BRICS Senior Officials Meeting on Strengthening Alternative Dispute Resolution Through Capacity Building in Mediation and Arbitration

📌 Summary:

• Under India's BRICS 2026 Chairship, the Department of Legal Affairs (Ministry of Law and Justice) concluded a Senior Officials Meeting on 19-20 May 2026 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

• The meeting was held in hybrid mode with senior officers from Brazil, China, India, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates

• Delegates deliberated on institutional mediation, arbitration reforms and the role of ADR in commercial and public-sector disputes

• Officials finalised a Joint Declaration titled 'Declaration of the Ministers of Justice of the BRICS Countries on Strengthening Alternative Dispute Resolution through Capacity Building in Mediation and Arbitration'

• The Declaration will be presented for formal adoption at the BRICS Ministers of Justice Meeting on 21-22 May 2026 in Gandhinagar

• The outcome reflects BRICS members shared commitment to expand, professionalise and mainstream mediation and arbitration as accessible and effective means of dispute resolution

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — India's role in plurilateral groupings; international legal cooperation and judicial reform; ADR as an alternative to formal litigation.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• India holds the BRICS Chairship in 2026

• The meeting was held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat

• ADR = Alternative Dispute Resolution, which includes mediation and arbitration

• The expanded BRICS now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE alongside the original members

🔑 Key Term: Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) — mechanisms such as mediation, arbitration and conciliation that resolve disputes outside formal court litigation.