Bill to provide statutory framework to Indian Statistical Institute introduced in LS

On Monday, the Lok Sabha introduced a bill aimed at expanding the scope of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) and updating its legal framework to meet modern requirements. Union Minister Rao Indrajit Singh presented the bill amidst opposition protests over the NEET paper leak and the alleged theft of donations from the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Despite opposition notices, members did not voice their opposition during the introduction.

The Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026, seeks to incorporate the institute as a body corporate to bolster its governance, advance academic excellence and research, and enable it to adapt to emerging needs in statistics and related fields. The President of India will serve as the institute's Visitor, while a Board of Governors will be its primary policy-making body, headed by an eminent figure from academia, industry, education, public policy, and statistical sciences. The board will report to the central government.

The institute will also have an Academic Council, serving as its principal academic body and led by the director. All full-time professors and faculty members will be members of the Academic Council. The 1959 Act, which declared the institute as an institution of national importance and allowed it to award degrees and diplomas in statistics, mathematics, quantitative economics, computer science, and other related subjects, has limited provisions regarding governance, administration, finance, accountability, and functioning.

Consequently, the government decided to repeal the 1959 Act to create comprehensive legislation that will empower the ISI to become a globally recognized center for statistical sciences and allied fields, ultimately addressing the talent gap in India's tech and financial sectors.