Editorial: Diluting ISI’s institutional autonomy
The draft Bill to repeal the Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959, replaces a nation-building mandate with focus on corporatisation and revenue generation
The 95-year-old Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), considered the gold standard for statistical research in the country, is facing the threat of losing its institutional autonomy and independence following the NDA government’s move to revamp its structure and convert it into a corporate body. This fits into a broader pattern of systematic dilution of institutional autonomy and federal values through over-centralisation of powers over the last few years. The Draft Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Bill, 2025, released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), proposes major structural reforms that appear to be opaque and hastily formulated without any prior debate. The Centre wants to overhaul the governance structure of the Kolkata-based premier institute, which is synonymous with India’s early efforts to use Statistics for policy and development. There are growing concerns over how the hasty reforms could dilute the autonomy and undermine the federal spirit. Over 1,500 academicians have expressed grave concern and held demonstrations to protest the government’s plan, which focuses on corporatisation and revenue generation. What is alarming is that the draft Bill, seeking to repeal the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Act, 1959, omits references to national development, social welfare, and planning but introduces new priorities such as global excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and financial self-sustainability. Experts fear that increased focus on revenue generation may shift ISI away from basic research, and the essential long-term research could suffer under a corporate-style funding model. The new legislation undermines the original agreement under which the ISI society was formed in 1931.
The institution’s historical contributions include the development of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), which laid the foundation for India’s official statistical system. The proposed Bill seeks to transform ISI from a registered society into a statutory body. This structural shift is framed by the government as a step toward modernising and strengthening ISI as it approaches its centenary. Under the 1959 Act, ISI’s governance rested with a council that included significant academic representation, including 10 members from within ISI. The draft Bill’s new Board of Governance (BoG) is heavily dominated by government nominees, leaving no elected representatives from among faculty or researchers. This raises concerns of political interference, especially in appointments and academic decision-making. The proposed BoG is empowered to make key administrative and academic decisions. It also has provisions to significantly expand revenue generation through student fees, consultancy services, and sponsored research projects. Centralised control is proposed over faculty selection, recruitment, and appointments. The focus of the new legislation shifts from a nation-building and welfare-oriented mission to one centred on global excellence, institutional branding, and innovation. Bypassing the existing society registered under state law amounts to an infringement of state jurisdiction and risks undermining the established legal framework that has guided ISI for decades. The Bill severely undermines academic autonomy by enabling the BoG to override decisions of the Academic Council.
