Overview The Arbitration & Conciliation Act was amended in 2015 to insert existence of an arbitration agreement, not its validity or scope (GS2: Polity)">Section 11(6A) . This amendment marks a paradigm shift by overruling the earlier Patel Engineering doctrine for cases instituted after 23 Oct 2015. Key Developments Post‑amendment cases (filed after 23 Oct 2015) : Courts may only verify the existence of the agreement. Pre‑amendment cases (filed before 23 Oct 2015) : The broader judicial scrutiny established by Patel Engineering continues to apply. Supreme Court’s stance : The apex court has affirmed that Section 11(6A) is prospective and does not disturb pending proceedings initiated before the amendment date. Impact on commercial disputes : Parties now enjoy greater certainty and faster resolution, as courts are barred from extensive pre‑arbitration litigation. Important Facts The amendment was enacted through the Arbitration & Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2015 . Section 11(6A) came into force on 23 Oct 2015 . It aligns Indian law with the UNCITRAL Model Law principle of minimal court interference. The amendment also introduced provisions for expedited arbitration and clarified the role of the Arbitration Tribunal . UPSC Relevance Understanding Section 11(6A) is essential for GS Paper II (Polity) and GS Paper III (Economy) because: