India’s ADR Institutionalization: The Great Wait Continues

The ambition of India to become a global hub for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) remains unfulfilled, despite a robust legal framework as the Arbitration Council of India and Mediation Council of India which were projected as pillars of institutional reform following the 2017 Srikrishna Committee Report have their existence only on paper. While examining the systemic, political and budgetary shortcomings that have postponed operationalisation, this analysis also compares India’s approach with Singapore’s successful model and argues for immediate institutional accountability. Albeit legislative foundations remain strong, investor confidence and India’s competitive position in international dispute resolution markets are at risk due to the ongoing discrepancy between policy rhetoric and practice.