INDIAN STATISTICAL INSTITUTE

Students Brochure
PART I

General Information, Rules and Regulations

for
The Bachelors and the Masters Degree Programmes
(including the [Link]. Programmes)

Effective from 2017 - 2018 Academic Year

The Headquarters is at
203 BARRACKPORE TRUNK ROAD
KOLKATA 700 108
 INDIAN STATISTICAL INSTITUTE

Contents
1 Introduction 1

2 A Brief History of the Institute 3

3 Bachelors and Masters Degree Programmes 6

4 Academic Authorities and Statutory Bodies 6

4.1 Class Teacher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4.2 Teachers’ Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4.3 Associate Deans/Students’ Academic Affairs In-charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
4.4 Dean of Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
4.5 Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
4.6 Academic Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

5 Rules and Regulations 7

5.1 Academic Year and Semesters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
5.2 Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
5.3 Credit and Non-Credit Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
5.4 Satisfactory Conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
5.5 Examinations and Scores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
5.5.1 Midterm and Final Examinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
5.5.2 Pass Marks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
5.5.3 Back Paper Examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5.5.4 Compensatory Examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5.5.5 Supplementary Examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5.6 Examination Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
5.7 Promotion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.8 Repeating a Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.9 Discontinuing a Programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.10 Final Result . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.11 Award of Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.12 Stipend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.13 Contingency Grant and Prize Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

6 Miscellaneous 20
6.1 Medals and Prizes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
6.2 Library Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
6.3 Hostel Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
6.4 Field Training Programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
6.5 Educational Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
6.6 Students Receiving Stipends/Scholarships from External Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
6.7 Change of Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

4
1 Introduction
The Indian Statistical Institute, known widely as ISI, was founded in 1931 by Professor Prasanta
Chandra Mahalanobis. Growing out of a small Statistical Laboratory set up by Professor Maha-
lanobis in the Presidency College in Kolkata, the Institute soon moved into its present campus at
Baranagar on the northern outskirts of Kolkata. Ever since that humble beginning, over the past
eight decades, the Institute has undergone phenomenal growth and is now widely regarded as one
of the leading institutions in the world as a centre for research and training in Statistics and related
sciences.
In recognition of the importance of the Institute in the development and application of Statistics, the
Parliament of India, in 1959, enacted the Indian Statistical Institute Act, declaring it an Institution
of National Importance and empowering it to grant degrees and diplomas in Statistics. In 1995,
this Act was further amended, empowering the Institute to grant degrees and diplomas also in
Mathematics, Quantitative Economics, Computer Science and other subjects related to Statistics
as may be determined by the Institute from time to time.
The headquarters of the Institute is located in Kolkata. However, centres of the Institute have come
up over the years in other major cities. At present, the Institute has four centres operating at Delhi,
Bengaluru, Chennai and Tezpur. In addition, the Institute has a branch at Giridih devoted to agri-
cultural and sociological research and also a network of units at Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Mumbai
and Pune, that are involved in activities related to Statistical Quality Control and Operations Re-
search.
Most of the research and teaching activities of the Institute take place in its headquarters in Kolkata
and the four centres. In Kolkata, Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, the Institute has its own campus
and they are equipped with adequate hostel facility for students, residential quarters for the faculty
and guest houses, and also recreational and medical facilities. The campus at Giridih has a small
guest house and rudimentary hostel facilities. The relatively new centres at Chennai and Tezpur
are still operating from temporary locations. However, at these centres too, the Institute is provid-
ing hostel facility for students and residential facility for faculty members. At each of these five
locations, there are a large number of scientists in Theoretical and Applied Statistics, Mathematics
and Economics. In Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru, there is also a large group of scientists in
Computer and Communication Sciences, Statistical Quality Control and Operations Research and
other branches of natural and social sciences.
A sizable proportion of the students passing out of the Institute go on to build remarkably suc-
cessful careers in research and academics. Some of the most eminent and leading researchers and
academics in the fields of Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science and Economics are alumni
of the Institute. At the same time, students of the Institute who have gone into industry have also
been extremely successful. A number of top and well-accomplished leaders in industry are also
alumni of the Institute.
For many years now, the Institute has been running a very proactive on-campus placement pro-
gramme. Under the supervision of a member of the teaching faculty, this programme has been

