International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR) was established at the initiative of some of the leading legal luminaries. It was registered as a Society in May 1995 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 for the promotion and development of ADR facilities and techniques to facilitate early resolution of disputes and to reduce the increasing burden of arrears in Courts. It is an autonomous organisation working under the aegis of the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, with its Headquarters at New Delhi and Regional Centres at Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

Functions of ICADR
The responsibilities of the ICADR include the following- to promote studies in the field of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and a allied matters; to undertake teaching in ADR and related matters and to award diplomas, certificates and other academic or professional distinction; to impart training in ADR and related matters and to arrange for fellowships, scholarships, stipends and prizes; to promote research in the fields of ADR and allied matters of social research; to offer facilities as also guidance for research scholars including students preparing for Master`s or Doctoral degrees in ADR and allied fields; to provide information on the courses or programmes available for the training of arbitrators, conciliators, mediators and other ADR professionals; to compile information with regard to relevant legislations, rules and judicial or arbitral decisions in the field of ADR; to provide information on the ADR centres or schemes available in India and abroad and the types of services which those centres or schemes could offer; to provide information concerning the types of disputes which could be resolved through ADR and the modalities for their resolution and to provide such other related assistance as may be requested by users of ADR; to promote reform in the system of settlement of disputes and its healthy development suitable to the social, economic and other needs of the community; to encourage and conduct investigations in traditional and modern methods of dispute resolution; to promote and provide for diffusion of knowledge of law and procedures on ADR and allied matters; to promote the improvement of legal education in the field of ADR and allied subjects and to impart instruction in the said fields; to publish books, periodicals, reports and other literature relating to ADR and allied matters; to undertake documentation of important materials on ADR and allied matters; to establish and maintain libraries on ADR; to propagate, promote and popularize the settlement of domestic and international disputes by different modes of ADR; to develop infrastructure for education, research and training in the field of ADR and for settlement of disputes through ADR; to organize conferences, seminars and study groups on issues concerning ADR; to provide facilities and administrative and other support services for holding conciliation, mediation, mini-trials and arbitration proceedings; to compile lists of appropriate persons competent and qualified to serve as arbitrators, conciliators and mediators, or willing to serve in any other specialist capacity such as experts, surveyors and investigators; to study the problems and needs of an efficient system of ADR and for that purpose to seek information from and share experience with other organizations in India and abroad by correspondence or by deputing members or officers of the Society for the purpose; to cooperate with other societies, institutions and organizations, national or international, in the pursuit of all or any of the above objects; to constitute or cause to be constituted regional offices at convenient places in India and abroad to promote the activities of the Society; to draw up and prescribe rules of the society for different modes of ADR; to draw up standard clauses for conciliation, mediation, arbitration, etc.; to appoint conciliators, mediators, arbitrators, etc., when so requested by the parties; to do all such things and to perform all such acts as may be necessary or proper for the achievement of any or all of the above objects.

Almost all disputes - commercial, civil, labour and family disputes- in respect of which the parties are entitled to conclude a settlement, can be settled by ADR procedures. ADR techniques have been proven to work in the business environment, especially in respect of disputes involving joint ventures, construction projects, partnership differences, intellectual property rights, personal injury, product liability, professional liability, real estate, securities, contract interpretation and performance and insurance coverage.