Online Dispute Resolution
Apply for online dispute resolution with expert assistance. Understand documents required, government fees, processing time and the step-by-step process before you.
Dedicated specialist
CA-led, named point of contact
Tracked client portal
Real-time status, end-to-end
Money-back accuracy
Refile-free if our error
Flat-fee pricing
No hidden charges, ever
About this service
Online Dispute Resolution is a key regulatory filing administered by the relevant statutory authority. Filing is executed via (a) **Mediation agreement** (Mediation Act 2023 Form I — s.6 — parties may modify); (b) **Settlement agreement** (Mediation Act 2023 Form II — s.22 — signed by parties + mediator); (c) **Arbitration notice / request for arbitration** (Form I of Fourth Schedule to A&C Act 1996); (d) **Arbitration claim / statement of claim** (institutional — SIAC Form R1A / MCIA Form 1 / ICC Request for Arbitration); (e) **Online mediation request** (Sama ODR Form / Samadhan portal online form); (f) **Commercial Courts (PIMS) Form I** (Annexure I to Commercial Courts [Pre-Institution Mediation and Settlement] Rules 2018 — application under s.12A). under **Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996** — Part I (domestic arbitration) — s.8 (refer parties to arbitration), s.9 (interim measures by court), s.11 (appointment of arbitrator — institutions designated by Supreme Court / High Court), s.17 (interim measures by tribunal), s.19 (procedure), s.27 (court assistance in taking evidence), s.34 (setting aside), s.37 (appeals); **Part II — Enforcement of Foreign Awards** — s.44-60 (New York Convention awards — s.48 conditions for enforcement); s.53-60 (Geneva Convention awards); **Mediation Act 2023** (effective 14 August 2023) — s.3 (mediation defined — includes online mediation), s.5 (scope — civil / commercial disputes — excludes criminal, family, certain IBC), s.6 (mediation agreement), s.8 (mediator — panel under Mediation Council of India Regulations 2024), s.10 (commencement), s.11 (termination — 180 days extendable to 365 days), s.15 (mediator's role), s.21 (mediator may communicate electronically — expressly permits ODR), s.22 (settlement agreement — enforceable as per s.74 A&C Act — decree of civil court), s.23 (settlement agreement in writing + electronic form valid); **Information Technology Act 2000 — s.5** (legal recognition of electronic records), **s.10A** (validity of contracts formed through electronic means), **s.65B** (admissibility of electronic evidence — *Arjun Panditrao Khotkar* SC 2020); **Consumer Protection Act 2019 s.69 + Mediation Regulations 2020** (court-annexed ODR); **NITI Aayog ODR Policy 2020** (policy framework — non-statutory but persuasive); **Commercial Courts Act 2015 s.12A** (mandatory pre-institution mediation and settlement for commercial suits — effective 20 August 2018 — Commercial Courts (Pre-Institution Mediation and Settlement) Rules 2018).. Our specialist-led team ensures full compliance with statutory documentation, eligibility verification, and expedited government approval.
Eligibility & thresholds
- Valid identity & address proof of applicant
- Active PAN & registered business premises
- Authorized representative authorization
- Compliant under applicable regulatory laws
- No pending statutory disqualifications
- Valid across authorized operational jurisdictions
- Pre-filing statutory documentation verification
- Official statutory fee schedule as per authority
- Mandatory periodic compliance filings post-approval
What's included
Everything in one transparent fee — no add-ons, no surprises.
Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. All figures verified as of 25 August 2026.
| Fee Component | Amount (₹) | Basis / Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Online Dispute Resolution Statutory Fee | ₹1,000 | Official government fee schedule (separate from professional fee)Statutory Authority |
| Total Government Fee | ₹1,000 | (for default assumptions stated below) |
Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. Verified 25 August 2026.
Required documents
Each list identifies exactly what to provide — and what you do not need to submit. Use the accordions to expand.
- ›arbitration / mediation agreement (if any); — arbitration / mediation agreement (if any);
- ›underlying contract / invoice / correspondence establishing dispute; — underlying contract / invoice / correspondence establishing dispute;
- ›**digital identity** — Aadhaar-based e-Sign / DSC (Digital Signature Certificate — Class II / III fr — **digital identity** — Aadhaar-based e-Sign / DSC (Digital Signature Certificate — Class II / III from eMudhra / Sify / n-Code);
- ›**video conference facility** — Zoom / Microsoft Teams / Webex (Supreme Court eCommittee approved — — **video conference facility** — Zoom / Microsoft Teams / Webex (Supreme Court eCommittee approved — *Supreme Court eCommittee VC Guidelines 2020*);
- ›**statement of claim / mediation brief**; — **statement of claim / mediation brief**;
- ›**list of witnesses / evidence**; — **list of witnesses / evidence**;
- ›**Section 65B Evidence Act certificate** for electronic evidence (if any); — **Section 65B Evidence Act certificate** for electronic evidence (if any);
- ›**KYC of parties**; — **KYC of parties**;
- ›for institutional arbitration — institutional registration + fee payment receipt. — for institutional arbitration — institutional registration + fee payment receipt.