1
very successful in providing the aspiring students, in the final years of their respective programmes,
excellent placement opportunities in some of the leading organisations in various sectors of the in-
dustry. Some of the companies that have visited the Institute campus for recruitment in the past few
years are: AIG, American Express, ANZ, Axis Bank, AB InVeb, AXA Life Insurance, BARC In-
dia, BCS Technology, BlackRock, Barclays Shared Services, Capital One, Citibank, Credit Suisse,
Crisil, CIBIL, Citi Corp., Cummins India, Deloitte, Dr. Reddy’s Lab, Dunia Finance LLC, Ernst
& Young, Envestnet-Yodlee, FICO, Goldman Sachs, HSBC Technology & Services, IBM, ICICI,
JP Morgan, KPMG, Mahindra Comviva, Mckinsey, [Link], Metro, Microsoft, Narayana Hru-
dayalaya, Novartis, Nielsen, Petrabytes Corporation, RedBus, Reliance, Samsung, Standard Char-
tered, TCS Analytics, TCS Innovation Lab, United Health Group, Walmart Lab, ZS, Zendrive,
etc.
Over the last several years, the Institute has been very actively pursuing institution-level collabora-
tion that has led to Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with a number of universities/academic
institutions as well as industrial organisations. These MOUs range from collaborative research to
research grants for students/faculty as well as student/faculty exchange programmes. At present,
the Institute has MOUs signed with, among others, the following institutions/organisations: Na-
tional Highway Authority of India, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., EfD Secretariat at UGOT,
Silicon Valley Com Foundation, Airport Authority of India, Networks Specified, Ericsson In-
dia, American Society for Quality India, IIT Madras, Szechenyi Istvan University, Hitachi India
Pvt. Ltd., Bridge and Roof Company Ltd., Infosys Ltd., National Research University, Eastern
Africa Statistical Training, State University of New York, London School of Economics, BRAC-
University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, University of War-
wick, Yokohama National University.
The Central Library of the Institute, located at Kolkata (with a network extending to two ma-
jor libraries at Delhi and Bengaluru Centres and other locations of the Institute), has one of the
richest collections in the country, particularly in the fields of Statistics and allied disciplines,
namely, Mathematics, Economics, Computer Science, Earth Science, Life Science, Physics, Qual-
ity Control, etc. In addition to a total volume of more than three lakhs, comprising books, bound
journals, official reports/data-books, dissertations and theses, reprints, non-print materials such as
CDs/floppies, microfilms and microfiches, it maintains online access to journals and all the ma-
jor scientific publication databases. It has also a separate NBHM collection funded by National
Board for Higher Mathematics, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. It is making
endeavours to create institutional repositories using open-source software, facilitating access to
indigenous resources across regions and increasing the visibility of such resources. As a part of
the Central Library, the renovated Amrapali building which was the residence of the founder of the
Institute, now houses the P C Mahalanobis Memorial Museum and Archives.
The Institute also runs the International Statistical Education Centre (ISEC), established in 1950,
under the auspices of the Government of India. This Centre has been providing training in Statistics
to sponsored students mainly from the developing countries of the Middle-East, South and South
East Asia and the Far East and from the Commonwealth countries of Africa. The Centre also offers
various short-term courses in Statistics and related subjects.

2
2 A Brief History of the Institute
The Indian Statistical Institute had its beginning in a small statistical laboratory set up by Professor
Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the Presidency College at Kolkata, where he was then a professor
of Physics. In a meeting held on 17th December 1931 and presided over by Sir R. N. Mookerjee,
the first President of the Institute, the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) was formally established and
Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis was appointed the Honorary Secretary. The Institute was registered
on 28th April, 1932, as a non-government and non-profit learned society under the Societies’
Registration Act No. XXI of 1860. The Institute is now registered under the West Bengal Societies
Registration Act XXVI of 1961, amended in 1964. The major objectives of the Institute, as stated
in its Memorandum of Association, are:
(i) to promote the study and dissemination of knowledge of Statistics, to develop statistical the-
ory and methods, and their use in research and practical applications generally, with special
reference to problems of planning for national development and social welfare;
(ii) to undertake research in various fields of natural and social sciences with a view to the mutual
development of Statistics and these sciences;
(iii) to provide for, and undertake, the collection of information, investigations, projects, and
operational research for purposes of planning and the improvement of efficiency of manage-
ment and production.
With its humble start in a laboratory in the Presidency College, the Institute soon embarked upon
a remarkable journey with enduring support from a number of distinguished personalities and
devoted scholars in Kolkata. In the first two decades of its existence, which was a glorious chapter
in the annals of Indian science and institution building, the ISI undertook a series of pioneering
programmes involving application of Statistics in search of solutions to some of the urgent and
live problems of the country. Such programmes included innovative projects on sample surveys of
yield and land utilisation of crops, socio-economic after-effects of Bengal famine (1943-44) and
problems of flood research, to name a few. Simultaneously, led by Professor Mahalanobis, path-
breaking theoretical research was carried out by a very able group of young statisticians including
R C Bose, S N Roy and C R Rao. These innovations and methodological research have since
become classics in Statistics. All these activities brought laurels for the Institute in India as well as
abroad.
Over a period of several decades since its inception, the Institute made steady strides to establish
its identity as a pioneering organisation nationally as well as internationally. Some of the principal
achievements of this period include
(i) the establishment of a full-fledged research and training school in Statistics and Probability
with applications in natural and social sciences,
(ii) the publication of Sankhyā, the first international journal of Statistics in India,
(iii) the inception of a National Sample Survey wing, engaging in comprehensive socio-economic

