The Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
Act details
| Short title | The Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959 |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to declare the institution known as the Indian Statistical Institute having at present its registered office in Calcutta to be an institution of national importance and to provide for certain matters connected therewith. |
| Act number | 57 of 1959 |
| Act year | 1959 |
| Enactment date | 24 Dec 1959 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation |
| Jurisdiction | Central (Parliament of India) |
| Sections | 12 |
| Status | Not repealed |
| Last checked on India Code | 4 Nov 2026 |
| Source | India Code, Government of India |
Summary
Summary of Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959
Key Provisions:
1. Governance Structure: - Statutes: May provide for departments, fellowships, staff appointments, reservation policies, pension funds, and authority powers.
• Ordinances: Cover admission, course structures, discipline, fees, and residential conditions.
2. Financial and Administrative Provisions: - Accounts and Audit: Strict auditing procedures by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
• Annual Reports: Submission to the Central Government for parliamentary laying.
• Pension and Provident Funds: For employees, with potential alignment with the Provident Funds Act, 1925.
3. Operational Autonomy and Oversight: - Appointment Procedures: Distinguished between academic and non-academic staff appointments.
• Authentication of Documents: By the Director or authorised members.
• Power to Give Directions: Central Government's oversight on implementation.
4. Legal and Judicial Aspects: - Public Servants: Status for statistics officers and authorised personnel.
• Bar of Jurisdiction: Limitations on civil court interventions in Act-related matters.
• Protection for Good Faith Actions: Immunity for actions taken in good faith under the Act.
• Overriding Effect: Precedence of the Act over other inconsistent laws.
5. Amendments and Repeals (Acknowledging Context Shift):
• Repeal and Savings: Acknowledgment of potential repeal of preceding acts with savings clauses.
• Rule Making Power: Central Government's authority to make rules, with parliamentary oversight.
Legislative history
Legislative History:
The Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959
Act Title - The Indian Statistical Institute Act, 1959
Act Number / Year - 57 of 1959
Act ID (India Code) - 195957
Presidential Assent Date - December 24, 1959
Enforcement Date - April 1, 1960
Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
Precedent & Historical Rationale
● Declaration as an Institution of National Importance: Enacted under Entry 63 of the Union List (Seventh Schedule) to declare the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata, as an institution of national importance.
● Academic Autonomy and Degree-Granting Empowerment: Formulated to grant statutory status to the Institute, empowering it to hold examinations and grant degrees and diplomas in statistics, mathematics, computer science, and quantitative economics to foster research and high-level training.
Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment
● Formulation: Introduced by the Central Government to recognize the pioneering scientific and statistical contributions of the institute founded by Professor P. C. Mahalanobis.
● Parliamentary Passage: Debated and passed by both Houses of Parliament (Second Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) in December 1959.
● Presidential Assent: Received Presidential Assent on December 24, 1959.
● Enforcement: Enforced on April 1, 1960.
Source: Official Record of Parliament, India Code, and Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.