How it works
Each step is labelled with who performs it — Customer, I-Pro, or the Regulator. Form names are linked to the official portal.
- 1Customer⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 1: **Eligibility / route check**
**Eligibility / route check**: Determine the appropriate ODR route — institutional arbitration / mediation / court-annexed ODR / consumer mediation / commercial pre-institution mediation / Permanent Lok Adalat. - 2I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 2: **Agreement / consent**
**Agreement / consent**: If arbitration / mediation agreement exists — invoke clause. Else — parties' mutual consent (Mediation Act s.5 / institutional rules). - 3I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 3: **Application filing**
**Application filing**: Online application to institution (SIAC India / MCIA / Sama / Samadhan / eCommittee DRS portal) — upload agreement + dispute summary + KYC + fee. - 4I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 4: **Appointment of mediator / arbitrator**
**Appointment of mediator / arbitrator**: Institution empanels mediator / arbitrator — parties may select from panel; institutional appointment in case of disagreement (A&C Act s.11[6] / Mediation Act s.8). - 5I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 5: **First session**
**First session**: Video conference — introductions — ground rules — statement of issues — exchange of documents (cloud-based data room). - 6I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 6: **Mediation sessions**
**Mediation sessions**: Joint & private sessions (caucus) — online whiteboard — document sharing — negotiation. - 7I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 7: **Settlement drafting**
**Settlement drafting**: Draft settlement agreement — signed digitally (e-Sign / DSC) — under Mediation Act s.22 — settlement agreement has force of decree of civil court — enforceable under s.74 A&C Act. - 8I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 8: **Filing of settlement at court / tribunal**
**Filing of settlement at court / tribunal**: For court-annexed ODR — settlement filed before referring court — recorded as decree (CPC O.XXIII r.3). For arbitration — settlement agreement becomes arbitral award on agreed terms (s.30 A&C Act). - 9I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 9: **Failure of ODR**
**Failure of ODR**: If no settlement — parties proceed to arbitration / court. Confidentiality maintained (Mediation Act s.15[3] — mediator / parties cannot disclose). - 10Regulator⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 10: **Enforcement of settlement**
**Enforcement of settlement**: Settlement agreement enforceable as civil court decree (Mediation Act s.22; A&C Act s.30 — arbitral award on agreed terms — enforceable under s.36 — no challenge under s.34).
Post-registration compliance
What to file next. I-Pro handles these as part of the annual compliance package.
| Filing | Form | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Commencement of Business (Form INC-20A) Penalty: ₹50,000 for company + ₹1,000/day for directors (max ₹1 Lakh) | One-time mandatory | Within 180 days of incorporation after bank capital deposit |
| First Auditor Appointment (Form ADT-1) Penalty: Statutory non-compliance; prosecution of defaulting officers | 5-year tenure | Within 30 days of incorporation by Board of Directors |
| Annual Financial Statements (Form AOC-4) Penalty: ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling | Annual | Within 30 days of AGM (by 29 October annually) |
| Annual Return (Form MGT-7) Penalty: ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling | Annual | Within 60 days of AGM (by 29 November annually) |
| Director KYC Verification (DIR-3 KYC) Penalty: ₹5,000 statutory fee per DIN + deactivation | Annual | Every designated partner / director holding active DIN by 30 September |
Penalties for non-compliance
Statutory penalties under governing regulatory provisions. Avoid non-compliance delays.
| Non-compliance | Provision | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Commencement of Business (Form INC-20A) | One-time mandatory | ₹50,000 for company + ₹1,000/day for directors (max ₹1 Lakh) |
| First Auditor Appointment (Form ADT-1) | 5-year tenure | Statutory non-compliance; prosecution of defaulting officers |
| Annual Financial Statements (Form AOC-4) | Annual | ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling |
| Annual Return (Form MGT-7) | Annual | ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling |
| Director KYC Verification (DIR-3 KYC) | Annual | ₹5,000 statutory fee per DIN + deactivation |
Common mistakes to avoid
Avoidable filing errors that cause delays or rejection. Each can be resolved before submission.
- 1Mismatched applicant legal name or identity details across KYC proofsWhy: Government verification APIs cross-check with UIDAI and MCA databases and automatically flag discrepancies in spelling or dates.Fix: Our specialists pre-validate your documents against official government databases before portal filing.
- 2Submitting outdated utility bills or non-notarized commercial leasesWhy: Premises proofs older than 60 days or defective landlord NOCs trigger statutory scrutiny queries and multi-week processing delays.Fix: We verify recent billing dates and provide pre-formatted, legally vetted landlord NOC and lease formats.
- 3Selecting incorrect classification, turnover slab, or statutory activity codeWhy: Applications filed under inappropriate classifications attract show-cause notices and potential rejection without statutory fee refund.Fix: We conduct a statutory scope assessment to align your application with the exact regulatory requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about this service.
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