3
 data collection for the nation,
(iv) the creation of a string of Statistical Quality Control units for promoting the quality move-
ment at various industrial centres in the country, and
(v) collaboration with the International Statistical Institute to train Government statisticians
from Asia and Africa.
One of the most significant contributions of the institute in India’s nation-building came when, in
1954, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, entrusted Professor Mahalanobis
and ISI with the responsibility of preparing the draft Second Five-Year Plan for the country. The
institute established a planning wing dedicated to the formulation of the Second Five-Year Plan of
India. The draft submitted by Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis and the planning models formulated
by him and his colleagues have since been regarded as major contributions to economic planning
in India.
As another remarkable achievement, the Institute, in 1956, installed the first electronic computer
in the country. In 1961, the ISI, in collaboration with Jadavpur University, undertook the design,
development and fabrication of a fully transistorised digital computer, called ISI-JU-1, which was
commissioned in 1966. The institute had established an Electronic Computer Laboratory that was
responsible for developing
(a) the first mechanical hand computing machine,
(b) the first Analog computer,
(c) the first Punched Card storing machine, and
(d) the first Solid State Computer in India.
The Institute, from its formative period till the recent time, received as guests many eminent sci-
entists, including Nobel Laureates. Besides Sir Ronald A Fisher, JBS Haldane and Walter A
Shewhart, the luminaries included Frederic and Irene Curie, Neils Bohr, AN Kolmogorov, PMS
Blackett, JD Bernal, Joan Robinson and Genechi Taguchi. In recent times, the visits of Joseph E
Stiglitz, James A Mirrlees, Eric S Maskin, Ei-Ichi Negishi and SRS Varadhan, the 2007 Abel Prize
winner for his contributions to probability theory and an alumnus of the institute, may be specially
mentioned.
The Institute has always had its headquarters in Kolkata since its inception. Later, the Delhi Cen-
tre, initially housed within the Planning Commission premises, was started in 1974, and shifted to
its present campus in 1975. The Bengaluru Centre was conceived by Professor P C Mahalanobis
during the 1960s. With the Statistical Quality Control unit functioning in Bengaluru from 1956,
and Documentation Research and Training Centre from 1962, Professor Mahalanobis thought of
starting a centre of ISI at Bengaluru around the mid-1960s. However, the process got delayed
after Professor Mahalanobis’ death in 1972 and the activities of the Bengaluru Centre started in
September 1978 in a rented building under the Directorship of Professor G Kallianpur. The Ben-
galuru Centre was formally declared as a centre of ISI in September 1996. The newly created

4
Chennai Centre of the Institute, which came into being on July 26, 2008, and the North-East Cen-
tre at Tezpur, Assam, which was inaugurated on July 23, 2011, are expected to carry out research in
theory and applications of Statistics in the new areas of natural and social sciences. The NE Centre
is also committed to cater to the statistical needs of the North-Eastern states, including training
statistical personnel.
The formal empowerment of the Institute for awarding of degrees came in December 1959 when
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru piloted in the Parliament the enactment of the Indian Statistical Institute
Act of 1959, which designated ISI as an Institution of National Importance. Its activities steadily
grew, existing interests became more broad-based and a number of science units were created in
the interest of live interaction between Statistics and natural and social sciences. Empowered by
the Act to award degrees, the Institute introduced the Bachelor of Statistics (Honours) and Master
of Statistics courses in 1960 under the guidance of Professor Mahalanobis and stalwarts like JBS
Haldane and Satyendra Nath Bose who was the President of the Institute for a long period of time,
with the philosophy that the academic training of a statistician should encompass the basic princi-
ples of Statistics along with its theoretical and methodological development, not merely in abstract
formulation, but also in relation to concrete problems arising from natural and social sciences. The
Institute also introduced research programmes leading to the Ph D degree from the Institute. After
the subsequent amendment of the Indian Statistical Institute Act in 1995, broadening its scope of
degree-awarding, the institute introduced other degree programmes, namely, Master of Science
(Quantitative Economics) (in 1996-97), Bachelor of Mathematics (Honours) (in 2000-01), Master
of Mathematics (in 2003-04).
A one-year Diploma in Computer Science was started in the Institute in 1966. This was upgraded
to a two-year Diploma in 1978, which evolved into the current M Tech programme in Computer
Science in 1981, the first such programme in the country.
The Institute initiated the use of Statistical Quality Control & Operations Research in India in the
early fifties and started developing these fields through theoretical and applied research, practical
training in industry and consultancy assignments. To meet the growing needs from the industry,
the institute offered a PG Diploma course in SQC & OR and also offered SQC & OR (later ISOR)
as a specialization in the M. Stat. programme. The increased awareness since the late eighties, that
SQC & OR techniques are of immense help in the development of the industrial sector, has led to
the introduction of a two-year full-time M Tech programme in Quality, Reliability & Operations
Research in Kolkata in 1989.
The Institute has also been offering a course leading to Associateship in Documentation & In-
formation Science at the Bengaluru Centre since 1965-66. This course has been upgraded to a
Master’s level programme, called the Master of Science in Library & Information Science [MS
(LIS)], since 2008-09.

