India Notifies Establishment of Mediation Council of India Under Mediation Act 2023
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TL;DR
- India has notified the formation of the Mediation Council of India (MCI) under the Mediation Act, 2023.
- The Council will regulate mediators and mediation institutes and promote domestic and international mediation.
- The MCI's responsibilities include setting standards, registration, oversight, and reporting.
Overview
The Central Government of India has formally notified the establishment of the Mediation Council of India (MCI) under the Mediation Act, 2023. The Council's goal is to promote and facilitate both domestic and international mediation, regulate mediators and mediation service providers, and develop India as a mediation hub.
What Happened
On August 27, 2026, the Department of Legal Affairs in India's Ministry of Law and Justice issued a gazette notification establishing the Mediation Council of India (MCI), headquartered in Delhi.
The MCI was created under Section 31(1) of the Mediation Act, 2023, and is intended to promote both domestic and international mediation.
The Council is responsible for developing mediation guidelines, registering and regulating mediators, recognizing mediation institutes and service providers, and setting professional and ethical standards.
The MCI will also assess and certify mediators, conduct training and development programs, maintain an electronic repository of settlement agreements, and report on the implementation of the Act to the Central Government.
Context
The Mediation Act, 2023 was enacted to encourage the use of mediation, including for commercial and community disputes, and to enhance legal enforcement of mediated settlements.
India has seen increasing focus on ADR mechanisms, and this Council's formation demonstrates further state-driven institutionalization of mediation.
Why It Matters
- The establishment of the Mediation Council of India is a key step in institutionalizing and regulating mediation as a dispute resolution mechanism in India.
- The Council aims to make India a recognized hub for mediation by setting uniform standards, overseeing practice and education, and supporting the enforcement of settlement agreements.
- It marks official government commitment to developing mediation as an alternative to litigation in commercial and other disputes.