Six years after the Arbitration Council of India was legislated into existence, it’s still not formed. And with over 5 crore cases pending, half of them actual arrears, the courts alone can’t fix this. The solution? Treat mediation and arbitration not as Plan B; but as Plan A. The real battle isn’t in courtrooms; it’s in contracts, training programs, and Parliament’s inbox. If India wants global credibility as a litigation hub, it must close the gap between announcement and action; fast. Because trust in justice isn’t built by judgments. It’s built by delivery.