#THE INDIAN STATISTICAL INSTITUTE ACT, 1959 
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##ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
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SECTIONS 
1.  Short title and commencement. 
2.  Definitions. 
3.  Declaration of the Indian Statistical Institute as an institution of national importance. 
4.  Grant of degrees and diplomas by Institute. 
5.  Grants, loans, etc., by Central Government to the Institute. 
6.  Audit of accounts of the Institute. 
7.  Prior approval of Central Government necessary for certain action by   Institute. 
8.  Constitution of Committees by Central Government for preparing programme of work by the 
  Institute, etc. 
9.  Review of work done, Inspection of assets, etc. 
10.  Institute to afford facilities to Committees. 
11.  Power to issue directions to Institute. 
12.  Power of Central Government to assume functions of control. 



#THE INDIAN STATISTICAL INSTITUTE ACT, 1959 

##ACT NO. 57 OF 1959 

[24th December, 1959.] 

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. 

  BE it enacted by Parliament in the Tenth Year of the Republic of India as follows:— 

1. **Short title and commencement.**—(1) This Act may be called the Indian Statistical Institute 
Act, 1959. 

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the 
Official Gazette, appoint. 

2. **Definitions.**—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires.— 

  (a) “Institute”  means  the  Indian  Statistical  Institute  registered  under  the  Societies  Registration 
Act, 1860 (21 of 1860); 

  (b) “memorandum”  means  the  memorandum  of  association  of  the  Institute  filed  with  the 
Registrar of Joint-Stock Companies under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860); 

  (c) “rules and regulations” includes any rule or regulation (by whatever name called) which the 
Institute  is  competent  to  make  in  the  exercise  of  the  powers  conferred  on  it  under  the  Societies 
Registration  Act,  1860  (21  of  1860),  but  shall  not  include  any  bye-laws  or  standing  orders  made 
under the rules and regulations for the conduct of its day-to-day administration. 

3. **Declaration  of the Indian  Statistical Institute  as  an institution  of  national 
importance.**—Whereas the objects of the institution known as the Indian Statistical Institute are such as 
to make it an institution of national importance, it is hereby declared that the Indian Statistical Institute is 
an institution of national importance. 

4. **Grant of degrees and diplomas by Institute.**—Notwithstanding anything contained in the 
University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956), or in any other law for  the time being force, the 
Institute  may  hold  such  examinations  and  grant  such  degrees  and  diplomas  in statistics,  mathematics, 
quantitative  economics,  computer  science  and  such  other  subjects  related  to  statistics as  may  be 
determined by the Institute from time to time. 

5. **Grants, loans, etc., by Central Government to the Institute.**—For the purpose of enabling the 
Institute  to  discharge  efficiently  its  functions,  including  research,  education,  training,  project  activities 
and statistical work relating to planning for national development, the Central Government may, after due 
appropriation made by Parliament by law in this behalf, pay to the Institute in each financial year such 
sums of money as that Government considers necessary by way of grant, loan or otherwise. 

6. **Audit of accounts of the Institute.**—(1) The accounts of the Institute shall be audited by auditors 
duly  qualified  to  act  as  auditors  of  companies  under  the  Companies  Act,  1956  (1  of  1956),  and  the 
institute  shall  appoint  such  auditors  as  the  Central  Government  may,  after  consultation  with  the 
Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and the Institute, select. 

(2) The Central Government may issue such directions to the auditors in the performance of their 
duties as it thinks fit. 

(3) Every such auditor in the performance of his duties shall have at all reasonable times access to the 
registers, books of account, records and other documents of the Institute. 

(4) The auditors shall submit their report to the Institute and shall also forward a copy thereof to the 
Central Government for its information. 

7. **Prior  approval  of  Central  Government  necessary for certain  action  by 
Institute.**—Notwithstanding anything contained in the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), or 
in the memorandum or rules and regulations, the Institute shall not, except with the previous approval of 
the Central Government,— 

  (a) alter, extend or abridge any of the purposes for which it has been established or for which it is 
being used immediately before the commencement of this Act, or amalgamate itself either wholly or 
partially with any other institution or society; or 

  (b) alter or amend in any manner the memorandum or rules and regulations; or 

  (c) sell  or  otherwise  dispose  of  any  property  acquired  by  the  Institute  with  money  specifically 
provided for such acquisition by the Central Government: 

  Provided that no such approval shall  be necessary in the  case of any such movable property or 
class of movable property as may be specified by the Central Government in this behalf by general or 
special order; or 

  (d) be dissolved. 