5
3 Bachelors and Masters Degree Programmes
The following bachelors and masters programmes are offred in the Institute:

Degree Programme Duration Current Venue

[Link]. 3 years Kolkata
[Link]. 3 years Bengaluru
[Link]. 2 years Kolkata, Delhi & Chennai
[Link]. 2 years Kolkata & Bengaluru
MS(QE) 2 years Kolkata & Delhi
MS(LIS) 2 years Bengaluru
MS(QMS) 2 years Bengaluru & Hyderabad
[Link].(CS) 2 years Kolkata
[Link].(QROR) 2 years Kolkata

4 Academic Authorities and Statutory Bodies

4.1 Class Teacher

Normally, in a semester, one of the instructors of a class, teaching a compulsory course or a course
credited by all students in the class is designated as the Class Teacher for that class. Students are
required to meet their respective Class Teachers periodically to get their academic performance re-
viewed, and to discuss their problems regarding courses. All communications on academic matters
with other authorities or statutory bodies of the institute by a student should be submitted through
the Class Teacher.

4.2 Teachers’ Committee

For each semester of a degree program, the Teachers’ Committee will normally consist of all in-
structors of all courses (including elective and optional courses, which are been credited or taken as
a non-credit course by at least one student) and all project/dissertation/thesis supervisors. The Dean
of Studies/Associate Dean/Students’ Academic Affairs In-charge of the respective centres will be
the Chair the Teachers’ Committees. Every decisions related to the academic performance by the
students of a degree program must first be deliberated by the respective Teachers’ Committee and
a decision can be taken by any higher authority/statutory body only after the recommendations of
the relevant Teachers’ Committee have been taken into cognizance.

6
4.3 Associate Deans/Students’ Academic Affairs In-charges

The Associate Dean(s)/Students’ Academic Affairs In-charge(s) have similar responsibilities as

that of the Dean of Studies in the Centres other than the Headquarters in Kolkata.

4.4 Dean of Studies

The Dean of Studies is a permanent faculty member of the Institute, who organize the teaching and
training activities of the Institute for a period of two years. (For more details, see Section 8 of the
Regulations of the Indian Statistical Institute.)

4.5 Director

The Director is the principal executive officer of the Institute and the head of all its academic and
administrative activities. (For more details, see Section 6 of the Regulations of the Indian Statistical
Institute.)

4.6 Academic Council

The Academic Council primarily consists of all the Professors and other scientific workers of
equivalent rank or above. The Director is the Chair of the Academic Council and the Dean of
Studies is the Convener of the Academic Council. The Academic Council makes recommendations
to the Council of the Institute regarding teaching and training programmes and promotes research
activities of the Institute. (For more details see Section 9 of the Regulations of the Indian Statistical
Institute.) (For More details see Section 9 of the Regulations of the Indian Statistical Institute.)

5 Rules and Regulations

5.1 Academic Year and Semesters

An Academic Year consists of two semesters, beginning with the First Semester from July till De-
cember and followed by the Second Semester from January till June. For each degree programme
a semester consists of a total of fourteen weeks of classes, one (or two) weeks of midterm, two
(or three) weeks of final examination (including study leave). There are seven weeks of classes
before and after the Midterm examinations. Some programmes may have an internship/training
programme assigned to a semester during other months of the calender year.

7
5.2 Attendance

Every student is expected to attend all the classes. If a student is absent for medical reasons of
personal/family emergencies, he/she must apply for leave with supporting documents to the Dean
of Studies or to the respective Associate Dean/Students’ Academic Affairs In-charge. Failing to
do so may result in disciplinary action as given in Section 5.4. Inadequate attendance record in
any semester would lead to reduction of stipend in the following semester (see Section 5.12 for
details).

5.3 Credit and Non-Credit Courses

Credit Course: In a semester, for any degree programme, students need to take a certain num-
ber of credit courses. The courses which can be taken as credit courses are all the compulsory
courses and the elective/optional courses, which are prescribed for that semester for the relevant
degree programme (see PART II of the Student Brochure for the prescribed courses and other de-
tails). A student is given up to four weeks to decide whether he/she wants to take a particular
elective/optional course as a credit course.
Non-Credit Course: In a semester, for any degree programme other than [Link].(QROR) (for
which currently all courses are credit courses) a student may take one additional elective/optional
course from the prescribed list of courses of the degree programme he/she is enrolled in, as a non-
credit course. It is not mandatory to take a non-credit course. A student is given up to four weeks
(from the start of the semester) to decide whether he/she wants to take a particular elective/optional
course as a non-credit course.
If a student decides to take any non-credit course, he/she has to attend that course regularly and
obtain at least the pass mark (35%). A student who fails to score 35% in a non-credit course is
required to clear a backpaper and if he/she cannot do so, is expected to repeat the year (see 5.8 for
more details). The compensatory examination rule (see 5.5.4 for more details) is not applicable for
non-credit courses.
All non-credit courses taken by a student are also recorded and mentioned in his/her mark-sheet.
However, the score(s) obtained in the non-credit course(s) will not contribute to the aggregate score
in the degree programme.
A non-credit course is allowed to be used as a ”pre-requisite” for a course and/or specialization.

