked arbitrators to make India an international arbitration hub for Viksit Bharat.
Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director-General & CEO, IICA, welcomed and felicitated the Chief
Guest, Justice (Retd.) Hemant Gupta, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India and Former Chairperson,
India International Arbitration Centre, along with the other two independent experts involved in the
assessment, namely Shri Anish Wadia C.Arb and Shri AJ Jawad.
Justice Hemant Gupta, who presided over the assessment, emphasised that in order to increase the
credibility of arbitrators and arbitration as a profession, a mindset shift is needed from ad hoc to a market-
based, efficiency-driven approach. He appreciated the 3-day rigorous, applied, and well-articulated
arbitration assessment program of IICA aligned to global benchmarks. He motivated the first cohort
delegates to be different and be effective in their role as arbitrators, since confidence-building is a shared
responsibility.
Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh emphasised that if India aims to become a developed nation with a
multi-trillion-dollar economy, it must build a fast, efficient, and cost-effective dispute resolution system.
He highlighted that international businesses overwhelmingly prefer arbitration to resolve disputes andnoted that the massive backlog of cases and delays discourages investment and weakens economic growth.
He referred to reforms such as the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), which improved business exit
mechanisms, but said that a broader legal infrastructure reform is still needed.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Prof (Dr) Naveen Sirohi, Head, CEADR, IICA, emphasised the
commitment of the Centre of Excellence in augmenting the dispute resolution ecosystem in India through
creating a pool of world-class arbitrators and mediators at par with global standards. He thanked all the
experts for their support in the successful completion of the flagship arbitration assessment program and
acknowledged the dedication of all participants along with the IICA core organising team.
Centre of Excellence in ADR, IICA is transforming the ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) landscape
in India through its flagship initiatives on mediation and arbitration, namely;
1. IICA Certified Mediator Program (ICMP) - a 100+ hours, 3-month online program
running into the 23rd batch,
2. IICA Certified Arbitration Professional (ICAP) - a 250+ hours, 9-month hybrid program
running into the 2nd batch, and
3. Arbitrator Qualifying Assessment Program (AQAP) - a 3-day, 3-tier rigorous assessment
program to create world-class arbitrators.
*****
NB/ONP
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