Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996

The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 is India’s principal legislation governing alternative dispute resolution, designed to provide a fair, efficient, and enforceable mechanism for resolving disputes outside traditional courts. Based on the UNCITRAL Model Law, the Act regulates domestic arbitration, international commercial arbitration, and conciliation proceedings, ensuring global compatibility and legal certainty. This book offers an authoritative and unabridged presentation of the Act, covering crucial aspects such as arbitration agreements, appointment of arbitrators, arbitral procedures, interim measures, arbitral awards, and enforcement. It also addresses conciliation as a voluntary, non-adjudicatory dispute resolution method, encouraging amicable settlements. Widely relied upon by legal professionals and corporate entities, the Act plays a vital role in commercial contracts, infrastructure projects, cross-border transactions, and institutional arbitration. Its emphasis on minimal judicial intervention and time-bound resolution makes it a preferred framework for modern dispute management. This publication serves as a foundational reference for understanding arbitration law in India and is indispensable for practice, study, and compliance.