5.4 Satisfactory Conduct

Every student of the Institute is expected to observe the discipline of the Institute and shall observe
all rules (including that of the hostel and the mess rules) of the Institute. Attendance requirements
in classes (see Section 5.2 for details) should be met. Violations of the above will be treated as

8
 breach of discipline and unsatisfactory conduct. Violations of these are likely to attract punish-
ments such as
(i) suspension from the Institute for a limited period,
(ii) suspension from classes for a limited period,
(iii) withholding Stipend/Fellowship or other benefits,
(iv) withholding results,
(v) suspension or expulsion from the hostel and the likes,
(vi) expulsion from the Institute.
Ragging is strictly prohibited in the Institute. If any incident of ragging comes to the notice of the
Institute authorities, the concerned student will be given an opportunity to explain his/her action(s),
and if the explanation is not found to be satisfactory, he/she may be expelled from the institute. The
punishments may also include one or more items listed above. General laws governing ragging are
also applicable to the students of the Institute. Incidents of ragging will be reported to the police.

5.5 Examinations and Scores

5.5.1 Midterm and Final Examinations

There are two formal examinations in every course in each of the degree programmes. They
are, namely, Mid-Semestral/Midterm and Semestral/Final. The composite score in a course, is
a weighted average of the scores in the mid-semestral and semestral examinations, homeworks
and other assignments, quizzes/classes tests/surprize tests, practical record book and/or project
work in that course. The weights of examinations in a course are announced before the mid-term
examination of the semester. In the case of courses involving field work, some weightage may be
given to the field reports also. The semestral examination will have a minimum weight of 50%.

5.5.2 Pass Marks

The minimum composite score to pass a credit or non-credit course is 35%, except for the core
courses in [Link].(QROR)1 and MS(QMS)2 , where the minimum composite score to pass is 45%
1. The five core courses for the [Link].(QROR) programme are: Operational Research I, SQC, Reliability I, Summer
Internship and Project and/or Dissertation.
2. For the details about the core courses of the MS(QMS) programme see Students Brochure PART II [MS(QMS)].

9
5.5.3 Back Paper Examination

If the composite score of a student in a course (other than the Statistics Comprehensive course of
[Link]. and the core courses in [Link].(QROR)1 and MS(QMS))2 is above 35% but falls short
of 45%, she/he will have one option to take a back-paper examination to improve the score to
a maximum of 45%. This is called an optional back-paper. However, a student with composite
score less than 35% (other than the core courses in [Link].(QROR) and MS(QMS), where this rule
applies for composite course less than 45%; and the Statistics Comprehensive course in [Link].,
where no backpaper is allowed) in any course must take a backpaper examination to improve the
score to a maximum of 45%. Such a back-paper is called a compulsory back-paper. When a
student takes a back-paper examination in a course, his/her new composite score in that course
will be the higher of the back-paper score and the earlier composite score, subject to a maximum
of 45%.
In a year, at most one back-paper examination is allowed in any course, other than the Remedial
English Course for the first year of the [Link].(Hons.) programme. If the score of a student in the
back-paper examination of Remedial English course in the first year of the [Link].(Hons.) pro-
gramme is below 35%, then he/she is allowed to repeat the course in the following year along with
the new first year students. A student is not allowed to continue in the B. Stat.(Hons.) programme
if he/she fails the Remedial English course even after these three attempts.
The ceilings on the total number of backpaper examinations a student can take in the various degree
programmes are as follows:
Maximum Number of Back Paper Examination Allowed
Degree Programme
First Year Second Year Third Year
[Link].(Hons.) 4 3 3
[Link].(Hons.) 4 3 3
[Link]. 4 4 –
[Link]. 4 4 –
MS(QE) 4 4 –
MS(QMS) 4 4 –
MS(LIS) 4 2 –
[Link].(CS) 4 4 –
[Link].(QROR) 4 2 –
Note that these ceilings are for the entire academic year. If a student takes more than the allotted
quota of backpaper examinations in a given academic year, then at the end of that academic year the
student should decide which of the optional back-paper examination scores should be disregarded.
In such a case, the marks of those particular courses will be reverted to their original scores.
Note: For the Statistics Comprehensive course in the Semester VI of the [Link]. Programme, no
backpaper examination is allowed.

10
5.5.4 Compensatory Examination

The following rule applies to a student who obtains less than the respective passing mark (see
Section 5.5.2 for details) in at most one credit course even after the compulsory back paper exami-
nation, but scores 60% or more in average in the other credit courses of that academic year. If such
a student is not in the final year of the programme, she/he may be provisionally promoted without
stipend or contingency grant to the following year, subject to the requirement that the paper is
cleared through an examination, called compensatory examination, which is a regular (semestral)
examination in the corresponding semester of the following year, along with the regular courses
for that semester in the current year. Only the score in the semestral examination need be consid-
ered for the purpose of evaluation. The student is not expected to attend the course, or to take the
mid-semestral examination or to do assignments, projects, etc. even if these are prescribed for the
course in that semester. The student can score at most 35% in such an examination, except for the
core courses in [Link].(QROR)1 and MS(QMS)2 , where he/she can score at most 45%. A stu-
dent scoring less than 35% in a compensatory examination on a course (other than core courses in
[Link].(QROR)1 and MS(QMS)2 , where this rule applies for scoring less than 45%) will have to
discontinue the programme, regardless of the year of study in the programme. In case the student
in question is in the final year of the programme, the Dean of Studies/Associate Dean/Students’
Academic Affairs In-charge, in consultation with the concerned Teachers’ Committee, may decide
on the mechanism of conducting a special examination of that particular course along the lines
suggested above, within six months of the end of that academic year.
A student can appear in at most one compensatory paper in an academic year. The student can
either appear in the compensatory paper, if the conditions stated above are met, or repeat the year
if the existing rules so allow; and can not do both. The student must inform the Dean of Stud-
ies/Associate Dean/Students’ Academic Affairs In-charge in writing in advance regarding his/her
choice.
No compensatory paper will be allowed in a course where backpaper is not allowed.
No compensatory examination is given for a non-credit course.

