To reimagine, reinvent, and reposition ISI as a globally recognized institution: Indian Statistical Institute poised to embrace the transformative vision as it approaches its centenary in 2031

The Indian Statistical Institute, established in 1931 by the visionary statistician Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, has played a pivotal role in statistical research, education, training and its application. Having been declared as an institution of national importance through the Indian Statistical Institute Act of 1959, the Institute has been a leader in advancing statistical methods and their application across various disciplines. The ISI Council is the governing body of the Institute. In terms of the provision of the ISI Act and ISI Regulations, a newly constituted Council has been set up for the term 2024-26. During the 1^stMeeting of the Council held on 26 October 2024, the members of the Council elected Dr. Koppillil Radhakrishnan, as the Chairman of the ISI, Council. Dr. Radhakrishnan is a Padma Bhushan awardee and an Indian Space Scientist, who headed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as Chairman of the Space Commission and Secretary of the Department of Space, Government of India.

As per the provisions of the ISI Act, 1959, the Central Government (MoSPI) constitutes Committees at regularintervals for reviewing the performance of the ISI and for making recommendations about its future course. Under this provision, the 4^thReview Committee of the Indian Statistical Institutewas constituted in 2020. The Committee submitted its comprehensive report to the Government of India, charting a transformative roadmap for this esteemed Institution of National Importance. Headed by the distinguished scientist and former Director-General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, the Committee, through interactions with multiple stakeholders, conducted an extensive review of ISI’s functioning, achievements and challenges, and arrived at the report culminating in a series of actionable recommendations aimed at rejuvenating the Institute’s role in advancing statistical sciences and its applications in India and globally.

Based on the theme ‘Reimagine, Reinvent and Reposition’, the Committee proposed 61 recommendations addressing governance, academic programs, research priorities, infrastructure, and financial sustainability of the Institute. The Committeehad extensive Stakeholder Consultations in the online mode due to the raging pandemic, engagingvirtually with faculty, students, alumni, and administrative staff to gather insights into ISI’s functioning, challenges, and aspirations.They also consulted industry experts, government representatives, and other academic institutions to understand and assess the external expectations from ISI. The Committee held virtual meetings to deliberate on findings and draft recommendations and undertook an evidence-basedevaluation of ISI’s performance over the past decade, including its research output, academic programs, infrastructure, and outreach efforts andbenchmarked ISI against leading global institutions to identify gaps and opportunities.

The Committee proposed a comprehensive set of recommendations to reimagine, reinvent, and reposition ISI as a globally recognized institution. It emphasized the need for governance reforms and strengthening accountability through performance-based evaluations and establishing clear work norms for faculty and staff. The committee recommended expanding academic programs to include cutting-edge fields like data science and machine learning, increasing student intake and faculty numbers to scale the institute’s impact, and promoting interdisciplinary and large-scale research projects with national and international relevance. It called for modernizing administrative processes and research methodologies using advanced digital tools and building world-class computing and laboratory infrastructure to support innovative research.

The recommendations also included establishing robust partnerships with industry and government to address real-world challenges and generate revenue, establishing more enabling structures like the technology innovation hub, enhancing visibility through targeted outreach and brand-building initiatives, and encouraging resource generation through research grants, industry collaborations, and alumni contributions. The committee stressed the importance of increasing autonomy in managing internal revenue and recruitment processes. Infrastructure development was also a priority, with a focus on upgrading physical facilities, including campuses, laboratories, and student housing, and establishing new centers focused on emerging disciplines and regional outreach.

The Committee’s recommendations are aimed at reimagining, reinventing, and repositioning ISI as a globally recognized institution and included recommendations in the area of Governance Reforms, Academic and Research Enhancements, Digital Transformation, Industry and Government Engagement, Financial Sustainability and Infrastructure Development.

ISI has commenced implementation of these recommendations, demonstrating their commitment towards strengthening the Institute’s excellence in addressing the nation’s socio-economic development needs. During the2^ndMeeting of the Council held on 23 January 2025, the Council of the Institute under the Chairmanship of Dr. Koppillil Radhakrishnan reviewed the status of implementation of the recommendations of the 4^thReview Committee.The Institute’sCouncil is committed to implement the Committee’s recommendations in a phased manner with focus on:

1. Short-Term Initiatives: Immediate steps to address critical issues, such as faculty recruitment, infrastructure upgradation, and governance reforms.
2. Medium-Term Goals: Enhancing academic and research programs, scaling outreach efforts, and improving financial sustainability.
3. Long-Term Vision: Transforming ISI into a global leader by its centenary year in 2031, with a focus on impactful research, innovative education, and strong industry connections.

ISI has commenced work on improving its structure, strengthening research and ensuring robust academic and administrative frameworks. Significant restructuring has been undertaken to align the Institute’s various Divisions with contemporary requirements. The Centre for AI and ML (CAIML) has aligned its initiatives with the National AI Policy, emphasizing strategic relevance. Efforts are also underway to operationalize the Interdisciplinary Centre for Applied Statistics and Biostatistics. The Research Centre for Economics and Data Analysis has been invigorated with dedicated leadership assignments, ensuring forward momentum. Faculty recruitment and promotions have been prioritized, with streamlined processes nearing finalization. Formalization of teaching benchmarks highlight ISI’s to academic excellence.

While certain actions remain under discussion, the groundwork has been laid for transformative changes. ISI has also adopted advanced digital teaching methods, introducing online and hybrid courses as part of a broader academic enhancement strategy. These initiatives are complemented by expedited decision-making processes within the Academic Council, fostering agility in program development and revision. Infrastructure and governance improvements remain a focal point, with e-governance initiatives progressing in alignment with MoSPI. Revenue generation efforts, including consultancy rules and facility usage charges, have been implemented to strengthen financial sustainability.

While many recommendations have been fully implemented, others are actively in progress. These actions, signal a forward-looking approach and underline the Government’s dedication to strengthen ISI as a global leader in statistical science and related disciplines.The Government recognizes ISI’s rich legacy of excellence and its critical role in supporting India’s economic and social development and is committed to providing the necessary support to realize the 4^th Review Committee’s vision and roadmap.

The Government of India’s support for implementing these recommendations reflects its commitment to empower the ISI as a cornerstone of the nation’s knowledge ecosystem. As the Institute approaches its centenary in 2031, the Institute is poised to embrace this transformative vision and emerge as a beacon of excellence on the global stage.

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