The central government tabled the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on Monday, nearly a year after releasing its draft for public feedback. The bill aims to introduce reforms at the Kolkata-based institute but has sparked criticism from within ISI, which fears the legislation could undermine its autonomy, according to livemint.com.
The draft bill was first published last year, prompting a protest march on the ISI Kolkata campus involving students, faculty, and staff. They urged the government to halt the reforms until proper consultations were held. Despite these concerns, the government proceeded with the formal introduction of the bill, which has reignited debates about the institute’s governance structure and independence.
The Indian Statistical Institute is a premier research institution known for its contributions to statistics and related fields. The proposed bill’s impact on ISI’s autonomy has raised questions about the future of academic freedom and institutional governance. The move has drawn attention amid wider discussions on government intervention in educational and research bodies in India.
The ISI Bill, 2026, was tabled on August 3, 2026, and is now under parliamentary consideration. The next steps involve detailed discussions and possible amendments before the bill can be enacted, as reported by livemint.com.