Arbitration Timeline Tightened in MSME Bill, Immediate Partial Payments Mandated

If mediation fails, the bill requires the dispute to be referred to arbitration within 30 days of the mediation end date. A final award must be delivered within 90 days of the parties completing their arguments. Moreover, any case pending for more than six months triggers an immediate payment of at least 50 percent of the disputed amount to the MSME supplier.