Bill to provide statutory framework to Indian Statistical Institute referred to House panel
The Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026, has been referred to a parliamentary committee for further examination following opposition demands. The bill seeks to restructure the institute's governance and incorporate it as a body corporate to enhance research and academic standards.
Why it matters
This legislative move impacts the governance and autonomy of a premier national research institution, potentially influencing the future of statistical and scientific research in India.
A Bill seeking to widen the remit of the Indian Statistical Institute and align its legal framework with evolving needs was on Tuesday (September 1, 2026) referred to a parliamentary committee for threadbare examination.
The Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026, was referred to the Department-Related Standing Committee on Finance by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The committee has been asked to submit its report "within three months", a Lok Sabha bulletin said.
Amid protests by its faculty, the Opposition had demanded that the Bill be referred to a standing committee.
The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 2 during the Monsoon Session. It seeks the institute's incorporation as a 'body corporate' to strengthen its governance, promote academic excellence and research and allow it to serve the emerging needs in the field of statistics and allied fields.
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