KOLKATA – The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) community is protesting the proposed ISI Bill 2025. Faculty, students, and alumni state the draft law threatens the institute’s autonomy, unique founding structure, and academic freedom. Protests have occurred for over a month at the Kolkata campus.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) drafted the ISI Bill 2025. It aims to redesign the 93-year-old institute, aligning it with other centrally-run Institutions of National Importance (INIs). The community views this as an existential crisis for ISI.
Proposed Structural Changes
ISI was established in 1932 by scientist PC Mahalanobis as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It later came under West Bengal state law. In 1959, the ISI Act designated it an Institution of National Importance, while retaining its society structure. The ISI Bill 2025 seeks to replace this 1959 Act.
The draft bill proposes dissolving the society entirely. It would convert ISI into a “statutory body corporate.” All assets, properties, and governance structures would transfer to this new entity. Academics argue the central government cannot legally dissolve a state-registered society.
MoSPI states the new structure promotes “academic rigour, global competitiveness, and innovation.” It also aims to align ISI with “peer Institutions of National Importance (INIs),” such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). These peer INIs typically involve greater central government oversight.
Governance Model at Risk
The bill proposes a significant change to ISI’s governance. Currently, a 33-member council leads ISI Kolkata. This council includes seven faculty members elected by internal staff, two non-teaching staff representatives, and nominated members from the ISI Society.
The ISI Bill 2025 would replace this with an 11-member “board of governance.” The central government would nominate its chairperson. It would include representatives from Union government ministries: MoSPI, Department of Science and Technology (DST), and Ministry of Finance. Four “eminent persons,” also central government nominees, would join. The director, dean of studies, and center heads would be BoG appointees.
Professors state this new board would be “completely nominated by the central government.” It eliminates internal representation and democratic processes currently in place. ISI’s existing model emphasizes consensus and widespread employee representation.
Threat to Academic Autonomy
The draft bill claims to grant ISI “greater decision-making powers.” Teachers, however, believe the opposite will occur, leading to a total loss of academic autonomy. The academic council, responsible for curriculum and courses, would see its size and powers reduced. Its members would be nominated, not elected.
Decisions on curriculum, course structure, and academic content may move from teachers to the Board of Governance. Professors fear politically-driven decisions could affect academic spaces and long-term research. They emphasize ISI’s tradition of prioritizing research over vocational outcomes.
Financial Autonomy and Free Programs
The draft bill includes provisions for ISI to become “financially self-sustaining.” It states the institute and its centers should “generate and manage resources effectively.” This mandate raises concerns about the future of ISI’s two free programs: Bachelor of Statistics (BStat) and Bachelor of Mathematics (BMath) .
These programs provide scholarships, enabling students from diverse backgrounds to pursue academic work without financial burden. Teachers fear the push for revenue generation will override ISI’s academic mission. ISI recently introduced a paid undergraduate course, Bachelor of Statistical Data Science (BSDS), due to government pressure for revenue.
Admissions and Institute Identity
ISI currently maintains autonomy in its admissions policy, using its own entrance examination. Teachers worry that losing academic autonomy could impact this unique admission process. The bill only specifies admissions must be “based on merit assessed through transparent and reasonable criteria.”
ISI also operates teaching centers in Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Tezpur, alongside Statistical Quality Control (SQC) units. The bill does not explicitly mention Kolkata as the headquarters. This omission, combined with a clause allowing the central government to approve disposal of free-of-cost land, raises fears about the institute’s identity and property.
Community Response and Next Steps
The ISI community received limited opportunity to discuss or shape the bill. After the draft was released for public comments, teachers compiled their objections. They are now appealing to parliamentarians for intervention before the bill reaches Parliament.
A global petition addressed to MoSPI has gathered over 1,800 signatures from academics, mathematicians, and ISI alumni. Students and faculty stress that frequent changes to institute policy are detrimental to academic excellence and a legacy built over generations.