Govt Introduces Indian Statistical Institute Bill in Lok Sabha
The proposal would replace the 1959 law and create a new governance structure to expand ISI’s role in statistics and data science, officials said.
- On Monday, the government introduced the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026, in Parliament, seeking to replace the 67-year-old framework with a "more robust and contemporary governance framework."
- Officials contend the current society-based model requires approval from a General Body of more than 1,000 members for reforms, limiting institutional growth; no significant changes occurred in the past fifty years.
- The proposed legislation replaces the 33-member Governing Council with a compact 11-member Board of Governors accountable to the Central Government and headed by a Chairperson nominated by the President of India.
- Faculty members and students are protesting, citing concerns over central control and the exclusion of Kolkata as headquarters in the new text, though the government has denied plans to shift the ISI location.
- The overhaul seeks to establish the ISI as a "body corporate" to address the talent gap in India's technology and financial sectors, aiming to build an ecosystem to train a new generation of statisticians and data scientists.
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After IITs and IIMs, is Indian Statistical Institute the next autonomy battleground?
The Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026 proposes the biggest overhaul of the 95-year-old institution since its founding. While the government says it modernises governance, faculty members fear greater government control over appointments and decision-making. Here's what changes, why it has sparked protests, and how it fits a wider trend in Indian higher education.
The Economic Times
Govt introduces Indian Statistical Institute Bill in Lok Sabha
The Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha. This legislation aims to update the institute's legal framework for evolving statistical demands. It seeks to incorporate the Indian Statistical Institute as a body corporate for better governance. The proposed bill will replace the existing Indian Statistical Institute Act of 1959. This overhaul intends to create a globally recognized center for statistical sciences.
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