5.5.5 Supplementary Examination

If a student misses an examination due to medical or family emergencies, he/she can appear in the
supplementary examination. Supplementary examinations will be held for mid-semestral, semes-
tral, back-paper and compensatory examinations within a month of the examination. The student
should submit a written application with all supporting documents to the Dean of Studies/Associate
Dean/Students’ Academic Affairs In-charge duly forwarded by the Class Teacher for appearing in
the supplementary examination. On receipt of such application from a student the Dean of Stud-
ies/Associate Dean/Students’ Academic Affairs In-charge will decide, in consultation with the
relevant Teachers’ Committee, on whether such examination will be allowed. The student can
score at most 60% in the supplementary examinations to mid-semestral and semestral examina-

11
tions. For the back-paper or the compensatory papers, the maximum the student can score in the
supplementary examination, is 45% or the pass mark (see Section 5.5.2) respectively.

5.6 Examination Guidelines

Followings are the guidelines for all examinations in all degree programs of the Institute.
1. Students are required to take their seats according to the displayed seating arrangement. If
any student takes a seat not allotted to him/her, he/she may be asked by the invigilator to
hand over the answer script (i.e., discontinue the examination) and leave the examination
hall.
2. Students are not allowed to carry inside the examination hall any mobile phone or other elec-
tronic devices with them, even in switched-off mode. Calculators, books and notes will be
allowed inside the examination hall only if these are so allowed by the teacher(s) concerned
(i.e., the teacher(s) of the course), or if the question paper is an open note/book one. Even in
such cases, these articles cannot be shared.
3. No student is allowed to leave the examination hall without permission from the invigila-
tor(s). Further, students cannot leave the examination hall during the first 30 minutes of any
examination. Under no circumstances, two or more students writing the same paper can go
outside together.
4. Students should ensure that the main answer booklet and any extra loose sheet bear the
signature of the invigilator with date. Any discrepancy should be brought to the notice of the
invigilator immediately. Presence of any unsigned or undated sheet in the answer script will
render it (i.e., the unsigned or undated sheet) to be canceled, and this may lead to charges of
violation of the examination rules.
5. Any student caught cheating or violating examination rules for the first time will get Zero in
that paper. If the first offense is in a backpaper examination the student will get Zero in the
backpaper. (The other conditions for promotion, as mentioned in Section 5.7 will continue
to hold.
6. Any student caught cheating or violating examination rules for the second time will be
denied promotion in that year. This means that
(i) a student not already repeating, will have to repeat the corresponding year without
stipend;
(ii) a student already repeating, will have to discontinue the programme.
7. Any student caught cheating or violating examination rules more than two times will be
asked to discontinue the programme and leave the Institute.
8. Any student caught cheating or violating examination rules is not eligible for direct admis-
sion to any other programme of the Institute.

12
 9. A student is required to furnish proper notice in time to the Class Teacher and provide satis-
factory explanation, if he/she fails to take an examination.

5.7 Promotion

A student passes a semester of the programme only when he/she secures pass marks (see Section
5.5.2 for details) or above in every course (including any non-credit course) and his/her conduct
has been satisfactory.
If a student passes both the semesters in a given year and his/her average composite score in all the
credit courses taken in a year is at least 45% and that the score(s) in the non-credit course(s) is/are
at least 35%, then he/she is declared to have passed in that year and may then be promoted to the
subsequent year or be considered for the award of the degree on recommendation of the relevant
Teachers’ Committee.

5.8 Repeating a Year

A student fails a year if he/she is not eligible for promotion. If a student fails a year then he/she
can repeat the year on recommendation of the relevant Teachers’ committee provided he/she has
scored at least 35% in the aggregate in that year.
For the [Link]. and [Link]. programmes, a student can repeat only one of the first two years and
the final year. A student who secures [Link]. or [Link]. degree without Honours (see Section 5.10
for the details) and has at most eight composite scores (in the credit courses), which are less than
45% in the first two years, is allowed to repeat the final year to improve his/her performance.
For the [Link]., [Link]., MS(QE), MS(LIS), MS(QMS), [Link].(CS) and [Link].(QROR) pro-
grammes, a student can repeat the first year, as well as, the second year, but not the both.
For all degree programmes, the repeat year must be the academic year immediately following the
year being repeated. A repeating student will not get any stipend or contingency grant or prizes
during the repeat year. However, if the student is from such an economically underprivileged
background that this step will force the student to discontinue, then the student can appeal to the
Dean of Studies through the respective Class Teacher for financial support. A student repeating
a year must be assessed for all courses even if the student has passed them in the original year,
and the student must obtain a minimum of the respective pass marks in such courses in the repeat
year. The final score in a course being repeated will be the maximum of the scores obtained in the
respective two years.
A student who is going to repeat the first year of the [Link].(Hons.)/[Link].(Hons.) course should
undergo counseling by the Dean of Studies/Associate Dean/Students’ Academic Affairs In-charge,
in the presence of his/her parents/guardians, to assess whether the student has an aptitude for the
programme.

