Government is promoting alternate dispute resolution mechanisms including mediation

The Government is actively promoting alternate dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms, especially mediation, as a less adversarial alternative to court litigation. Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act 2015 mandates pre‑institution mediation and settlement (PIMS) for commercial disputes of a specified value before a suit can be filed, except where urgent relief is needed. The Mediation Act 2023 establishes a statutory framework, including the Mediation Council of India, to foster institutional mediation and community mediation for disputes affecting peace and harmony. The Ministry engages with High Courts and the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) for awareness and capacity‑building, highlighted by a national Mediation Conference in March 2025. As of March 2026, India has 452 ADR Centres and 1,394 Mediation Centres, with 4,681 judicial officers, 10,124 lawyers and 753 other mediators trained and deployed.