New Delhi: President of India Droupadi Murmu today inaugurated the Mediation Association of India and addressed the First National Mediation Conference 2025, emphasizing the transformative role of mediation in India’s justice delivery system and social fabric.
Describing mediation as a critical step toward achieving the goals of Viksit Bharat by 2047, President Murmu said the Mediation Act, 2023 marked a revival and institutionalization of India’s age-old tradition of conflict resolution. “Mediation is not just a tool for faster justice—it is a cornerstone of social harmony and national development,” she remarked.
Highlighting the historical roots of mediation in India, she recalled how Panchayats served as revered institutions for amicable dispute resolution, aiming not just to settle disagreements but to restore harmony. “Unfortunately, this legacy was sidelined during colonial rule. The Mediation Act now seeks to restore and build on that foundation,” the President noted.
She strongly advocated for extending mediation mechanisms to rural India, urging that Panchayats be legally empowered under the new law to resolve conflicts within villages. “Social harmony in villages is an essential prerequisite of making the nation strong,” she asserted.
President Murmu also underlined how mediation can unburden courts, fast-track dispute resolution, and support economic growth. “It enhances both the ease of doing business and the ease of living,” she said, positioning mediation as a vital instrument for unlocking developmental opportunities.
Calling the First National Mediation Conference a “call to action,” the President encouraged stakeholders to build trust in mediation, strengthen professional capacities, and ensure accessibility across all strata of society. She welcomed the establishment of the Mediation Association of India as a timely and necessary move to institutionalize mediation and make it the preferred mode of dispute resolution in today’s complex world.
“Mediation fosters dialogue, understanding and collaboration,” she said in closing. “These values are essential for building a conflict-resilient, inclusive and harmonious society.”
The conference marks a significant milestone in India’s journey toward a more accessible, efficient, and people-centric justice system, aligning closely with the constitutional ideals of justice and equality for all.