8. **Constitution  of  Committees  by  Central  Government  for  preparing  programme  of  work  by 
the Institute, etc.**—(1)  The  Central  Government  may  constitute  as  many  Committees  as  and  when  it 
considers necessary consisting of such number of persons as it thinks fit to appoint thereto and assign to 
each such Committee all or any of the following duties, namely:— 

  (a) the  preparation  and  submission  to  the  Central  Government  as  far  as  possible  before  the 
commencement  of  each  financial  year,  of  statements  showing  programmes  of  work  agreed  to  be 
undertaken by the Institute during that year for which the Central Government may provide funds, as 
well as general financial estimates in respect of such work; and 

  (b) the settlement on broad lines of the programme of such work. 

(2) Where the Institute does not agree to undertake any work suggested by any Committee referred to 
in sub-section (1), it shall give to the Central Government its reasons for not so agreeing. 

9. **Review of work done, Inspection of assets, etc.**—(1) The Central Government may constitute a 
Committee consisting of such number of persons as it thinks fit to appoint thereto for the purpose of— 

  (a) reviewing the work done by the Institute and the progress made by it; 

  (b) inspecting its buildings, equipment and other assets; 

  (c) evaluating the work done by the Institute; and 

  (d) advising Government generally on any matter which in the opinion of the Central Government 
is of importance in connection with the work of the Institute; 

and the Committee shall submit its reports thereon in such manner as the Central Government may direct. 

(2) Notice shall be given in every case to the Institute of the intention to cause a review, inspection or 
evaluation to be made, and the Institute shall be entitled to appoint a  representative who shall have the 
right to be present and be heard at such review, inspection or evaluation. 

(3) The Central Government may address the Chairman of the Institute with reference to the result of 
such  review,  inspection  or  evaluation  as  disclosed  in  any  report  of  the  Committee  referred  to  in 
sub-section (1), and the Chairman shall communicate to the Central Government the action, if any, taken 
thereon. 

(4) When the Central Government has, in pursuance of sub-section (3), addressed the Chairman of the 
Institute in connection with any matter, and the Chairman does not within a reasonable time take action to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  Central  Government  in  respect  thereof,  the  Central  Government  may,  after 
considering  any  explanations  furnished  or  representations  made  on  behalf  of  the  Institute,  issue  such 
directions as it considers necessary in respect of any of the matters dealt with in the report. 

10. **Institute to afford facilities to Committees.**—The Institute shall be bound to afford all necessary 
facilities to any Committee constituted under section 8 or section 9 for the purpose of enabling it to carry 
out its duties. 

11. **Power to issue directions to Institute.**—(1) The Central Government may, if it is satisfied that it 
is  necessary  so  to  do  in  the  public  interest,  issue,  for  reasons  to  be  recorded  and  communicated  to  the 
Institute,  such  directions  as  it  thinks  fit  to  the  Institute,  and  such  directions  may  include  directions 
requiring the Institute— 

  (a) to amend the memorandum or to make or amend any rule or regulation within such period as 
may be specified in the directions; 

  (b) to give priorities to the work undertaken or to be undertaken by the Institute in such manner as 
the Central Government may think fit to specify in this behalf. 

(2) Any directions issued under this section shall have effect, notwithstanding anything contained in 
any law for the time being in force or in the memorandum or rules and regulations of the Institute. 

12. **Power of Central Government to assume functions of control.**—(1) If, in the opinion of the 
Central Government,— 

  (i) the Institute without just or reasonable cause has made default in giving effect to any direction 
issued under sub-section (4) of section 9 or section 11; or 

  (ii) the Council of the Institute has exceeded or abused its powers in relation to the Institute or 
any part thereof; 

the Central Government may, by written order, direct the Institute within a period to be specified in the 
order to show cause to the satisfaction of the Central Government against the making of any appointment 
referred to in sub-section (2). 

(2) If, within the period fixed by any order issued under sub-section (1), cause is not shown to the 
satisfaction  of  the  Central  Government,  the  Central  Government  may,  by  order  published  in  the 
Official  Gazette  and  stating  the  reasons  therefore,  appoint  one  or  more  persons  to  take  charge  of  the 
Institute or any part thereof for such period not exceeding two years as may be specified in the order. 

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force or in the memorandum 
or rules and regulations of the Institute, on the issue of an order under sub-section (2), during the period 
specified in that order,— 

  (a) where the order provides for any person or persons being in charge of the Institute— 

     (i) all  persons  holding  office  as  Members  of  the  Council,  including  the  Chairman,  shall  be 
deemed to have vacated their offices as such; 

     (ii) the person or persons appointed under sub-section (2) to be in charge of the Institute shall 
exercise  all  the  powers  and  perform  all  the  duties  of  the  Chairman  or  Council  of  the  Institute, 
whether at a meeting or otherwise, in respect of the Institute; 

  (b) where the order provides for any person or persons being in charge of any part of the Institute, 
the person or persons so appointed shall alone be entitled to exercise all the powers and perform all 
the duties of the Chairman or Council in relation to that part.