Framing Lens

This bill updates the law for the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), a major educational and research center for statistics in India. It makes ISI a more formal, independent body and sets clear goals for it to teach, research, and work with businesses and government in areas like statistics, math, and computer science. The bill aims for ISI to become a global leader in these fields.

What Could Change
  • Improved quality and application of statistical data and research, which could inform public policy and business decisions.
  • Enhanced educational programs in statistical sciences, benefiting students and the workforce.
  • Increased collaboration between ISI and various sectors, potentially leading to innovations and solutions for societal challenges.

What It Does

This bill legally transforms the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) from a society into a not-for-profit body corporate. It updates the institute's mission to advance statistical sciences, foster interdisciplinary research, and promote collaboration with industry and government. It also modernizes the governance framework by detailing the roles of the President as Visitor, a new Board of Governors, academic and finance councils, and the Director, while adjusting the extent of central government oversight.

Key Provisions

Incorporation as a Body Corporate
Transforms ISI from a society registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961, into a not-for-profit legal entity.
Expanded Objectives
Includes advancing statistical knowledge, fostering interdisciplinary research (statistics, mathematics, economics, computer science), enhancing collaboration between industry, academia, and government, and aiming for global excellence in statistical sciences.
Visitor's Role
Designates the President of India as the Visitor, with powers to review ISI's work, hold inquiries into its affairs, and issue binding directions based on these reports.
Board of Governors
Establishes a principal policy-making body led by a Chairperson nominated by the Visitor. Members include nominees from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), eminent persons in statistical fields, and ISI representatives.
New Councils
Creates an academic council for academic matters (courses, admissions), a finance committee to scrutinize accounts, and a management council for each center for general supervision.
Director's Appointment and Removal
The Board appoints the Director, who is the chief executive officer, with the Visitor's prior approval. The Board may also remove the Director with the Visitor's prior approval.
Revised Central Government Powers
Modifies the Central Government's ability to issue directions, requiring them to be for efficient administration of the Act. It removes the government's power to take charge of ISI for up to two years and limits the requirement for prior approval for regulations to only the first regulations made by the Board.

Primary Sources

PRS Legislative Research Sansad Digital Portal

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