Why in the News?

• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the draft Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Bill, 2025, to repeal the Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About ISI (Evolution, Significance, Key Features of the Draft Bill, Concerns, Govt Response, etc.)

Evolution and Significance of the Indian Statistical Institute

• Founded in 1931 by P.C. Mahalanobis, the Indian Statistical Institute has grown into one of India’s most respected centres for statistical research and interdisciplinary studies.
• Registered initially as a society under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 and later under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961, the ISI obtained the status of an Institution of National Importance (INI) through the Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959.
• The institution’s historical contributions include the development of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), which laid the foundation for India’s official statistical system.
• ISI has produced global stalwarts in statistics and mathematics, such as C.R. Rao and S.R.S. Varadhan.
• With six centres across India and nearly 1,200 students, ISI offers high-level education and research in Statistics, Mathematics, Quantitative Economics, Computer Science, Cryptology, Library and Information Science, and Operations Research.

Key Features of the Draft ISI Bill, 2025

• The proposed Bill seeks to transform ISI from a registered society into a statutory body corporate.
• This structural shift is framed by the government as a step toward modernising and strengthening ISI as it approaches its centenary in 2031.
• A press release cited by MoSPI states that multiple review committees, including the Mashelkar Committee (2020), recommended governance reforms and expansion of academic programmes for global competitiveness.
• The Bill introduces:

• A new Board of Governors (BoG), empowered to make key administrative and academic decisions.
• Provisions for ISI to significantly expand revenue generation through student fees, consultancy services, and sponsored research projects (Section 29).
• Centralised control over faculty selection, recruitment, and appointments.

Concerns Raised by Academicians and Students

• The strongest criticism relates to the erosion of institutional autonomy.
• Academicians argue that converting ISI into a statutory body corporate undermines the original agreement under which the ISI society was formed.
• A letter signed by 1,500 academicians stated that the Bill violates the spirit of the Societies Registration Act and undermines cooperative federalism.
• Governance Structure Overhaul
  • Under the 1959 Act, ISI’s governance rested with a council that included significant academic representation, including 10 members from within ISI.
  • The draft Bill’s new BoG is heavily dominated by government nominees, leaving no elected representatives from among faculty or researchers.
  • This raises concerns of political interference, especially in appointments and academic decision-making.
• Threat to Academic Freedom and Long-term Research
  • Experts fear that increased focus on revenue generation may shift ISI away from basic research, which often lacks immediate commercial value.
  • Critics highlighted that essential long-term research could suffer under a corporate-style funding model.
• Jurisdictional Conflict and Legal Ambiguity
  • Opponents argue that bypassing the existing society registered under state law infringes on state jurisdiction and risks undermining the established legal framework that has guided ISI for decades.

Government’s Defence of the Proposed Legislation

• The government maintains that the Bill aims to globalise ISI, strengthen accountability, modernise governance, and expand research programmes.
• It argues that the reforms are necessary to align ISI with global standards and to support its growth over the next decade.
• The Mashelkar Committee’s recommendations, cited as the foundation for the reforms, emphasise enhanced governance, restructuring, and institutional expansion.

Conclusion

• The draft Bill remains open for stakeholder consultation.
• Opposition parties have signalled they will challenge the Bill if tabled in Parliament.
• Whether the government revises the governance structure, clarifies autonomy provisions, or addresses federalism concerns will determine the future relationship between ISI and the Union government.
• As India’s premier statistical institute, the outcome carries significant implications for academic freedom, research independence, and the integrity of the national statistical system.