Indian Statistical Institute Bill 2026 has been introduced in the Lok Sabha to provide a new statutory framework for the 95-year-old Indian Statistical Institute (ISI). The Bill proposes significant governance reforms, including the creation of a Board of Governors and an Academic Council to strengthen administration and align ISI with the growing demands of statistics, data science, and artificial intelligence. The government says the reforms will modernise the institute and improve its global competitiveness. However, several faculty members and students have expressed concerns that the proposed changes could reduce the institute’s autonomy by increasing government influence over appointments and decision-making. The Bill has sparked a wider debate on balancing institutional independence with accountability in India’s premier higher education and research institutions.
Indian Statistical Institute Bill 2026: Key Changes, Autonomy Debate & What It Means for ISI
