The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), one of the country’s premier institutions in the field of statistical research and education, and an institution of national importance, hosted its 59th Convocation Ceremony at its Delhi center on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the academic and professional journey of its graduates. The ceremony was presided over by Prof. Sankar Kumar Pal, President of the Institute, with Dr. Saurabh Garg, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), gracing the occasion as the Special Guest. The Chief Guest for the ceremony was Prof. Abhijit Banerjee, recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences and Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics at MIT, USA, who delivered the Convocation Address.

The event began with the traditional Academic Procession by the members of the Academic Council of the Institute followed by singing of the Vedic Hymn by members of the staff and students of the Institute and proceeded with the formal Opening of the Convocation and Welcome Address by the President of the Institute. He reminded the students that the degree they received has a very high academic value that comes with great responsibilities and that when you belong to a privileged group you should apply your acquired knowledge to improve knowledge of the less privileged ones and give back something positive to the society. Prof. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, Director of ISI presented the Annual Review, outlining the Institute’s academic achievements and progress. Afterward, Dr. Saurabh Garg addressed the gathering as the Special Guest. In his address, he highlighted the role of official statistics in evidence-based policy-making and in realising the vision of making India a developed Nation or Viksit Bharat by 2047. While felicitating the graduating students, he also stated that they will get a unique opportunity to contribute through their skillsets, to the transformative journey towards a Viksit Bharat. He also highlighted various initiatives undertaken by MoSPI for enhancing user friendly data dissemination and reforms of the sample surveys to provide timely and reliable statistics for policy making. He further stated, that National Sample Survey data has played a key role in shaping the key policies of the Government. He mentioned, that the ISI will be a crucial partner in Ministry’s endeavor to strengthen the Statistical System to meet the data needs of all stakeholders. Prof. Abhijit Banerjee then delivered his Convocation Address, offering his thoughts on the global impact of statistical sciences and the importance of rigorous research in shaping policy and economics worldwide. In his address, while highlighting the rich legacy of the Indian Statistical Institute, Prof. Banerjee urged the students to put their learnings to good use and find ways to create opportunities for the different segments of the society.

The ceremony culminated in the award of Degrees and Diplomas, followed by the announcement of Prizes and Medals for outstanding academic performance. The programme concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Prof. Biswabrata Pradhan, Dean of Studies at ISI.

This year, 470 students from various programs, including Ph.D. (a total of 42), M.Tech.(CS), M.Tech.(CrS), M.Tech. (QROR), M.Stat., M.Math, MS(QE), MS(QMS), B.Stat., B.Math., PGDSMA, PGDRSMA, and PGDAS, were awarded their degrees.

About the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI):

Founded in 1931 by the legendary statistician Prof. P. C. Mahalanobis, ISI is a globally renowned institute that has made significant contributions to the fields of statistics, mathematics, economics and computer science. From its humble beginnings as a small research institute, ISI has grown into an institution of international acclaim, consistently ranked among the top institutions for statistical education and research in the world.

ISI’s primary objective has been to promote the advancement of statistical sciences, offer high-quality education, and conduct cutting-edge research. Over the years, ISI has played a crucial role in shaping national policies and contributing to the growth of India’s statistical infrastructure. The Institute is also known for its expertise in areas such as data science, machine learning, and economics and policy research, producing many of India’s leading statisticians, economists and computer scientists. The Institute also has other scientific disciplines where it conducts research including various areas of biology, geology and physics. In recent days it has also become a hub of cryptology and security science research.

ISI’s Delhi Centre

Although Indian Statistical Institute had a presence in Delhi since the days of the 2nd Planning Commission in the 1950's, the current campus was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi on December 31st, 1974. The founding trio, Professors K. R. Parthasarathy, B. S. Minhas and K. G. Ramamurthy were at the helm of the Theoretical Statistics and Mathematics Unit, Economics and Planning Unit and the Statistical Quality Control Unit respectively. Because of their inspiration and academic standing in the world, soon the Delhi Centre of ISI attracted many academics who through their work enriched and created a centre of academic excellence. Eventually Delhi Centre of ISI became a major a hub for the Institute’s academic programs, research, and outreach activities in the northern region of India. Currently, the Centre offers a range of postgraduate programs, including M.Stat., MS(QE), and Ph.D. in statistics, mathematics and quantitative economics, and from this year Delhi centre along with Kolkata and Bangalore has started a new four years bachelor programme named Bachelor in Statistical Data Science (BSDS).

The Delhi Centre which is known for its vibrant academic environment is celebrating its Golden jubilee. To commemorate this milestone the Institute decided to have its Convocation in the Delhi centre. This is the first time that the convocation ceremony was held outside the campus in Kolkata.

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