India’s mediation movement has seen impressive growth—but the numbers reveal a more sobering truth. In 2023, the Supreme Court Mediation Centre handled 1,095 cases—five times more than pre-pandemic volumes. Yet the settlement rate remained modest at 23.7 percent. Nationwide, mediation cases totaled 444,814 in 2022, but resolution rates continue to hover between 24 percent and 29 percent. The gap between rising interest and limited outcomes underscores the unresolved friction in India’s approach to conflict resolution.That disconnect is front and center at Indian Mediation Week 2025, which returns for its eighth edition with headline events in Mumbai on August 1 and New Delhi on August 9. What began as a student-led awareness drive in 2017 has matured into a key national forum on how India might resolve its 50 million-case judicial backlog—without leaning entirely on the courts.
This year’s Mumbai event addresses two urgent priorities. The first, “From Contracts to Closure,” will explore the end-to-end journey of enterprise disputes, with a spotlight on how digital platforms can reduce friction and accelerate resolution. The second, “Beyond Recovery: ODR as a Trust Engine for India’s Lending Sector,” will examine how online dispute resolution (ODR) could serve as a stabilizing force for India’s vast and heterogeneous financial landscape.
The event will feature Justice Dr. Neela Gokhale of the Bombay High Court as chief guest, ICICI Bank Executive Director Sandeep Batra as keynote speaker, and Savithri Parekh, Group Executive Vice President at Reliance Industries, as a featured panelist. The conversations aim to move beyond legacy legal processes and toward scalable, tech-enabled, and user-centered alternatives.
The gathering comes at a pivotal time. India’s Mediation Act of 2023 aims to shift mediation from a last-resort option to a primary pathway for resolving disputes. But uptake remains uneven. Perception problems persist: many still view mediation as less authoritative than formal litigation. Compounding that is a shortage of trained mediators capable of managing rising caseloads.
But proponents argue that mediation offers what the courtroom cannot: speed, cost-effectiveness, and preservation of business relationships. In commercial disputes, family conflicts, and digital transactions, mediation offers a path to mutual solution rather than adversarial judgment.
Yet while the case volume has surged, settlement rates have declined—from 35.7% percent in 2009 to under 25 percent today. A 2024 report by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India recommends establishing sector-specific mediation cells, recognizing that a one-size-fits-all model won’t suffice. The challenge now is as much about changing public and institutional mindsets as it is about scaling infrastructure.
The main force behind Indian Mediation Week is SAMA, an online dispute resolution platform that has facilitated more than 3.5 million cases across civil, criminal, and commercial categories. “When we began, half the country hadn’t even heard of mediation,” says SAMA co-founder Akshetha Maithri Ashok. “Today, people see it as a faster, kinder way to resolve conflict—with compassion, not just compliance.”
This year’s programming reflects a shift from advocacy to application. The event includes contract-drafting workshops, simulations on closing disputes, networking with ADR leaders, and interactive sessions designed to bridge the gap between legal theory and business practice.
The structural foundations are solidifying. India now has more than 16,000 trained mediators and nearly 600 dedicated centers. Meanwhile, the country’s booming e-commerce sector—projected to hit $120 billion by 2025—is creating fresh demand for timely, digital-first conflict resolution.
But not all disputes can be solved with code. In a country where face-to-face negotiation remains culturally significant, the human touch still matters. Whether digital mediation can align with traditional Indian values of empathy and reconciliation is an open question. The success of platforms like SAMA suggests that hybrid models may hold the key.
Over seven editions, Indian Mediation Week has evolved from grassroots campaign to national dialogue. With over 2,000 student volunteers and millions reached through outreach programs, the platform now commands the attention of lawmakers, judges, and industry leaders alike.
For business executives, legal professionals, and public policymakers, this year’s event offers a look at the future of conflict resolution in India. The conversations in Mumbai on August 1 and Delhi on August 9 could shape how a billion people settle their disputes—not just faster, but fairer.
Indian Mediation Week 2025 takes place August 1 at 6 PM at the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, Mumbai, and August 9 in Delhi. Registration and details at https://www.indianmediationweek.com/
