1 week ago
Parliament Panel Seeks Public Input On Indian Statistical Institute Bill
A parliamentary committee is studying a new Bill about the Indian Statistical Institute.
It has asked experts, organisations, and other interested people to send their opinions.
People who respond must send two copies by September 28.
The committee wants to hear more views before considering the Bill.
The government says the changes could help the institute make decisions faster.
Critics say the Bill would give the ministry too much control.
They also say it could weaken the institute’s academic freedom.
The Bill would change the institute into a body corporate and create a new governing board.
More than 8,000 people have signed a petition against it.
The finance standing committee has invited public views and suggestions on the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026.
Respondents must submit two copies of their suggestions to the committee director by September 28.
The Bill would replace the institute’s existing governance structure with a board of governors and incorporate it as a body corporate.
Supporters say the changes would speed up decision-making, while critics argue they could reduce institutional autonomy.
More than 8,000 people have signed an online petition opposing what critics describe as a bureaucratic takeover.
- Who
- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, committee members, government officials, institute stakeholders, experts, and critics of the Bill.
- What
- The committee invited public suggestions on the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026, which would overhaul the institute’s governance.
- Where
- The Indian Statistical Institute’s Calcutta institution in Bon Hooghly, Kolkata, and Parliament’s finance standing committee.
- When
- The Bill was introduced in August; the committee met on September 9, and submissions are due by September 28.
- Why
- The government says the Bill would speed up decision-making, while critics seek to protect the institute’s institutional and academic autonomy.
Bill Supporters
Bill Critics
Need for governance changes
Bill Supporters
Government officials told the committee that the Bill is needed to fast-track decision-making at the institute.
Bill Critics
Critics and some committee members say the same goal could be achieved by amending the existing law and reducing the council from 33 to 12 members.
Institutional control
Bill Supporters
The Bill’s stated purpose is to strengthen governance by incorporating the institute as a body corporate.
Bill Critics
Critics say the proposed ministry-dominated board could curtail institutional freedom and exclude important academic representation, including the dean of academic affairs.
Consultation process
Bill Supporters
The standing committee has opened a wider consultation by inviting suggestions from associations, organisations, stakeholders, and experts.
Bill Critics
Critics say the ministry introduced the governance changes without consulting the institute’s stakeholders, contributing to opposition against the Bill.
Key facts
- Bill
- Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026
- Submission deadline
- September 28
- Copies required
- Two copies of suggestions
- Committee size
- 31 members, including 15 BJP MPs
- Proposed governance
- A board of governors would replace the existing council structure
- Existing law
- Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959
- Petition support
- More than 8,000 signatures
Quotes
Saugata Roy
Trinamool Congress MP and member of the parliamentary standing committee
“Lack of consultation by the (Union) statistics and programme implementation ministry with the stakeholders is one of the reasons behind growing opposition to the Bill. So the committee felt there was a need for a wider consultation on the Bill and has sought suggestions.”
telegraphindia.com
“It was also argued that this did not necessitate repealing the ISI Act of 1959 passed by Jawaharlal Nehru. In the face of these questions, it was vital that wider consultation be done. I have shared my suggestions with the committee.”
telegraphindia.com
Partha P. Majumder
Former National Chair of Science and former ISI professor
“However, in the name of strengthening governance, the ministry is replacing the democratically structured council comprising teacher representatives with a board of governors that will largely be dominated by the ministry. This board will not even include the institute’s dean of academic affairs. This was inserted into the Bill without any consultation”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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