60th Convocation of the Indian Statistical Institute
Kolkata, February 17, 2026
The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata, held its 60th
Convocation Ceremony on February 17, 2026, commencing at 2:30 p.m. The landmark
occasion marked a significant milestone in the academic journey of graduating students and
celebrated six decades of convocation tradition at the Institute. A total of 568 students were
conferred degrees at the ceremony, including 45 Ph.D. scholars, 254 Master’s degree
recipients, 67 undergraduate degree recipients, and 202 Postgraduate Diploma holders.
The ceremony was presided over by Professor Shankar Pal, President of the Institute, who
formally conferred degrees upon the graduating students. In his presidential address, Professor
Pal congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to uphold ISI’s longstanding tradition of
academic excellence, integrity, and service to society.
Among the key speakers at the ceremony was Professor Ayaendranath Basu, Officiating
Director of the Institute, who highlighted institute multi-locational presence and recalled that
the 59th Convocation was held in Delhi.
Presenting the Annual Review, the Institute noted a year of significant academic activity,
including numerous national and international conferences across mathematics, statistics,
economics, probability, and data science. Faculty and students received several prestigious
awards, fellowships, and leadership appointments in national and international bodies.
Professor Sankar Kumar Pal was awarded the ANRF Prime Minister Professorship, and several
members were recognized by leading scientific and academic institutions.
The Institute also strengthened its academic initiatives by instituting the RBI Chair
Professorship in Theoretical and Applied Statistics, with Professor Arnab Kumar Hazra joining
as the first Chair Professor. The Indian Journal of Statistics (Sankhya) further enhanced its
standing with a new editorial board. ISI expanded collaborations with academia, industry,
research laboratories, and government agencies through multiple MoUs and consultancy
projects.
Expressing gratitude to the Governing Council, faculty, staff, and supporting ministries, the
Institute congratulated the graduating students and encouraged them to uphold ISI’s legacy of
excellence, embrace challenges, and contribute meaningfully to society while maintaining
lifelong ties with the Institute.
The Convocation Address was delivered by Professor Padmanabhan Balaram, Senior
Visiting Professor at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Tata Institute
of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Chairperson of Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology
and the Environment (ATREE), and former Director of IISc Bangalore.
In his address, Professor Balaram expressed his privilege in addressing the Convocation of the
Indian Statistical Institute and congratulated the graduating students on reaching a significant
milestone. He highlighted the Institute’s distinguished legacy since its establishment in 1931,tracing its intellectual roots to the Bengal Renaissance and paying tribute to its founder,
Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, whose birth anniversary is observed as National Statistics Day.
He noted the Institute’s contribution in producing eminent statisticians and scholars who have
advanced not only statistics and mathematics but also disciplines such as biology, earth
sciences, economics, and ecology. Recalling the association of J. B. S. Haldane with ISI,
Professor Balaram emphasized the central role of fundamental sciences in shaping modern
knowledge.
Reflecting on the nature of science as the study of the natural world, he underscored that
technological progress is rooted in foundational discoveries, citing pioneers such as Michael
Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell. He concluded by urging graduates to value the basic
sciences and pursue knowledge with integrity, curiosity, and a strong sense of societal
responsibility.
The ceremony was attended by faculty members, Council Members of the Institute, General
Body Members of the Institute, distinguished guests, graduating students, and their families,
making it a memorable and dignified occasion. The event reaffirmed ISI’s continued
commitment to nurturing talent and advancing research in statistics, mathematics, statistical
data science, and allied disciplines.
The Convocation concluded with a formal vote of thanks, marking the successful completion
of the 60th Convocation Ceremony.
