25 Not Out: A Tale Of Two Cities

Abstract: The enactment of the principal arbitration legislation in India, the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996, notably coincided with the enactment of the United Kingdom's Arbitration Act, 1996. While both turned 25 years old in 2021, the two jurisdictions have seen distinct paths in the development and evolution of their respective arbitration landscapes. London, traditionally, has always been a significant seat of arbitration for parties around the world due to its consistent pro-arbitration outlook. India, on the other hand, had a questionable decade following the enactment of the Indian Arbitration Act, but is now gradually moving towards establishing itself as a preferable seat of arbitration. As India emerges as an economic power, it has taken significant strides to ensure a predictable, transparent, and reliable framework for the enforcement of contracts. In doing so, the legislative and judicial outlook in the country has been focused on building a