MCIA is a first-of-its-kind arbitral institution in India, established as a joint initiative between the domestic and international business and legal communities. Since its inception in 2016 as an independent, not-for-profit organisation, MCIA has established itself to provide world-class dispute resolution services tailored to meet the needs of parties and arbitrators.
MCIA offers a robust framework for institutional arbitration, governed by its state-of-the-art Arbitration Rules, which draw upon the experience of administering over 100 matters. The Rules have been designed to align with international best practices and ensure efficiency, transparency, and fairness in the administration of arbitrations.
MCIA is supervised by the MCIA Council which consists of 25 reputed practitioners from India and across the world. The Council Members are a mix of international and domestic arbitration practitioners that bring experience, credibility, and impartiality to the institution in the administration of cases.
With a steadfast commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and greener and sustainable arbitrations, MCIA is dedicated to advancing institutional arbitration in India and worldwide.
The Mumbai Centre For International Arbitration is a not-for-profit organisation registered in Mumbai and functions under the structure of a Council of Arbitration and a Secretariat.
| Aspect of procedure | MCIA | Ad hoc arbitration |
|---|---|---|
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The MCIA Rules provide precise timelines for the appointment of the tribunal in various scenarios (sole arbitrator, three arbitrators, multiparty proceeding etc.). | Parties have to approach the courts to secure arbitrator appointments. |
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The MCIA Rules have provisions dealing with the challenge of arbitrator(s), and if necessary, the replacement of the arbitrator(s). | Parties will have to approach the courts to challenge arbitrator(s) and seek a replacement. This can lead to delays and costs |
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The MCIA Rules provide an upfront fee schedule, which define an upper limit for arbitrators' fees as well the MCIA administrative fee. | Parties may have to negotiate the fees with the arbitrator(s). |
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The MCIA Secretariat and the Council supervise the conduct of arbitration proceedings under the MCIA Rules. | There is no institutional supervision of proceedings. |
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The MCIA Rules have specific provisions dealing with the consolidation of proceedings. | No such procedure is available, which may lead to conflicting awards and/or increased costs. |
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The MCIA Rules provide a mechanism for the appointment of an emergency arbitrator to grant interim relief in appropriate circumstances. | Parties will have to approach a court of law to seek interim relief, before the appointment of the arbitral tribunal. |
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The MCIA Rules provide for scrutiny of draft awards, so that the MCIA Registrar can suggest modifications to the form of the draft award (without affecting the Tribunal's liberty of decision). | There is no scrutiny of awards process in an ad hoc arbitration. |
