This article continues the examination of the development of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) in India, building on the foundational period covered in the preceding piece, which detailed the years 2002–2012. That earlier phase laid the groundwork through initial techno-legal frameworks, early platforms for grievance handling, and sector-specific pilots, such as the establishment of ODR India in 2004 and e-Courts initiatives in 2005. The current analysis focuses exclusively on Phase 2 (2013–October 14, 2025), a period characterised by the institutionalisation of ODR, driven by e-commerce growth, regulatory mandates, judicial support, and the acceleration of digital processes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Developments from Phase 1 are referenced only where entities demonstrated verifiable continuity into this phase.
Phase Demarcation
Phase 1 (2002–2012) emphasised experimental applications and basic infrastructure for digital mediation and arbitration, primarily in e-commerce and grievance redressal. In contrast, Phase 2 (2013–October 14, 2025) saw ODR transition to a scalable, policy-integrated system for resolving commercial, consumer, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) disputes. This evolution was marked by statutory recognitions, platform expansions, and integrations with artificial intelligence (AI) and multilingual tools, addressing over 22 million cases nationwide through Online Lok Adalats and related ODR mechanisms since 2021 to alleviate court backlogs.
Continuations From Phase 1 Into Phase 2
Among the entities active in Phase 1, Perry4Law Organisation (P4LO) and Perry4Law Techno-Legal Base (PTLB) maintained documented ODR activities into Phase 2, building on the Techno Legal Centre of Excellence for Online Dispute Resolution in India, launched in October 2012. These efforts extended to portals for international trade disputes, stock market conflicts, and cryptocurrency resolutions by 2025, as part of broader techno-legal initiatives under P4LO and PTLB. The Centre of Excellence for Protection of Human Rights in Cyberspace (CEPHRC), also under P4LO and PTLB, incorporated ODR elements for cyber-related Human Rights issues, such as privacy and surveillance disputes. Recent CEPHRC publications, including analyses on algorithmic bias in AI-driven surveillance, programmable central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) like India’s e-Rupee, and digital identity systems dated as late as October 4–6, 2025, highlight ongoing applications of ODR in cyberspace governance, addressing risks like surveillance and exclusion in digital ecosystems. These continuations underscore P4LO and PTLB’s role in bridging Phase 1’s foundational work—such as the ODR India project launched in 2004—with Phase 2’s regulatory and technological advancements. No other individuals or organisations from Phase 1 sustained ODR-specific efforts into this period.
Key Developments In Phase 2
The following table summarises major milestones, regulatory actions, and platform launches during 2013–October 14, 2025, drawing from judicial, governmental, and private sector records. These reflect a broadening scope from e-commerce to finance, employment, and emerging digital sectors. Foundational initiatives from Phase 1 are included at the top for completeness, highlighting their continuity.
| Year(s) | Milestone/Event | Key Organizations/Platforms Involved | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–2025 | Continuation of Foundational ODR Initiatives | ODR India; Resolve Without Litigation (RWL); Techno Legal Centre of Excellence for Online Dispute Resolution in India (TLCEODRI) | ODR India established in 2004 for grievance handling and digital mediation under Perry4Law Organisation (P4LO); RWL and TLCEODRI launched in 2012 for expedited ADR conversions and capacity-building in cyber/commercial disputes; all initiatives continued through October 2025, integrating with AI and regulatory advancements. |
| 2013–2019 | Growth in e-commerce-driven ODR adoption | iPleaders | Platforms emerged to handle online consumer and commercial disputes via mediation and arbitration; supported by IT Act, 2000 provisions for electronic records. |
| 2015 | Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act recognizes electronic agreements; Launch of SAMA (formerly ODRways) | SAMA (founders: Vikram Kumar, Pranjal Sinha, Akshetha Ashok) | Act provides statutory recognition to online arbitration; SAMA launched in Bengaluru for consumer-business, employer-employee, and landlord-tenant disputes, resolving ~10,000 cases for ICICI Bank totaling Rs. 20 lakhs. |
| 2017 | Launch of Presolv360 | Presolv360 (founders: Aman Sanghavi, Bhaven Shah, Namita Shah) | Mumbai-based platform for commercial disputes via cloud-based AI-driven mediation and arbitration; empaneled by multiple high courts for enforceable resolutions within weeks. |
| 2019 | Launch of CADRE and CORD; Consumer Protection Act facilitates ODR | CADRE (Centre for Alternate Dispute Resolution Excellence); CORD (Centre for Online Resolution of Disputes; founders: Vikas Mahendra, Deepika Kinhal, Vinay Mahendra) | CADRE launched in Bengaluru for rental, tenant, and small-value disputes with resolutions in 20–30 days; CORD launched for modular end-to-end digital hearings; Act enables ADR including ODR for consumer claims. |
| 2020 | SEBI circular mandates ODR for shareholder disputes | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) | Introduction of referral mechanism for investor grievances, marking regulatory push for digital resolution. COVID-19 accelerated virtual hearings under Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. Platforms like Presolv360 and CADRE began scaling for banking and contract disputes. |
| 2021 | Expansion of ODR platforms for diverse sectors; SAMA-Snapdeal pilot | Centre for Online Resolution of Disputes (CORD), Sama; Snapdeal | Launch of services for employment, real estate, and insurance claims; over 22 million cases resolved nationwide through Online Lok Adalats since this period; SAMA pilot settled 100 cases with 50% success rate in 15 days. |
