165th Report of Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice on strengthening Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) ecosystem
Rajya Sabha’s Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee tabled a report recommending institutional reforms for India’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) ecosystem.
GS2GS4PIBGS2Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)Mediation Act, 2023Mediation Council of India (MCI)
What happened (committee hearings and covered ADR institutions)
The committee examined the ADR ecosystem through stakeholder deliberations. The committee heard views of the Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice on 10 December 2024 and heard views of the Secretary, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice; the Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs; and the Joint Registrar, Delhi International Arbitration Centre on 24 April 2026.
The committee’s recommendations and observations relate to India International Arbitration Centre (IIAC), Delhi International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), Mediation and Conciliation (including the Mediation Act, 2023), Lok Adalats, and NALSA.
Background and earlier position (why ADR ecosystem needs institutional support)
India’s ADR ecosystem combines arbitration institutions, mediation and conciliation processes, Lok Adalats for compromise-based settlement, and legal services support through NALSA. Without institutional capacity, clear process rules, and measurable performance, ADR can face delays, uneven quality, and weak outreach—reducing its ability to deliver faster resolution than routine litigation.
What changed now (recommendation themes from the 165th Report)
