Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026
The Indian Statistical Institute, located in Kolkata, is renowned as the gold standard for statistical research in India. The government has introduced a new legislative proposal, the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026, aiming to update the existing legal framework established by the act of 1959.
Background and Historical Context
- The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) was initiated by India’s eminent statistician, P.C. Mahalanobis, who established the Statistical Laboratory at Presidency College, Kolkata in the 1920s.
- ISI was officially founded on December 17, 1931, as a "learned society" within the Statistical Laboratory.
- The Institute was registered on April 28, 1932, under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 and subsequently under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act of 1961, amended in 1964.
Contentious Provisions
While the new Bill might appear straightforward, it contains several provisions that have sparked contention. There is notable opposition from ISI faculty members and Members of Parliament (MPs) regarding specific aspects of the Bill.
