‘India will become the Arbitration hub’: Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal
At June 14, 2025’s landmark conference on Institutional Arbitration held in New Delhi, India’s Union Law Minister, Arjun Ram Meghwal, spoke to the need in India for a strong ecosystem of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms. He stated that India is positioned to be the world’s arbitration hub, improving investor confidence and alleviating pressure on Indian Courts with a system designed to be quick, efficient, and flexible for business purposes.
India convened a high-level conference on Institutional Arbitration in New Delhi, at Bharat Mandapam in collaboration with the Department of Legal Affairs. Participating were legal, corporate, and public stakeholders, who were present as Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal endorsed the proposition that with a more robust ADR mechanism—particularly arbitration, India will be a preferred centre for international dispute resolution.
Principal Aims and Objectives
- Strengthen Institutional Arbitration as an effective alternative to court litigation
- Promote ADR mechanisms including arbitration, mediation, and conciliation
- Reduce court backlog and offer faster resolution for commercial disputes
- Create an ecosystem favorable to investors and global businesses
Important Statements & Participants
Arjun Ram Meghwal (Union Minister of State for Law & Justice)
- Emphasized India’s goal to become a global arbitration hub
- Called for organizational flexibility and resilience
- Stated arbitration is rooted in Indian cultural traditions
Arun Kumar Singh (ONGC Chairman)
- Urged arbitration to be “time-bound” and “more corporate, less legal”
Anju Rathi Rana (Law Secretary)
- Highlighted recent government push for institutional over ad hoc arbitration
- Advocated for minimal judicial intervention in arbitration proceedings
Justice (Retd.) Hemant Gupta (Chairman, India International Arbitration Centre)
- Stressed on the mindset shift needed to adopt institutional arbitration