Lok Sabha Question No. 2217 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-01
Subject: Strengthening Arbitration and Mediation Infrastructure in India
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Smt. Roopkumari Choudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2217 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 01 ST  AUGUST, 2025

## Strengthening Arbitration and Mediation Infrastructure in India

2217. Smt. Roopkumari Choudhary:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Central Government has undertaken any comprehensive assessment or mapping of  arbitration  and  mediation  centres  across  the  country,  including  their  operational  status, caseload capacity and regional distribution, if so, the details thereof;

(b)  the  number  and  location  of  arbitration  and  mediation  centres  established  by  the Government,  including  those  under  institutions  such  as  the  India  International Arbitration Centre (IIAC), SAMADHAN and other Government sponsored bodies;

(c) whether any steps have been taken to promote institutional arbitration and mediation in Tier-II and Tier-III cities under the Mediation Act, 2023 and related policy frameworks;

(d)  the  total  budgetary  allocation  and  actual  expenditure  in  the  last  five  years  for  the development of arbitration  and  mediation  infrastructure,  including  capacity  building,  panel development and technology integration; and

(e)  whether  there  is  any  proposal  to  establish  regional  or  sector-specific  arbitration  and mediation hubs (e.g., for infrastructure, MSMEs or public procurement disputes) and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## 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)

(a) No such assessment or mapping has been undertaken by the Central Government.

(b) The Government of India has enacted the India International Arbitration Centre Act, 2019,  to  provide  for  the  establishment  of  the  India  International Arbitration  Centre  for  the purpose  of  creating  an  independent,  autonomous  and  world  class  body  for  facilitating institutional arbitration and to declare the Centre to be an institution of national importance. The  Centre  aims  to  inspire  confidence  amongst  parties,  by  providing  a  dispute  resolution platform for resolution of commercial disputes through arbitration. The Centre is envisaged to become a model arbitral institution in the country, thereby paving the way for enhancing the quality of institutional framework for arbitration. Apart from India International Arbitration Centre,  no  other  arbitration  or  mediation  centre  has  been  established  by  the  Central Government.

- (c) The Mediation Act, 2023 has been enacted with a view to promote mediation, especially institutional mediation 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. Further, 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 on 03.05.2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The aim of the conference was to promote mediation as a primary mode of dispute and conflict resolution across the country. Also, a Conference on Institutional Arbitration: An effective framework for Dispute Resolution was  organised  by  the  Government  of  India  on  14.06.2025,  with  a  view  to  promote  the advantages of institutional arbitration including in Tier II and Tier III cities.
- (d) In  terms  of  Section  24  of  the  Indian  International Arbitration  Centre Act,  2019,  the Central Government has been regularly releasing grants to the India International Arbitration Centre. The total budgetary allocation and actual expenditure for India International Arbitration Centre is as under:
- (e) No  such  proposal  is  under  the  consideration  of  the  Government.  However, India International Arbitration  Centre  has  framed  and  notified  the  India  International Arbitration Centre  (Conduct  of  Micro  and  Small  Enterprises  Arbitration)  Regulations,  2024,  for  the conduct of arbitrations related to MSME's.

| FINANCIALYEAR   |   BE/RE (Amount in thousands) | EXPENDITURE (Amount in thousands)   |
|-----------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| 2022-23         |                         30000 | 1500                                |
| 2023-24         |                         37500 | 30000                               |
| 2024-25         |                         45000 | 37500                               |
| 2025-26         |                         35600 | -                                   |

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