Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 with Regulations – Bare Act with Section Notes By Taxmann’s Editorial Board

Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 with Regulations [Bare Act with Section Notes] by Taxmann is a comprehensive, meticulously structured statutory compendium that presents the complete, updated, and authoritative text of India’s principal arbitration legislation. This 2026 Edition consolidates the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 together with all relevant statutory amendments, regulatory frameworks, institutional reforms, and procedural developments that define the contemporary arbitration and conciliation regime in India. The publication is designed as a multi-dimensional statutory reference, combining the precision and reliability of a bare act with the analytical clarity of section-wise notes, explanations, and contextual guidance. It reflects India’s progressive shift towards an arbitration-friendly, institution-driven, and time-bound dispute resolution framework aligned with the UNCITRAL Model Law and international best practices. The work integrates all significant legislative and regulatory developments that have strengthened neutrality of arbitrators, reduced judicial intervention, streamlined timelines, enhanced enforceability of awards, and promoted institutional arbitration in India. This Bare Act includes all relevant Rules, Schedules, Notifications, and Regulations issued under the Act, and also incorporates the complete text of the India International Arbitration Centre (IIAC) Act 2019, along with the associated IIAC Regulations issued between 2023 and 2024. As such, it offers a holistic and up-to-date statutory resource for both ad hoc and institutional arbitration in India.

This book is intended for the following audience:

• Arbitration Practitioners, Advocates & Law Firms handling domestic arbitration, international commercial arbitration, interim measures, and enforcement of arbitral awards
• Judges, Judicial Officers & Court Registries dealing with applications under Sections 8, 9, 11, 17, 34, 36, 37, and allied provisions
• Corporate Legal Departments, PSUs & In-house Counsels managing contractual disputes, drafting arbitration clauses, and overseeing dispute resolution strategies
• Arbitral Institutions, Arbitrators & Mediators requiring statutory clarity, updated regulatory standards, and institutional arbitration frameworks
• Academicians, Researchers & Law Students specialising in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), commercial arbitration, and comparative arbitration law
• Professionals in Engineering, Construction, Infrastructure & Energy Sectors regularly engaged in high-value contractual and project-based arbitrations

The Present Publication is the 2026 Edition, covering the amended and updated text of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act [Act No. 26 of 1996] and Regulations, with the following noteworthy features:

• [Exhaustive Statutory Coverage] Provides the complete and updated text of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, including all Parts and all eight Schedules, ensuring comprehensive coverage—from foundational provisions to disclosure and neutrality standards for arbitrators
• [Pre-amendment Provisions in Footnotes] Reproduces the text of provisions as they stood prior to amendments in the respective footnotes, enabling clear comparison between old and new law and assisting interpretation of pre-amendment disputes
• [Simple, Clear & Practical Section Notes] Each section is supported by easy-to-understand notes explaining the scope, purpose, and practical effect of the provision, along with references to important judicial interpretations and settled principles
• [All Important Rules & Regulations Included] The book includes, in full:
  • India International Arbitration Centre Act 2019
  • IIAC Conduct of Arbitration Regulations 2023
  • IIAC Criteria for Admission to Panel of Arbitrators Regulations 2023
  • IIAC Conduct of Micro & Small Enterprises Arbitration Regulations 2024
  • Appointment of Arbitrators by the Chief Justice of India Scheme 1996
  • Together, these instruments present a complete statutory and regulatory picture of India’s institutional arbitration framework
• [Key International Arbitration Conventions] Includes the texts of core international instruments such as the New York Convention, Geneva Protocol, and Geneva Convention, facilitating quick reference and comparative understanding of enforcement of foreign awards
• [Easy Navigation & User-friendly Design] Features a well-organised Table of Contents, a detailed Subject Index, and clean, readable formatting to enable fast and accurate referencing
• [Practitioner-oriented Presentation] Important definitions, amendments, provisos, explanations, and statutory cross-references are clearly highlighted, making the publication suitable for daily professional use

The book follows a layered, practitioner-centric architecture to ensure clarity and ease of use:

• Principal Act – Each section is presented with marginal notes and followed immediately by concise editorial section notes explaining statutory context and judicial interpretation
• Rules & Regulations – IIAC Regulations and related schemes are reproduced in full with procedural detail
• International Schedules – Original texts of international conventions retained for authoritative reference
• Subject Index – Detailed, multi-level indexing with cross-references across sections, schedules, and regulations
• Editorial Enhancements – Section-wise comments arranged for seamless reading alongside statutory text
• Important Amendments Highlighted – Legislative changes and judicial developments contextualised within relevant provisions