India's Arbitration System Faces Integrity Crisis: Call for Reforms with National Arbitrator Database

Overview

India aims to be an international arbitration hub, but faces an "integrity crisis" in its arbitration system. Despite the 2019 Act envisioning the Arbitration Council of India (ACI) for grading institutions and accrediting arbitrators, it remains unfulfilled. Experts propose a National Arbitrator Database (NAD) for mandatory registration, transparent profiles, and algorithmic allocation of arbitrators to ensure merit-based appointments and reduce bias.