Mediation and conciliation framework established for company disputes, setting panel empanelment, confidentiality, timelines and procedure. The Companies (Mediation and Conciliation) Rules, 2016 create a Regional Director-maintained Mediation and Conciliation Panel, prescribe empanelment qualifications and disqualifications, and set application procedures (Form MDC-1) and appointment/referral mechanisms (Form MDC-2 with fee). They mandate disclosure of conflicts, a three-month time-limit for proceedings with a possible three-month extension, confidentiality and inadmissibility of mediation communications, an ethics code and liability protection for mediators, allocation of fees and costs, procedural safeguards for sessions, and specific exclusions from referral.