The civil docket measures in decades. Your dispute cannot.
India's civil courts carry a pendency running into crores of cases. A commercial suit filed today must take its place in that queue — through summons, written statements, framing of issues, interminable adjournments, evidence, arguments and judgment — and then survive the ladder of appeals: first appeal, second appeal, and often a special leave petition beyond that. It is not unusual for a money dispute to consume a decade or more before the decree-holder sees execution. In that time, capital stays blocked, businesses close, witnesses fade, and the victory — when it finally comes — is often worth less than the wait.
This delay is not a defect of the judges, who preside over dockets no institution could clear. It is a defect of the route. And for arbitrable civil and commercial disputes, the law has already built a faster road.
The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — a complete code
Arbitration in India is not an informal substitute for adjudication; it is a parallel statutory system, built on the UNCITRAL Model Law and administered as a complete code. The Act's architecture is deliberately designed to keep the dispute with the tribunal and out of the courtroom:
The amendments that turned arbitration into India's fastest remedy
The 1996 Act has been repeatedly strengthened by Parliament — each amendment aimed at the same twin goals: speed and institutional integrity.
Section 29A wrote the twelve-month award timeline into the statute (extendable by six months by consent). The automatic stay of awards on a mere Section 34 challenge was abolished — award-holders could execute unless a court specifically stayed. Section 17 interim orders of the tribunal became enforceable like court orders, Section 31A introduced a costs-follow-the-event regime, and the Fifth and Seventh Schedules codified arbitrator independence.
Section 23(4) required statements of claim and defence to be completed within six months of the tribunal's appointment. Section 42A made confidentiality a statutory duty. The amendment's declared policy was to move Indian arbitration from ad hoc practice to administered, institutional arbitration — precisely the model DAC has operated since 2011.
The 2021 amendment protected award-integrity, permitting an unconditional stay where the award or the underlying agreement was induced by fraud or corruption. Reform continues: the draft Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2024 proposes statutory recognition of emergency arbitration and further strengthening of arbitral institutions — while the Supreme Court, including through its 2024 Constitution Bench ruling on unilateral appointments, has made institutional appointment the gold standard of validity.
Eight reasons the successful route runs through arbitration
What institutional administration actually means
Anyone can benefit from DAC arbitration — from straightforward sales contracts to intellectual property matters, joint ventures, share-purchase arrangements and construction projects. The only requirement is consent: an arbitration clause in the contract, or an agreement to arbitrate made after the dispute has arisen. From that point, the difference between ad hoc arbitration and DAC's administered arbitration is the difference between travelling alone and travelling with an institution:
An arbitrator is never the representative of either party — even if nominated by one. At DAC, justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done.
Transparent Rules. Published fees. No surprises.
Every DAC arbitration is governed by the DAC Rules of Arbitration — short, adaptable and aligned with international best practice — covering commencement, appointment, expedited and summary procedure, emergency relief, consolidation of connected disputes, conduct of hearings, and the making and scrutiny of the award. Fees are charged strictly as per the Centre's published Fee Schedule, calculated on the sum in dispute, so parties know the full cost of the proceeding before it begins.
The latest DAC Arbitration Rules and the Fee Schedule
The current DAC Rules of Arbitration and the complete Fee Schedule (including the subsidised schedule for Banking/NBFC matters) can be accessed from the Forms & Procedures section of this website.
Bring your dispute to the faster road
To commence an arbitration, adopt the DAC clause in your contracts, or enquire about the Rules, panel and fees, write to the Registrar, DAC. For the model arbitration clause, visit the DAC Clauses page.
Commence an Arbitration[email protected] · +91-9315100181 · +91-9315156330