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The Indian Statistical Institute (I.S.I.), founded by Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis grew out of the Statistical Laboratory set up by him in the Presidency College in Calcutta. In 1932, the Institute was registered as
a non-profit making learned society for the advancement of
statistics in India. A few years later the Institute’s achievements
in research that included innovative projects on sample
surveys of agricultural crops and socio-economic after-effects
of the Bengal famine (1943-44) as well as path breaking
research publications of Professor R.C.Bose on experimental
designs in the Annals of Eugenics (1939) bought recognition in
India and abroad. The Institute is now considered as one of
the foremost centres in the world for training and research in
statistics and the related sciences. Under the leadership of
Professor P C Mahalanobis, the Institute also initiated and
promoted the interaction of statistics with natural and and
social sciences to unfold the role of statistics as a key
technology which explicated the twin aspects of statistics - its general applicability and its dependence on other
disciplines for its own development. In keeping with this long
tradition, the Institute has been engaged in developing
statistics theory and methods and their practical applications
in various branches of science and technology.
The major objectives of the Institute, as
given in the Memorandum are
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To promote the
study and dissemination of knowledge of statistics, to
develop statistical theory and methods, and their use in
research and practical application generally, with special
reference to problems of planning of national development
and social welfare;
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To undertake
research in various fields of natural and social sciences
with a view to the mutual development of statistics and
these sciences.
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To provide for, and
undertake, the collection of information, investigation
projects and operational research for purposes of planning
and the improvement of efficiency of management and
production.
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