NEW DELHI, India — The government is expanding mediation and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to provide a less adversarial route for settling disputes and reduce the burden on courts, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
- 1,394 mediation centres were operational across India as of March 2026.
- The country also had 452 ADR centres functioning during the same period.
- A total of 15,558 mediators comprising judicial officers, lawyers and other mediators had been trained and deployed.
- The Mediation Act, 2023 provides a statutory framework for institutional and community mediation.
Government pushes mediation to reduce litigation
According to Meghwal, the government is working with stakeholders including High Courts and the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to increase awareness of mediation and improve the capabilities of those involved in the process.
The approach is aimed at giving disputing parties an opportunity to reach mutually acceptable settlements without relying exclusively on conventional court proceedings. The government considers mediation and other ADR mechanisms important tools for making dispute resolution more efficient and accessible.
Commercial disputes face mandatory pre-institution mediation
One of the key legislative measures highlighted by the government is Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. The provision requires parties involved in specified-value commercial disputes to undergo pre-institution mediation and settlement before filing a suit, except in cases where urgent interim relief is contemplated.
The system is designed to provide parties with an opportunity to resolve their disagreements before the dispute proceeds to full-fledged court adjudication. Authorities created under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 are responsible for conducting the pre-institution mediation process.
Mediation Act 2023 creates statutory framework
The Mediation Act, 2023 has provided a dedicated statutory framework for mediation in India, with an emphasis on institutional mediation and the creation of a stronger mediation ecosystem.
Under Section 31 of the legislation, the Mediation Council of India has been established as a national-level body. Among its responsibilities are promoting mediation as a preferred method of dispute resolution and recognising mediation service providers.
The legislation also provides for community mediation under Section 43. This mechanism is intended for disputes that could affect peace, harmony and tranquillity among residents or families within a locality.
NALSA expands mediation infrastructure
NALSA has been working to strengthen ADR and mediation centres operating under legal services authorities. Its efforts include expanding infrastructure, empanelling mediators, providing training and encouraging both pre-litigation and community-based dispute resolution.
The community mediation programme is being implemented through State Legal Services Authorities and District Legal Services Authorities, extending the mechanism beyond conventional court-linked disputes.
NALSA also provides grants to the Supreme Court’s Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC), which conducts training programmes for lawyers seeking to qualify as trained mediators.
Training programmes focus on complex commercial disputes
As part of efforts to improve professional mediation skills, NALSA collaborated with the International Academy of Mediators to organise two 15-hour Advanced Commercial Mediation Training Programmes at the Supreme Court.
The programmes were held in October 2024 and March 2025 and brought together legal professionals, mediators and judges. The training was intended to strengthen their ability to handle complex commercial disputes.
National mediation conference held in New Delhi
The government also highlighted a national-level Mediation Conference organised in March 2025 by the Attorney General for India in association with the Department of Legal Affairs and the India International Arbitration Centre.
The conference was held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and formed part of wider efforts to promote mediation and strengthen awareness of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms among stakeholders.
1,394 mediation centres operational across India
Government data cited by the Law Minister shows that India had 1,394 Mediation Centres functioning across the country as of March 2026. During the same period, there were also 452 ADR Centres operational nationwide.
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Mediation Centres | 1,394 |
| ADR Centres | 452 |
| Judicial officers trained and deployed as mediators | 4,681 |
| Lawyers trained and deployed as mediators | 10,124 |
| Other mediators trained and deployed | 753 |
Over 15,000 mediators trained and deployed
The figures provided by the government show that mediation capacity has also expanded through professional training. A total of 4,681 judicial officers, 10,124 lawyers and 753 other mediators had been trained and deployed as mediators.
These measures are intended to strengthen the institutional capacity required to handle mediation at different levels and encourage more parties to explore settlement-based solutions.
Focus remains on reducing pressure on courts
The government’s mediation push is ultimately aimed at improving access to dispute resolution while limiting the number of matters that require prolonged litigation. By encouraging parties to explore consensual settlements, authorities seek to make the overall process less adversarial and more efficient.
The expansion of mediation centres, professional training, pre-litigation mechanisms and community mediation forms part of the broader effort to develop alternative pathways for resolving disputes across India.
