The Arbitration and

Conciliation Act, 1996

[26 of 1996]
as amended by
The Arbitration
and
Conciliation
(Amendment) Act, 2015
[3 of 2016]
NOT FOR SALE
 CONTENTS
Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
Sections
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement ........................................................................... 1

PART - 1
ARBITRATION

CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
2. Definitions ........................................................................................................................... 2
3. Receipt of written communications ................................................................................. 5
4. Waiver of right to object ................................................................................................... 5
5. Extent of judicial intervention ......................................................................................... 5
6. Administrative assistance .................................................................................................. 5

CHAPTER II
ARBITRATION AGREEMENT
7. Arbitration agreement ........................................................................................................ 6
8. Power to refer parties to arbitration where there is an arbitration agreement ......... 6
9. Interim measures etc. by Court ......................................................................................... 7
CHAPTER III
COMPOSITION OF ARBITRAL TRIBUNAL
10. Number of arbitrators ......................................................................................................... 8
11. Appointment of arbitrators .............................................................................................. 8
11A. Power of Central Government to amend Fourth Schedule ........................................... 11
12. Grounds for challenge ......................................................................................................... 11
13. Challenge procedure ............................................................................................................ 12
14. Failure or impossibility to act ........................................................................................... 13
15. Termination of mandate and substitution of arbitrator ................................................ 13

CHAPTER IV
JURISDICTION OF ARBITRAL TRIBUNALS
16. Competence of arbitral tribunal to rule on its jurisdiction ........................................... 14
17. Interim measures ordered by arbitral tribunal ................................................................. 15

CHAPTER V
CONDUCT OF ARBITRAL PROCEEDINGS

18. Equal treatment of parties ................................................................................................. 16

19. Determination of rules of procedure ............................................................................... 16
20. Place of arbitration ............................................................................................................. 16
21. Commencement of arbitral proceedings ......................................................................... 16
22. Language ............................................................................................................................... 17
23. Statements of claim and defence ...................................................................................... 17
 24. Hearings and written proceedings ..................................................................................... 17
25. Default of a party ............................................................................................................... 18
26. Expert appointed by arbitral tribunal .............................................................................. 18
27. Court assistance in taking evidence ................................................................................. 19
CHAPTER VI
MAKING OF ARBITRAL AWARD AND TERMINATION OF PROCEEDINGS
28. Rules applicable to substance of dispute .......................................................................... 20
29. Decision making by panel of arbitrators ......................................................................... 20
29A. Time limit for arbitral award ............................................................................................. 21
29B. Fast track procedure ........................................................................................................... 22
30. Settlement ............................................................................................................................ 23
31. Form and contents of arbitral award ................................................................................ 23
31A. Regime for costs .................................................................................................................. 24
32. Termination of proceedings .............................................................................................. 25
33. Correction and interpretation of award; additional award ............................................ 26

CHAPTER VII
RECOURSE AGAINST ARBITRAL AWARD
34. Application for setting aside arbitral award .................................................................... 27

CHAPTER VIII
FINALITY AND ENFORCEMENT OF ARBITRAL AWARDS
35. Finality of arbitral awards .................................................................................................. 29
36. Enforcement ........................................................................................................................ 29

CHAPTER IX
APPEALS
37. Appealable orders ................................................................................................................ 30

CHAPTER X
MISCELLANEOUS
38. Deposits ................................................................................................................................ 30
39. Lien on arbitral award and deposits as to costs .............................................................. 31
40. Arbitration agreement not to be discharged by death of party thereto ..................... 31
41. Provisions in case of insolvency ...................................................................................... 32
42. Jurisdiction ........................................................................................................................... 32
43. Limitations ........................................................................................................................... 32
PART II
ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN FOREIGN AWARDS

CHAPTER I
NEW YORK CONVENTION AWARDS
44. Definition ............................................................................................................................. 33
45. Power of judicial authority to refer parties to arbitration ........................................... 33
46. When foreign award binding .............................................................................................. 34
47. Evidence ............................................................................................................................... 34
48. Conditions for enforcement of foreign awards .............................................................. 34
49. Enforcement of foreign awards ........................................................................................ 36
50. Appealable orders ................................................................................................................ 36
51. Saving .................................................................................................................................... 36
 52. Chapter II not to apply ...................................................................................................... 36
CHAPTER II
GENEVA CONVENTION AWARDS
53. Interpretation ...................................................................................................................... 36
54. Power of judicial authority to refer parties to arbitration ........................................... 37
55. Foreign awards when binding ............................................................................................. 37
56. Evidence ............................................................................................................................... 37
57. Conditions for enforcement of foreign awards .............................................................. 38
58. Enforcement of foreign awards ........................................................................................ 39
59. Appealable orders ................................................................................................................ 40
60. Saving .................................................................................................................................... 40
PART III
CONCILIATION
61. Application and scope ........................................................................................................ 40
62. Commencement of conciliation proceedings ................................................................. 40
63. Number of conciliators ....................................................................................................... 41
64. Appointment of conciliators ............................................................................................ 41
65. Submission of statements to conciliator ......................................................................... 41
66. Conciliator not bound by certain enactments ................................................................ 42
67. Role of conciliator .............................................................................................................. 42
68. Administrative assistance .................................................................................................. 42
69. Communication between conciliator and parties ........................................................... 42
70. Disclosure of information ................................................................................................. 43
71. Co-operation of parties with conciliator ........................................................................ 43
72. Suggestions by parties for settlement of dispute ............................................................ 43
73. Settlement agreement ......................................................................................................... 43
74. Status and effect of settlement agreement ...................................................................... 43
75. Confidentiality .................................................................................................................... 44
76. Termination of conciliation proceedings ........................................................................ 44
77. Resort to arbitral or judicial proceedings ........................................................................ 44
78. Costs ...................................................................................................................................... 44
79. Deposits ................................................................................................................................ 45
80. Role of conciliator in other proceedings ......................................................................... 45
81. Admissibility of evidence in other proceedings ............................................................. 45

PART IV
SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
82. Power of High Court to make rules ................................................................................. 46
83. Removal of difficulties ....................................................................................................... 46
84. Power to make rules ........................................................................................................... 46
85. Repeal and savings .............................................................................................................. 46
86. Repeal of Ordinance 27 of 1996 and Saving .................................................................. 47
SCHEDULE I Convention on the recognition and enforcement of foreign ...... 47
arbitral awards
SCHEDULE II Protocol on Arbitration Clauses ....................................................... 54
SCHEDULE III Convention on the execution of Foreign Arbitral Awards ............ 56
SCHEDULE IV ............................................................................................................... 60
SCHEDULE V ............................................................................................................... 61
SCHEDULE VI ............................................................................................................... 65
SCHEDULE VII ............................................................................................................... 66
Resolution adopted by the Chief Ministers and the
Chief Justices of States in a Conference held in
New Delhi on 4th December, 1993 under the
Chairmanship of the then Prime Minister of India
and presided over by the
Chief Justice of India