The document discusses arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism where parties agree to have their dispute settled by a neutral third party arbitrator. It defines arbitration and outlines the key features including that arbitration awards are binding on parties. It also discusses the Arbitration and Conciliation Act of 1996 and different types of arbitration like institutional, ad-hoc, statutory, and international arbitration. The roles of arbitrators and how they can be challenged are also summarized. The document differentiates arbitration from conciliation.