Indian Statistical Institute Bill 2026 Seeks New Governance Model for ISI

The Government introduces the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026 to change the governance structure of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI). The Bill replaces the Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959 and provides for ISI to become a statutory body corporate with a new governance setup.

Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026:

Dimension	Key Details
Institution	Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) is founded in 1931 by P.C. Mahalanobis and is declared an Institution of National Importance in 1959.
Current governance structure	ISI is governed as a society with a 33-member council, and the director is appointed by the council.
Legal basis in Bill	The Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026 replaces the 1959 Act.
Legal status under Bill	ISI becomes a statutory body corporate, like IITs and IIMs.
Visitor	The President of India is the Visitor.
New governance body	The Bill provides for a Board of Governance with a Centre-nominated chairperson, government representatives, eminent persons, and institute members.
Board functions	The Board of Governance authorises decisions on administration, appointments, degrees, and regulations.
Academic Council	An Academic Council headed by the director provides for advising the Board of Governance.
Director appointment process	The director is appointed by the board chairperson from a panel recommended by a government-constituted committee.
Visitor powers	The Visitor is empowered to remove the director, order reviews, and order inquiries.
Opposition and criticism	Opposition and critics state concerns relating to loss of autonomy, board representation dominated by government nominees, the director being subject to removal and reviews, and the Bill being introduced without wider consultation.