The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the draft Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2025. 

• This legislation proposes substantial reforms to the governance framework of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI).

The draft Bill has provoked substantial opposition, particularly over concerns regarding proposed changes to the institution’s governance structure and academic autonomy.

About Indian Statistical Institute (ISI)

• The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) is a Premier institution for research, education, and applied work in fields such as statistics, mathematics, computer science, quantitative economics, and related disciplines. 
• Establishment: Founded in 1931 by the distinguished statistician Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, ISI was granted the status of an Institution of National Importance through an Act of Parliament in 1959.
• Headquarters and Centres: ISI maintains its primary headquarters in Kolkata, complemented by regional centres in Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Tezpur.
• Governance System:
• • Status: ISI operates as a registered society under both the Societies Registration Act of 1860 and the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961.
  • Member Council: ISI is governed by a 33-member Council comprising elected representatives, government appointees, a University Grants Commission nominee, and senior faculty members.
  • The Director of ISI is appointed by the Council, which gives the institute substantial autonomy in academic, administrative, and appointment matters.
• ISI publishes the prestigious journal Sankhyā and offers degree programs in statistics and related sciences.

Proposed Changes Under the Draft Bill

• Shift to Statutory Body Corporate: The draft Bill seeks to convert ISI from a registered society to a statutory body corporate, establishing it through a dedicated Act of Parliament.
• Shift in Governance Structure:
  • The Board of Governance (BoG) will assume administrative authority, manage financials, award degrees, and oversee key institutional appointments.
  • The Board composition will be heavily weighted toward government appointees, with the President of India’s nominee serving as chairperson, reducing faculty representation.
• Appointment and Removal of Director:
  • A search-cum-selection committee, appointed by the Union government, will be responsible for selecting the Director.
  • The BoG holds the authority to appoint the Director, while the President of India can remove the Director and order institutional inquiries or reviews.
• Academic Council Changes: The Academic Council’s role would be diminished to issuing recommendations to the BoG, significantly limiting faculty influence in institutional decision-making.

Concerns

• Loss of Autonomy: Critics contend that the draft Bill substantially erodes ISI’s academic independence by empowering the BoG to override Academic Council recommendations on institutional matters.
• Centralization of Control: The new structure consolidates government authority over appointments and governance, fundamentally shifting power away from faculty-based decision-making structures.
• Appointments: Concerns arise from government officials’ participation in the Search-cum-Selection Committee and the ability to periodically evaluate the director’s tenure, raising questions about potential political interference in leadership selections.
• Lack of Consultation: Critics contend that the Bill was enacted without adequate consultation with ISI stakeholders, and argue that modifications should be pursued through amendments to the 1959 Act rather than wholesale institutional restructuring.

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Government’s Stance

• Vision: The government contends that the draft Bill will elevate ISI’s institutional status, positioning it alongside other premier national research institutions such as IITs and IIMs, and enhancing its competitive standing internationally as it approaches its centennial in 2031.
• Review Committees’ Recommendations: The government contends that the draft Bill implements recommendations from multiple review committees, which collectively advocated for governance reforms, academic program expansion, and strengthened institutional competitiveness.

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