13
 5.9 Discontinuing a Programme

A student who is enrolled in a degree programme of the Institute, is asked to discontinue the
programme, if
(a) he/she is not promoted or recommended for award of a degree and he/she does not satisfy
the conditions for repeating a year (see Sections 5.7 and 5.8 for more details); or
(b) he/she is repeating a year and does not pass in that year (see Section 5.7 for more details); or
(c) he/she is caught cheating or violating examination rules more than two times (see Section
5.6 for more details); or
(d) he/she has been given an expulsion from the Institute by an appropriate authority due to the
breach of discipline and unsatisfactory conduct (see Section 5.4 for more details).

5.10 Final Result

At the end of the third academic year for the bachelor programmes and at the end of the second
academic year for the master programmes the overall average of the percentage composite scores
in all the credit courses taken is computed for each student. Each of the credit courses carries a total
of 100 marks, (except the course Statistics Comprehensive in [Link].(Hons.) programme carries
a total of 200 marks). The student is awarded the respective degree as per the following criteria
in one of the following categories, provided his/her conduct is satisfactory, and he/she passes all
the years. A student fails if his/her composite score (after all the examinations) in any credit or
non-credit course is less than 35%.
• [Link].(Hons.):
? [Link].(Hons.) – First Division with Distinction:
(i) The overall average score is at least 75%,
(ii) average score in the eighteen core3 courses is at least 60%, and
(iii) the number of composite scores less than 45% is at most one.

? [Link].(Hons.) – First Division:

(i) Not in the First Division with Distinction,
(ii) the overall average score is at least 60%,
(iii) average score in the eighteen core3 courses is at least 60%, and
3. The eighteen core courses of [Link].(Hons.) programme are: Analysis I, II & III, Probability Theory I, II & III,
Statistical Methods I, II, III & IV, Vectors and Matrices I & II, Linear Statistical Models, Parametric Inference, Sample
Surveys, Nonparametric and Sequential Methods, Design of Experiments, Statistics Comprehensive.

14
 (iv) the number of composite scores less than 45% is at most four.

? [Link].(Hons.) – Second Division:

(i) Not in the First Division with Distinction or First Division,
(ii) the overall average score is at least 45%,
(iii) average score in the eighteen core3 courses is at least 45%, and
(iv) the number of composite scores less than 45% is at most six.

? [Link].(Pass):
(i) If a student has satisfactory conduct, passes all the courses but does not fulfill the
requirements for the award of the degree with Honours, then he/she is awarded the
[Link]. degree without Honours.

• [Link].(Hons.):
? [Link].(Hons.) – First Division with Distinction:
(i) The overall average score is at least 75%,
(ii) average score in the eighteen core4 courses is at least 60%, and
(iii) the number of composite scores less than 45% is at most one.

? [Link].(Hons.) – First Division:

(i) Not in the First Division with Distinction,
(ii) the overall average score is at least 60%,
(iii) average score in the sixteen core4 courses is at least 60%, and
(iv) the number of composite scores less than 45% is at most four.

? [Link].(Hons.) – Second Division:

(i) Not in the First Division with Distinction or First Division,
(ii) the overall average score is at least 45%,
(iii) average score in the sixteen core4 courses is at least 45%, and
(iv) the number of composite scores less than 45% is at most six.

4. The sixteen core courses of [Link].(Hons.) programme are: Algebra I, II, III & IV; Analysis I, II, III & IV; Prob-
ability I & II; Optimization, Complex Analysis, Graph Theory, Topology, Introduction to Differential Geometry and
Introduction to Differential Equations.

15
 ? [Link].(Pass):
(i) If a student has satisfactory conduct, passes all the courses but does not fulfill the
requirements for the award of the degree with Honours, then he/she is awarded the
[Link]. degree without Honours.

• [Link]., [Link]., MS(QE), MS(LIS) and [Link].(CS):

? First Division with Distinction:
(i) The overall average score is at least 75%, and
(ii) the number of composite scores less than 45% is at most one.

? First Division:
(i) Not in the First Division with Distinction,
(ii) the overall average score is at least 60%, and
(iii) the number of composite scores less than 45% is at most two.

? Second Division:
(i) Not in the First Division with Distinction or First Division,
(ii) the overall average score is at least 45%.

• MS(QMS) and [Link].(QROR):

? First Division with Distinction:
(i) The overall average score is at least 75%, and
(ii) the number of composite scores less than 45% in non-core1,2 courses is at most one
course.

