New Delhi : The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) celebrated its 59th Convocation Ceremony at its Delhi center on Tuesday, marking a milestone in the academic journeys of its graduates. The ceremony was presided over by Prof. Sankar Kumar Pal, President of the Institute, with Dr. Saurabh Garg, IAS, Secretary of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), attending as the Special Guest.
Prof. Abhijit Banerjee, Nobel Memorial Prize recipient in Economic Sciences and Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics at MIT, USA, served as the Chief Guest and delivered the Convocation Address.
The event began with a traditional Academic Procession, followed by the singing of a Vedic Hymn by staff and students. Prof. Pal welcomed attendees, urging graduates to use their advanced knowledge to contribute positively to society, particularly for the less privileged. Prof. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay, Director of ISI, provided an overview of the Institute’s progress and achievements.
Dr. Garg, in his address, emphasized the role of official statistics in evidence-based policy-making, stressing that graduates would have a unique opportunity to contribute to India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047. He also highlighted the importance of ISI’s involvement in enhancing the country’s statistical infrastructure.
In his speech, Prof. Banerjee discussed the global impact of statistical sciences, urging students to apply their learnings to create opportunities for diverse societal segments. The ceremony culminated in the awarding of degrees and diplomas, with prizes and medals presented for outstanding academic performance.
A total of 470 students across various programs, including Ph.D., M.Tech., M.Stat., M.Math., and B.Stat., were awarded their degrees at the ceremony.
The ISI, founded in 1931 by Prof. P. C. Mahalanobis, is globally recognized for its contributions to statistics, mathematics, economics, and computer science. The Delhi center, inaugurated in 1974, has become a hub for academic programs, research, and outreach in northern India. The center is currently celebrating its Golden Jubilee and this marks the first time the ISI convocation was held outside its Kolkata campus.
