Archive · 29 Nov 2025
Protests Erupt Over ISI Bill 2025
The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Kolkata is facing big changes.
The government has a new plan called the ISI Bill 2025.
This plan wants to change how the institute is run.
Right now, the institute is managed by a group of people including teachers and representatives from the government.
The new plan wants to give more power to the central government.
This means the government will have a bigger say in who runs the institute and how it makes decisions.
Many students, teachers, and researchers are not happy with this plan.
They think it will take away the institute's freedom to make its own decisions.
They are protesting because they want the government to withdraw the plan and talk to them before making any changes.
The protesters formed a human chain and held a rally to make their voices heard.
They are worried that the government might pass the bill without proper discussions.
The government has asked for public feedback on the new draft of the bill by December 15, 2025.
Teachers, students, research scholars, and staff of ISI Calcutta formed a human chain and held a rally protesting the draft ISI Bill 2025.
Protesters demand the scrapping of the bill, citing concerns over the institute's autonomy and the lack of stakeholder consultation.
The draft bill proposes to repeal the 1959 ISI Act and replace it with new legislation, vesting sweeping powers in a new Board of Governors.
Under the new structure, the academic council would lose its final authority, only making recommendations to the board.
The Union government sought public opinion on the draft bill until November 3 and is expected to table it in Parliament during the upcoming session.
- Who
- Teachers, past and present, students, research scholars, staff, and local residents of Kolkata
- What
- Protests against the draft Indian Statistical Institute Bill 2025
- When
- Friday, November 2025 (protest); November 3, 2025 (public feedback deadline)
- Where
- Outside ISI campus on BT Road, Kolkata, India
- Why
- Concerns over enhanced central control, potential loss of autonomy, and lack of stakeholder consultation
- Institute Age
- 94 years
- Current Governance Body
- 33-member council
- Proposed Governance Body
- Board of Governance
- Current Director Appointment
- By the council
- Proposed Director Appointment
- By the board chairperson from a panel recommended by a search-cum-selection committee
- Current Status
- Registered society
- Proposed Status
- Statutory body corporate
- Current Act
- 1959 Act
- Proposed Replacement
- Indian Statistical Institute Bill 2025
- Protest Date
- Friday, November 2025
- Protest Location
- Outside ISI campus on BT Road, Kolkata
- Protest Participants
- Teachers, past and present, students, research scholars, staff, and local residents
- Public Feedback Deadline
- December 15, 2025
