ISI Kolkata Row: The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata, created headlines after its students, research scholars, faculty, and other staff decided to launch protests against the Centre's alleged move to snatch its autonomy by introducing a bill. They alleged that the Centre wants to change the character of the Indian Statistical Institute, an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), recognised as an Institute of National Importance by the 1959 ISI Act of Parliament.
What Are The Allegations?
The agitating student researchers' faculty platform claimed that the Centre is trying to repeal the 1959 ISI Act and floated a draft bill with no consultation with the ISI Society and stakeholders. The ISI's character is embedded with the Bengal Renaissance values and upholds the vision of icons like Rabindranath Tagore, Brajendranath Seal, and most specifically, its founder, Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, which came under attack, students said in a statement.
"This relation resulted in the formation of NSSO, the second five-year plan, and the involvement of ISI in the nation-building process in various ways. Thus, ISI can be seen as an outcome of the contribution of the Bengal renaissance to the national cause," the statement added.
The draft bill is also silent on the issue of retaining Kolkata as the ISI headquarters or shifting it to somewhere else, the platform said.
"The ISI Society in its AGM held on November 18, 2025, has passed a resolution demanding withdrawal of the draft ISI Bill, 2025," spokesperson of the students researchers Abhas said.
"A mass petition, addressed to the minister of MoSPI, requesting the withdrawal of the draft ISI Bill, 2025, has been signed by eminent faculty, students, and ex-directors of ISI. The petition has been sent to Delhi, but the Centre is yet to reply," the students-researchers said.
Human Chain Protest On November 28
The students planned to hold a human chain protest from 4.30 pm to 7 pm on November 28. The statement said there will be also a procession and street corner meeting.
ISI is an internationally acclaimed autonomous institute, recognised for its contribution to the fields of statistics, mathematics, economics, and data sciences.
The Central government's proposed move is believed to be an attempt to change the identity of ISI, they said. Pointing out that opinion on the draft Bill had been sought only till November 3, 2025, the statement said it was a "hasty and inadequate move" on a matter of such significance.
(With PTI inputs)