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.

1. 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.
2. 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 and community-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.

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