Parliamentary Panel Reviews Bill to Modernise Indian Statistical Institute

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance on Wednesday took up the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026, for scrutiny. Committee chairman Bhartruhari Mahtab said the proposed legislation is intended to strengthen the country's statistical data framework and bring the institute in line with emerging technological fields.

During the meeting, representatives of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation briefed the panel on the Bill. Mahtab noted that the statistical ecosystem has changed considerably and that the institute must adapt to new areas such as data consolidation and artificial intelligence.

"The basic issue is how to improve statistical data," he said, adding that the field is no longer limited to statistics, mathematics, and economics. The Bill seeks to replace the Indian Statistical Institute Act of 1959, which currently governs the institution.

Mahtab pointed out that several committees formed in 1993, 2000, and 2004 had recommended changes that were accepted by the institute's governing body but never fully implemented. He said the new Bill aims to address those pending reforms.

He also clarified that although the institute is fully funded by the central government, the new law is not intended to curtail its autonomy. "The autonomous character of the society will continue," he said, though rules would be framed by the government once the Bill becomes an act.

Committee members sought clarifications on various provisions during the meeting. The chairman indicated that the panel would take up the matter further next month after the new committee is constituted.