Protests Erupt at ISI Kolkata Over Controversial 2025 Bill
Students, faculty members, and staff at the Kolkata campus of the Indian Statistical Institute launched protests on Friday against the proposed Indian Statistical Institute Bill 2025. The demonstrations target the draft legislation's significant changes to the governance structure of the 94-year-old prestigious institution.
What Changes Does the ISI Bill 2025 Propose?
The Centre's draft bill, made public in September by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) for feedback, proposes transforming ISI from a registered society into a statutory body corporate. This fundamental shift would align the institute's governance with central institutions like IITs and IIMs.
The new structure would make the President of India the Visitor and establish a Board of Governance with members largely nominated by the central government. The board would handle administrative matters, grant degrees, and make appointments. Crucially, the director would be appointed by the board chairperson from a panel recommended by a government-constituted search-cum-selection committee.
Historical Context: How ISI Has Functioned Since 1931
Founded by eminent statistician PC Mahalanobis in 1931, the Indian Statistical Institute began as a statistical laboratory at Presidency College. Registered as a society under successive acts, it was declared an institution of national importance in 1959 through an Act of Parliament, gaining degree-granting authority while maintaining its society status.
The institute's current highest decision-making body is a 33-member council with broad representation, including:
- An elected chairman
- Six central government representatives
- External scientists
- University Grants Commission representative
- Ex-officio members including the director
Headquartered in Kolkata with centers in Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, and Tezpur, ISI has maintained this governance structure for decades.
Why the Opposition is Growing
The primary concern among academics and students is the potential loss of autonomy and increased central government control. Critics argue that the proposed Board of Governance lacks the diverse representation of the current council and gives excessive power to government nominees.
Faculty members, students, and researchers have signed an online petition to the Minister of State for MoSPI demanding the draft Bill's withdrawal. The petition highlights that no consultations were held at the institute before preparing the legislation and argues that any improvements should come through amendments to the existing 1959 Act rather than complete structural overhaul.
The petition specifically objects to provisions allowing the Board to override Academic Council resolutions and the extensive criteria for director removal, which could transform the director into a central government appointee. With the Bill set to replace the 1959 Act entirely, the protests in Kolkata represent a significant stand for academic independence against centralized control.
