Committed to making India a global arbitration hub: Arjun Ram Meghwal

IANS June 15, 2025 358 views

The Indian government is actively working to establish itself as a premier global arbitration hub through strategic institutional frameworks. Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal highlighted the nation's commitment to transforming commercial dispute resolution mechanisms during a national conference. The event brought together legal experts, government officials, and arbitration professionals to discuss best practices and international standards. By promoting structured arbitration processes, India aims to enhance its legal infrastructure and attract international commercial dispute resolutions.

"We are committed to promoting institutional arbitration as the preferred mode of commercial dispute resolution." - Arjun Ram Meghwal
New Delhi, June 15: Invoking the country's ancient tradition of consensual dispute resolution, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the government is committed to making India a global arbitration hub.

Key Points

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India launching strategic efforts to become global arbitration destination

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ONGC and IIAC host national conference on arbitration

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Institutional frameworks replacing fragmented dispute resolution mechanisms

Addressing a National Conference on Institutional Arbitration, organised by the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, in collaboration with ONGC and the India International Arbitration Centre (IIAC) on Saturday, the Minister said efforts are being made to promote institutional arbitration as the preferred mode of commercial dispute resolution.

He said the government is also trying to highlight the IIAC as a globally competitive arbitral institution.

The day-long Conference brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Law and Justice, representatives of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), legal experts and arbitration professionals.

The Conference featured four technical sessions, each delving into key aspects of institutional arbitration. In addition to the participation of over 150 distinguished delegates, the Conference witnessed strong virtual engagement with over 1,600 views on social media.

The first session, 'Strengthening Dispute Resolution in PSUs: The Role of Institutional Arbitration', addressed public sector-specific challenges and institutional arbitration's potential in transforming the dispute resolution landscape, particularly concerning infrastructure and public sector contracts.

Speakers highlighted the need for capacity-building and called for structured, institutional processes over fragmented ad hoc mechanisms, with support from bodies like IIAC.

The second session took a close look at the IIAC (Conduct of Arbitration) Regulations, 2023, breaking down key provisions and their practical relevance.

A short film was also screened, showcasing IIAC's state-of-the-art infrastructure and signalling India's readiness to handle complex, high-stakes arbitrations.

The third session, 'Best Practices During Arbitral Process -- A Discourse', focused on procedural and institutional best practices to enhance the effectiveness of arbitration. Speakers advocated structured case management, suggesting that their regularisation under institutional rules would enhance clarity, expedite timelines, and minimise ambiguities in the arbitral process.

The fourth session focused on learnings from international jurisdictions and the way ahead for the arbitration ecosystem in India. The discussion included global practices, emergency arbitration and access to legal research tools to make arbitration more accessible.

The inaugural session opened with a welcome address by Justice Hemant Gupta (Retd.), Chairperson, IIAC, who discussed key challenges hindering the growth of institutional arbitration in India, particularly the continued reliance on ad hoc mechanisms.

He emphasised the transition from the erstwhile International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR) to IIAC as a significant move by the Government and stressed the need for Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to adopt structured institutional frameworks.

Reader Comments

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Priya K.
This is a much-needed initiative! India has so much potential in legal services. With our English proficiency and common law system, we can definitely compete with Singapore and London as arbitration hubs. Hope they also focus on making the process faster and more cost-effective. 🇮🇳
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Rahul S.
Good step but implementation is key. Our courts are already overburdened. If arbitration can reduce litigation load while maintaining fairness, it will benefit both businesses and common citizens. The government should ensure transparency in these arbitration processes though.
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Ananya M.
As a law student, I'm excited about the career opportunities this could create! India needs more specialized arbitration professionals. Maybe NLUs should introduce dedicated arbitration courses now itself to prepare for this growing field. 👩‍⚖️
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Vikram J.
The ancient panchayat system shows we've always believed in mediation. Modern arbitration is just its global version. Hope they maintain that Indian ethos of fairness while adopting international best practices. Jai Hind!
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Sanjay P.
While the intent is good, I'm concerned about foreign companies trusting Indian arbitration centers. We need to first fix our judicial delays and corruption perception. The infrastructure shown in the film looks world-class, but credibility takes years to build.
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Neha T.
This could be a gamechanger for Make in India! Faster dispute resolution will attract more foreign investment. The focus on PSUs is smart - if government companies lead by example, private sector will follow. More power to Team India! 💪

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Tags:
Arbitration Arjun Ram Meghwal Law and Justice India International Arbitration Centre Dispute Resolution