(1) This Act may be called the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
(2) It extends to the whole of India:
Provided that Parts I, III and IV shall extend to the State of Jammu and Kashmir only in so far as they relate to international commercial arbitration or, as the case may be, international commercial conciliation.
Explanation.— In this sub-section, the expression "international commercial conciliation" shall have the same meaning as the expression "international commercial arbitration" in clause (f) of sub-section (1) of section 2, subject to the modification that for the word "arbitration" occurring therein, the word "conciliation" shall be substituted.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 1
Section 1 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 provides the short title, territorial extent across India, and commencement on 22nd August 1996, establishing a comprehensive, modern legislative framework based on the UNCITRAL Model Law for domestic arbitration, international commercial arbitration, enforcement of foreign awards, and conciliation.
In contract drafting, explicitly stipulate the 'seat' of arbitration within India to ensure Part I supervisory jurisdiction, and specify the governing substantive and curial law to prevent cross-border conflict-of-law litigation.