Mediation
A neutral helps the parties negotiate their own agreement.
Alternative Dispute Resolution in India
Resolve your dispute without going to court
Learn how mediation, arbitration, conciliation, and other processes may apply to commercial, family, property, and other disputes.
- Plain-language guidance
- India-focused information
- Cross-border enquiry path
Cross-border matters
International and India-related disputes
A dispute may require Indian legal support when a contract, asset, counterparty, proceeding or arbitral award is connected with India. Visitors may request a response about international arbitration, cross-border commercial disputes and connected Indian court, regulatory or sector-specific matters.
Request a responseShare only a short, non-confidential summary. An enquiry does not create a lawyer-client relationship or confirm acceptance of a matter.
International arbitration and arbitral awards
India-connected arbitrations, award enforcement and challenge proceedings.
Cross-border contracts and commercial disputes
Supply, services, shareholder, joint-venture and other business disputes.
An Indian company owes you money
Undisputed debts of ₹1 crore or more: demand notice, NCLT insolvency route and settlement.
India-connected commercial and regulatory disputes
Assess whether a distinct contractual or commercial part has an available out-of-court route.
How disputes can be resolved
Six processes available in India — from informal negotiation to binding arbitration.
Arbitration
A neutral hears both sides and makes a binding private decision.
Conciliation
Neutral proposes terms both sides can accept.
Lok Adalat
A forum where eligible disputes may be resolved through settlement.
Online Dispute Resolution
Mediate or arbitrate from anywhere in India.
Negotiation
Direct settlement before formal process begins.
Resolve by dispute type
The right process depends on the nature of your dispute. Start here.
Commercial and Contract Disputes: Resolve Without Court
Unpaid invoices, supplier breaches, service failures: resolve a business contract dispute in India by mediation or arbitration. Cost, time, enforceability.
Resolving Consumer and E-commerce Disputes Without Court
Refund refused, defective goods or an online order gone wrong? How consumer disputes in India are resolved by mediation and ODR, and whether it binds.
Cross-Border Commercial Disputes Connected with India
International commercial disputes connected with India: arbitration, settlement, mediation, interim court relief and enforcement against Indian assets.
Family & Matrimonial Disputes: Resolve Without Court
Divorce, custody, maintenance or inheritance dispute? How confidential family mediation works in India, how children are protected, and if it is binding.
Enforcing a Foreign Arbitral Award in India
How a New York Convention award is enforced against an Indian party or assets under Part II, Sections 44–52 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
Unpaid by an Indian Company? Using the IBC Insolvency Route
An Indian company owes you ₹1 crore or more and will not pay? How suppliers use a Section 8 demand notice and a Section 9 IBC application before the NCLT.
Who we help
Guidance tailored to your situation — whether you are an individual, a business, or a family.
Individuals
Personal disputes, tenancy, consumer issues.
Families
Matrimonial, inheritance, and custody matters.
MSMEs
Payment recovery and commercial disputes.
NRIs
Cross-border property and family disputes.
Why consider mediation first
Mediation lets parties explore a negotiated outcome with the help of a neutral.
You control the outcome
No arbitrator or judge decides for you. You reach your own agreement — or you don't, and you remain free to pursue other options.
Relationship-preserving
Mediation is structured to produce workable agreements, not to assign blame. Parties who will keep dealing with each other can often preserve the relationship.
Tools to help you decide
Interactive tools that take your specific situation into account.
Which process is right for me?
Answer ten questions about your dispute and get a tailored recommendation — takes under two minutes.
ADR Cost Calculator
Estimate and compare what mediation, arbitration, and litigation would cost for your specific situation.
Timeline Comparator
See how long each process typically takes, from first session to final outcome.
Suitability Matrix
Compare all six processes across seven criteria — cost, speed, enforceability, confidentiality, and more.
Common questions
What is the difference between mediation and arbitration?
In mediation, the parties reach their own agreement with a neutral's help — the mediator does not decide anything. In arbitration, an arbitrator hears both sides and issues a binding decision (an award). Mediation is voluntary and preserves relationships; arbitration is adversarial and produces an imposed outcome.
How do I know which process is right for my dispute?
The right process depends on whether you need a binding outcome, how important speed and cost are, and whether the other party will agree to participate. Our process selector tool walks you through the key factors and gives you a tailored recommendation.
Can I use ADR if the other party refuses?
Mediation and conciliation require both parties' agreement. Arbitration can be compelled if your contract contains an arbitration clause — in that case, the other party cannot unilaterally avoid it. Without a clause, if the other side refuses all forms of ADR, litigation is the remaining route.
Does this website provide legal advice?
No. Mediate.co.in provides general information about dispute resolution processes in India. Nothing on this site is legal advice and using it does not create a lawyer-client relationship with anyone. For advice on your specific situation, consult a qualified professional.
Need to discuss an India-related dispute?
Share a short, non-confidential summary and your preferred way to be contacted. The enquiry is delivered directly through Mediate.co.in's existing email system.
General information only. Not legal advice.