The Mediation Bill, 2021

The Mediation Bill, 2021 is a statutory framework designed to institutionalise civil and commercial mediation in India by establishing a dedicated regulatory body and facilitating time-bound pre-litigation dispute resolution.

• It accords mediated settlement agreements legal enforceability on par with court decrees, thereby streamlining post-settlement enforcement.
• It creates the Mediation Council of India to register mediation service providers and standardise professional ethics and training.
• It aligns domestic alternative dispute resolution mechanisms with global standards like the Singapore Convention on Mediation to improve commercial contract enforcement.

In GS Paper II, UPSC frames questions on how institutionalising mediation addresses judicial pendency and improves governance efficiency. Examinations focus on the balance between voluntary dispute resolution and mandatory pre-litigation processes, alongside operational challenges like mediator capacity and institutional autonomy. Candidates are also expected to evaluate its cross-cutting impact on ease of doing business under GS Paper III.

• Separation of powers: dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions GS2
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies GS2

• CAA
• Data Protection Bill
• Farm Laws
• The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2021
• The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2021
• The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022
• The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021
• The National Anti-Doping Bill, 2021