Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Bill, 2025
Why in news?
Over 1,500 academics, students, and staff have protested since November 2025, arguing the bill erodes ISI's autonomy, imposes central control, and undermines its legacy founded by P.C. Mahalanobis.
About the draft
- The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Bill, 2025, is a proposed legislation aiming to transform the Indian Statistical Institute from its current status as a registered society into a statutory body corporate.
- This move seeks to align its governance and legal framework with other Institutes of National Importance, such as the IITs and IIMs.
- The bill was put forth by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and was open for public comments, with a revised draft uploaded in late November 2025.
Key Provisions and Proposed Changes
- Conversion to a Statutory Body Corporate: The Bill aims to repeal the Indian Statistical Institute Act of 1959 and establish the ISI as a statutory body corporate, governed by an Act of Parliament.
- New Governance Structure: A new 11-member Board of Governance (BoG) is proposed to replace the current 33-member council. This BoG would be the principal executive body, with a significant portion of its members being Central Government nominees.
- Centralized Control: Concerns have been raised that the proposed governance structure, with a Board of Governance heavily influenced by Central Government nominees, would lead to a significant loss of autonomy for the institute.
- Academic Autonomy: The Bill proposes that the Board of Governors would have overriding powers over the Academic Council, potentially reducing the latter to an advisory body. This has led to fears of diminished academic freedom.
- Director Appointment: The appointment of the Director is proposed to be controlled by the government, moving away from the existing search-cum-selection process.
- Relocation of Headquarters: The Bill allows for the relocation of the institute's headquarters, raising concerns about the disruption of ISI's historical identity and heritage, particularly its long-standing ties to Kolkata.
- Emphasis on Revenue Generation: The draft suggests a higher emphasis on revenue generation through increased student fees and the commercialization of research outputs.
Protests and Concerns
The draft Bill has faced considerable opposition from academics, faculty members, and students:
- Erosion of Academic Autonomy: The draft Bill establishes a Board of Governors (BoG) dominated by government nominees, granting it overriding powers over the Academic Council, which would be reduced to an advisory role, unlike the current council with broader academic representation.​
- Centralized Director Appointment: Provisions allow greater Centre involvement in appointing and reviewing the Director, including MoSPI nominees in the selection committee and periodic performance reviews, potentially turning the position into a government appointee.​
- Threat to Institutional Heritage: Repealing the 1959 Act to convert ISI from a registered society to a statutory body corporate risks altering its historic character, including potential relocation of headquarters from Kolkata.​
- Commercialization Pressures: Emphasis on revenue generation through higher student fees, research commercialization, and sponsored projects could undermine free education, stipends, and focus on long-term basic research.​
About Indian Statistical Institute (ISI)
- Founded: 1931 by Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in Kolkata as a statistical laboratory.​
- Status: Declared Institute of National Importance via Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959; functions under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.​
- Headquarters: Kolkata, with centres in Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Tezpur, Hyderabad, and Giridih.​
- Key Focus: Research and training in statistics, mathematics, computer science, quantitative economics; applications in natural/social sciences.​
- Contributions: Designed National Sample Survey (NSS) in 1950; developed Mahalanobis distance; alumni include C.R. Rao, S.R.S. Varadhan.​
- Programs: Offers UG/PG/doctoral degrees, diplomas in statistics, math, CS; ~1,200 students across centres.​
- Motto: "Bhinneswaykyasya Darshanam" (unity in diversity).​
- Journal: Sankhya: The Indian Journal of Statistics, founded 1933.​
Download Pdf
