The ISI Bill 2026: A 'Solution' in Search of a Problem
Rajat Subhra Hazra | 10 August 2026 | The Wire
The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) was founded in 1931 by Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis (PCM), the father of statistics in India, and registered as a Society in 1932 with its headquarters in Kolkata.
Under PCM’s leadership, ISI made landmark contributions to statistics, mathematics, economics and computer science. Large-scale survey sampling was developed here, leading to the creation of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO). Stalwarts such as C.R. Rao, R.R. Bahadur, R.C. Bose, S.N. Roy and J.K. Ghosh reshaped mathematical statistics. ISI pioneered electronic computers in India. Parliament recognised these contributions through the ISI Act of 1959, declaring ISI an Institution of National Importance and enabling the launch of the now-celebrated BStat (Hons) and MStat programmes. A Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 3, 2026 seeks to repeal this Act.
Did any ISI Review Committee ask for the repeal and abolition of the society?
Under the 1959 Act, the activities of ISI are periodically reviewed by a committee constituted by the government. The Fourth Review Committee (RC4) was notified in January 2020. The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the 2026 Bill invokes this Committee’s Report to justify legal reform. The RC4’s Terms of Reference mandated it to consider the 1959 Act and the Memorandum of Association. The Committee examined the Act but did not recommend its repeal. It recommended only two amendments: widening the subjects in which ISI may award degrees and reforming its audit arrangements.