| 2022 | SEBI formalizes ODR integration; Promotion by arbitral institutions | SEBI; Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA), International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR), Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) | Circular mainstreams ODR for securities market complaints, enabling online filing and resolution without physical presence; ICA, ICADR, and ICC introduced ODR rules for commercial and domain disputes post-pandemic. |
| 2023–2024 | Draft Arbitration & Conciliation (Amendment) Bill; Launch of additional platforms | Ministry of Law and Justice; Online Legal India, Jupitice, Webnyay | Bill proposes institutional arbitration and ODR for debt recovery in banking/NBFC sectors; emphasizes cost-effective, transparent processes. Platforms like Online Legal India added multilingual AI tools for Tier-2/3 city access; Jupitice developed first private digital court for employment grievances; Webnyay integrated AI for case management. |
| 2025 (up to October 14) | MSME ODR portal launch; Funding for platforms; SEBI Smart ODR portal | Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME); Presolv360; SEBI | Dedicated portal launched June 27 for payment disputes, enabling online filing, AI-assisted pre-resolution, and fee discounts; integrates with Samadhaan system. Presolv360 raised $4.7 million in September for AI-driven voice submissions in regional languages. SEBI established Smart ODR portal (smartodr.in) for investment adviser complaints. CEPHRC publications in early October 2025 further integrated ODR principles into cyber human rights frameworks, addressing algorithmic biases in digital surveillance and CBDC-related disputes. |
Broader Impact And Resources
By October 14, 2025, ODR platforms had resolved disputes across e-commerce (e.g., buyer-seller conflicts via CADRE), finance (e.g., delayed payments via the MSME portal), and specialised areas like cryptocurrency (via P4LO extensions), with over 51,000 MSME cases disposed digitally through integrated systems like Samadhaan by mid-2025. This period’s advancements, including AI integrations and regulatory portals, underscore ODR’s role in enhancing access to justice, particularly in non-metropolitan areas. Supplementary resources, such as the ODR India Wiki, remain underdeveloped with limited entries on these developments—currently focusing on unrelated initiatives like the “Truth Revolution of 2025″—while CEPHRC publications highlight ODR’s application in cyberspace governance.
Conclusion: Charting The Path Forward For Online Dispute Resolution In India
The period from 2013 to October 14, 2025, represents a pivotal maturation of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) in India, transforming it from an experimental adjunct to alternative dispute resolution into a robust, integrated pillar of the justice delivery system. Building on the tentative foundations of 2002–2012, this phase witnessed a confluence of regulatory endorsements, technological innovations, and platform proliferations that addressed the escalating demands of a digital economy. Statutory measures, such as the 2015 Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act and SEBI’s 2020–2022 circulars, provided legal scaffolding for electronic proceedings, while the COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst for virtual hearings and AI-assisted processes. Platforms like SAMA, Presolv360, CADRE, and CORD, alongside governmental initiatives such as the MSME ODR portal and SEBI’s Smart ODR, collectively processed millions of disputes—spanning e-commerce, finance, employment, and emerging domains like cryptocurrency—yielding efficiencies in resolution times, costs, and geographic barriers.
This evolution has yielded measurable outcomes: over 22 million cases handled through Online Lok Adalats and ODR integrations since 2021, with more than 51,000 MSME cases disposed by mid-2025, contributing to a modest reduction in judicial pendency. Multilingual AI tools and cloud-based systems have extended ODR’s reach to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, fostering inclusivity for non-metropolitan users and small enterprises. Continuations from earlier efforts, such as those under Perry4Law Organisation, underscore the persistence of niche applications in cyber and trade disputes, complementing the broader ecosystem. Collectively, these developments affirm ODR’s alignment with India’s digital governance ambitions, embedding it within frameworks like the Consumer Protection Act and draft arbitration amendments.
Yet, as ODR stands at this juncture, challenges persist that temper unbridled optimism. Issues of digital divides—evident in varying internet penetration and literacy rates—could exacerbate inequities if not addressed through targeted infrastructure investments. Data privacy concerns under the evolving Digital Personal Data Protection Act, alongside the enforceability of cross-border resolutions, remain points of friction, necessitating harmonised international protocols. Moreover, the reliance on AI raises questions of algorithmic fairness and human oversight, particularly in sensitive sectors like employment and human rights.
Looking ahead, the trajectory of ODR in India post-2025 holds promise for deeper entrenchment and innovation. With projected e-commerce growth to $350 billion by 2026 and a burgeoning gig economy, demand for scalable, sector-agnostic platforms will intensify. Anticipated policy refinements, including the full enactment of the Arbitration & Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, could institutionalise ODR further, potentially integrating it with blockchain for tamper-proof records and predictive analytics for dispute prevention. Collaborative efforts between regulators, tech developers, and arbitral bodies may drive hybrid models blending ODR with traditional ADR, enhancing enforceability and user trust.
Ultimately, ODR’s future success will hinge on balanced evolution: leveraging technology to democratise justice while safeguarding equity and accountability. As India navigates this digital frontier, sustained empirical research and stakeholder dialogue will be essential to refine these mechanisms, ensuring they evolve not as a panacea, but as a pragmatic tool in the broader quest for accessible, efficient resolution. This phase, closing on October 14, 2025, thus sets a contemplative benchmark for what lies beyond—a resilient framework poised to adapt to tomorrow’s disputes.