A proposed bill to convert the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) into a statutory body corporate has sparked opposition from students and critics. They fear the draft ISI Bill, 2025, could undermine academic autonomy and democratic decision-making by replacing the current 33-member Governing Council with an 11-member Board of Governors. The controversy has gained political traction, with students raising concerns about centralization in higher education governance. Established in 1931, ISI is a prominent research institution known for its contributions to statistics and mathematics.