Indian Statistical Institute Bill Introduced in Lok Sabha

On 3 August 2026 the Government of India introduced the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha. Union Minister Rao Indrajit Singh presented the legislation, which seeks to repeal the Indian Statistical Institute Act of 1959 and replace it with a modern statutory framework.

The bill proposes to convert the institute into an autonomous statutory body corporate, expanding the definition of statistical sciences to include data science, computer science, economics, biology, physics, earth sciences, quantitative social sciences and emerging technologies such as cryptology. The President of India will act as Visitor, while a newly formed Board of Governors—headed by an eminent expert from academia, industry or public policy—will oversee administration. An Academic Council, led by the institute’s director and comprising full‑time faculty, will serve as the principal academic body.

The legislation aims to strengthen India’s data‑driven economy by creating a high‑quality ecosystem of statisticians and data scientists to support evidence‑based decision‑making and strategic industry collaboration.