RICS Launches International Mediation Training in India to Combat ₹5 Lakh Crore Infrastructure Delays
New Delhi, June 4, 2026: The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched its internationally recognized Mediation Training Programme in India to equip construction, real estate, infrastructure, and legal professionals with specialized dispute resolution skills. The initiative comes at a critical time for India’s infrastructure sector, where contractual disputes are a recognized driver of severe project delays. According to recent data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), nearly 779 of India’s major infrastructure projects are currently running behind schedule, and around 450 have overshot their sanctioned budgets, pushing total cost overruns close to ₹5 lakh crore (over US$60 billion), RICS said in a press release.
The introduction of the specialized curriculum directly follows the implementation of the landmark Mediation Act, 2023, which has rapidly evolved India’s alternative dispute resolution ecosystem while exposing a severe dearth of formally trained mediation professionals. To bridge this gap, RICS has partnered with the Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA) to deliver a five-day, face-to-face program in New Delhi from June 29 to July 4, 2026. Led by John Fletcher, the Executive Director of the RICS Dispute Resolution Service, the course will uniquely combine facilitative and evaluative mediation techniques specifically tailored for the complex commercial, technical, and multi-stakeholder realities of the built environment.
The training initiative aims to pivot the industry away from prolonged, adversarial litigation toward a more collaborative and relationship-focused future. “The future of dispute resolution will not be defined solely by who wins a case, but by how effectively parties can preserve relationships, minimise disruption, and create sustainable outcomes. India’s mediation ecosystem is entering an exciting phase of growth, supported by policy, industry demand, and increasing awareness. We see a significant opportunity to develop professionals who can combine sector expertise with mediation skills to help businesses navigate disputes more constructively and efficiently,” said Ashwani Awasthi, Managing Director – RICS, South Asia.
Beyond immediate professional upskilling, the program provides successful participants with dual paths for local and international career progression. Upon completion, graduates will be eligible to apply for empanelment on the Indian Council of Arbitration’s Mediator Panel as well as the RICS International Panel of Dispute Resolvers, subject to meeting standard criteria. Furthermore, the curriculum is formally recognized by premier global dispute resolution bodies, including the International Mediation Institute (IMI), the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), and the Civil Mediation Council (CMC), confirming that the newly trained Indian mediators will hold credentials that command international credibility and strategic professional advantage.
