Indian law � Alternative dispute resolution

The Mediation Act, 2023

Act No. 32 of 2023, enacted on 14 September 2023, establishes a statutory framework for mediation in India, including institutional, online and community mediation and the Mediation Council of India.

Act No. 32 of 2023Enacted: 14 September 202365 sections10 schedules

Current commencement statusUnder Notification S.O. 4384(E) dated 9 October 2023, only specified provisions were brought into force: sections 1, 3, 26, 31-38, 45-47, 50-54 and 56-57. Other provisions remain indexed below as enacted text but should not be treated as commenced merely because they appear in the Act.

Legal-status review updated: 4 September 2026. Always check the latest Central Government notification for subsequent commencement.

CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY

Section 1 - Short title, extent and commencementIn force from 9 Oct 2023

CHAPTER II APPLICATION

Section 2 - ApplicationNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 3 - DefinitionsIn force from 9 Oct 2023

CHAPTER III MEDIATION

Section 4 - Mediation AgreementNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 5 - Pre-litigation mediationNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 6 - Disputes or matters not fit for mediationNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 7 - Power of court or tribunal to refer parties to mediationNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)

CHAPTER IV MEDIATORS

Section 8 - Appointment of mediatorsNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 9 - Preference of partiesNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 10 - Conflict of interest and disclosureNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 11 - Termination of mandate of mediatorNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 12 - Replacement of mediatorNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)

CHAPTER V MEDIATION PROCEEDINGS

Section 13 - Territorial jurisdiction to undertake mediationNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 14 - Commencement of mediationNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 15 - Conduct of mediationNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 16 - Role of mediatorNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 17 - Role of mediator in other proceedingsNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 18 - Time-limit for completion of mediationNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 19 - Mediated settlement agreementNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 20 - Registration of mediated settlement agreementNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 21 - Nonsettlement reportNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 22 - ConfidentialityNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 23 - Admissibility and privilege against disclosureNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 24 - Termination of mediationNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 25 - Cost of mediationNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 26 - Proceedings of Lok Adalat and Permanent Lok Adalat not to be affectedIn force from 9 Oct 2023

CHAPTER VI ENFORCEMENT OF MEDIATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

Section 27 - Enforcement of mediated settlement agreementNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 28 - Challenge to mediated settlement agreementNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 29 - LimitationNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)

CHAPTER VII ONLINE MEDIATION

Section 30 - Online mediationNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)

CHAPTER VIII MEDIATION COUNCIL OF INDIA

Section 31 - Establishment and incorporation of Mediation CouncilIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 32 - Composition of CouncilIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 33 - Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate proceedings of CouncilIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 34 - ResignationIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 35 - RemovalIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 36 - Appointment of experts and constitution of CommitteesIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 37 - Secretariat and Chief Executive Officer of CouncilIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 38 - Duties and functions of CouncilIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 39 - Monitoring and reportingNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)

CHAPTER IX MEDIATION SERVICE PROVIDERS AND MEDIATION INSTITUTES

Section 40 - Mediation service providerNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 41 - Functions of mediation service providersNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 42 - Mediation institutesNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)

CHAPTER X COMMUNITY MEDIATION

Section 43 - Community mediationNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 44 - Procedure for community mediationNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)

CHAPTER XI MISCELLANEOUS

Section 45 - Mediation FundIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 46 - Accounts and auditIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 47 - Power of Central Government to issue directionsIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 48 - Power to frame schemes or guidelinesNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 49 - Mediated settlement agreement where Government or its, agency, etc., is a partyNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 50 - Protection of action taken in good faithIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 51 - Power to make rulesIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 52 - Power to make regulationsIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 53 - LayingIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 54 - Power to remove difficultiesIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 55 - Provisions of Act to have overriding effect on mediation or conciliation contained in other lawsNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)
Section 56 - Act not to apply to pending proceedingsIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 57 - Transitory provisionIn force from 9 Oct 2023
Section 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 - Amendments to other actsNot yet commenced under S.O. 4384(E)

Schedules

First Schedule - Disputes or matters not fit for mediationCheck commencement of enabling provision
Second Schedule - Overriding EffectCheck commencement of enabling provision
Third ScheduleCheck commencement of enabling provision
Fourth ScheduleCheck commencement of enabling provision
Fifth ScheduleCheck commencement of enabling provision
Sixth ScheduleCheck commencement of enabling provision
Seventh ScheduleCheck commencement of enabling provision
Eighth ScheduleCheck commencement of enabling provision
Ninth ScheduleCheck commencement of enabling provision
Tenth ScheduleCheck commencement of enabling provision