Section 29B of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 allows parties to agree, either at the time of the arbitration agreement or afterward, to resolve their dispute through a fast-track procedure targeting an award within six months of the tribunal's constitution.
Fast-track arbitration typically proceeds on written pleadings and documents alone, dispensing with oral hearings unless the tribunal considers them necessary or a party specifically requests one — usually decided by a sole arbitrator to further compress the timeline.
It suits disputes with a relatively narrow factual dispute, limited need for witness cross-examination, and parties genuinely committed to a fast resolution rather than tactical delay — not every commercial dispute is a good candidate, and forcing a factually complex, heavily contested claim into a fast-track format can produce a rushed and vulnerable award.