Since the passing of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act of 1996, many difficulties and shortcomings came to be noticed in the said Act; and with a view to overcome those shortcomings and difficulties, and with a view to facilitate quick enforcement of contracts, easy recovery of monetary claims, and award of just compensation for damages suffered, and reduce the pendency of cases in Courts and hasten the process of dispute resolution through Arbitration, and to encourage and strengthen the alternate medium of dispute resolution, and to encourage investment and economic activities, extensive Amendments have been made in the present Arbitration & Conciliation aCT, 1996. The amended provisions would be applicable to Arbitration proceedings which have commenced, in accordance with the provisions of section 21 of the Act, on or after 23.10.2015, unless the parties otherwise agree to application of amended provisions. The important Amendments are – 1. The defini