Key facts
- RICS has launched an internationally recognized Mediation Training Programme in India.
- The program aims to address a shortage of trained mediation professionals in sectors like construction and real estate.
- The initiative follows India's Mediation Act of 2023 and aims to improve dispute resolution for infrastructure projects.
- The training combines facilitative and evaluative approaches and will be led by John Fletcher.
- Successful participants may be eligible for empanelment on mediation panels, including the ICA's and RICS's.
India's infrastructure sector is grappling with significant project delays and budget overruns, with nearly 779 major projects running behind schedule and around 450 exceeding their sanctioned budgets, leading to cost overruns close to Rs5 lakh crore (over $60 billion), according to data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
Recognizing that contractual disputes are a major driver of these issues, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched its internationally recognized Mediation Training Programme in India. This initiative aims to equip professionals across the construction, real estate, and infrastructure sectors with specialized mediation and dispute resolution skills, addressing a recognized need following the enactment of India's Mediation Act, 2023.
The five-day, face-to-face program, scheduled from June 29 to July 4, 2026, will be conducted in New Delhi in partnership with the India Council of Arbitration (ICA). John Fletcher, Executive Director of RICS' Dispute Resolution Service, will lead the training, which combines facilitative and evaluative approaches to mediation. The curriculum is designed for professionals in the built environment and related fields, focusing on navigating complex commercial, contractual, and technical disputes.
Ashwani Awasthi, Managing Director – RICS, South Asia, stated that the future of dispute resolution lies in preserving relationships and creating sustainable outcomes, an area where India's mediation ecosystem is poised for growth. The training seeks to develop professionals who can blend sector expertise with mediation skills for more constructive and efficient dispute resolution.
Upon successful completion, participants will be eligible to apply for empanelment on various mediation panels, including the Indian Council of Arbitration's Mediator Panel and the RICS International Panel of Dispute Resolvers, provided they meet other requirements.