? First Division:
(i) Not in the First Division with Distinction,
(ii) the overall average score is at least 60%, and
(iii) the number of composite scores less than 45% in non-core1,2 courses is at most
two.

? Second Division:
(i) Not in the First Division with Distinction or First Division,
(ii) the overall average score is at least 45%.

16
5.11 Award of Certificates

A student passing a degree programme of the Institute is given a certificate mentioning the division.
The Certificate is awarded in the annual Convocation of the Institute following the last semestral
examination.
Along with the certificate a marksheet is also given, which includes a list of all the credit and
non-credit courses taken along with the respective composite scores.

5.12 Stipend

Other than refundable Library and Hostel deposit (see Sections 6.2 and 6.3 for more details) and
the recurring mess fees there are no fees charged by the institute for the bachelor and master
programmes, including the [Link]. programmes. A monthly Stipend of Rs. 3,000 in the bachelor
programmes, Rs. 5,000 in the master programmes, and Rs. 8,000 in the [Link]. programmes
are awarded at the time of admission to each student, which is valid initially for the first semester
only. Stipends are given after the end of each month for twelve months in each academic year.
The first stipend is given two months after admission with retrospective effect provided the student
continues in the programme he/she got enrolled, for at least two months.
The amount of stipend to be awarded in each subsequent semester depends on academic perfor-
mance, conduct, and attendance, as specified below, provided the requirements for continuation in
the academic programme (excluding repetition) are satisfied (also see Sections 5.7 and 5.4):
1. Students having other scholarships: If a student is getting a scholarship from another gov-
ernment agency then the stipend will be discontinued. If during a degree programme a
student obtains any scholarship with retrospective effect then the student should return the
stipend given by the institute. Failure to do so will be deemed as unsatisfactory conduct and
corresponding rules shall apply (see Section 5.4 for more details).
2. Performance in course work: If, in any particular semester, (i) the composite score in any
course is less than 35%, or (ii) the composite score in more than one course (two courses in
the case of the first semester of the first year) is less than 45%, or (iii) the average composite
score in all credit courses is less than 45%, no stipend will be awarded in the following
semester.
If all the requirements for continuation of the programme are satisfied, the average composite
score is at least 60% and the number of credit course scores less than 45% is at most one in
any particular semester (at most two in the first semester of the first year), the full value of
the stipend is awarded in the following semester.
If all the requirements for continuation of the programme are satisfied, the average composite
score is at least 45% but less than 60%, and the number of credit course scores less than 45%
is at most one in any particular semester (at most two in the first semester of the first year),

17
 the stipend is halved in the following semester.
All composite scores are considered after the respective back-paper examinations. Stipend
is fully withdrawn as soon as the requirements for continuation in the academic programme
are not met.
3. Attendance: If the overall attendance in all courses in any semester is less than 75%, no
stipend is awarded in the following semester.
4. Conduct: The Dean of Studies/Associate Dean/Students’ Academic Affairs In-charge, at any
time, in consultation with the respective Teachers’ Committee, may withdraw the stipend of
a student fully for a specific period if his/her conduct in the campus is found to be unsatis-
factory (see Section 5.4 for more details).
Once withdrawn, stipends may be restored in a subsequent semester based on improved perfor-
mance and/or attendance, but no stipend is restored with retrospective effect.
A repeating student will not get any stipend or contingency grant or prizes during the repeat year.
However, if she/he is from such an economically underprivileged background that this step will
force him/her to discontinue, then she/he can appeal to the Dean of Studies or the Students In-
charge, for financial support.

5.13 Contingency Grant and Prize Money

Each student receives an annual contingency grant of Rs. 3,000 in the bachelor programmes, Rs.
5,000 in the master programmes, and Rs. 8,000 in the [Link]. programmes provided he/she is
entitled to receive full stipends (see Section 5.12 for details). In addition to it, in each semester the
Teachers’ Committee may nominate few students for their outstanding performances for certain
amount of cash awards as prize money.
The following guidelines are currently in place for the utilization of the of contingency grants and
the prize money:
1. Expenditure related to the following will be reimbursed from the contingency grant/ prize
money:
(a) Photocopying
(b) Printing
(c) Postage and courier charges
(d) Purchase of
i. books, including e-books related to course work (any book may be purchased with
prize money);
ii. stationery items relevant to course work;

18
 iii. computer peripherals (revenue items only, like keyboard, mouse, headphone/microphone,
speakers);
iv. portable storage media (for example, Pen Drive, External Hard Disk, Memory
Card, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-R, CD-RW, DAT Cartridge);
v. software related to course work.
(e) Membership Fees for professional organisations.
(f) Seminars/Workshop/Schools/Conferences
i. Within India: TA/DA and Registration fees.
ii. Outside India: Registration, Visa and Medical Insurance fees
(g) Laboratory Consumable items.
(h) Subscription/purchase of Journals not subscribed by the Library.
(i) Publication fee or additional charges (e.g., overlength fee) for publication in journals.
This list will be reviewed from time to time.
2. The Initial Approving Authority is the Class Teacher.
3. When approving a contingency claim bill, the initial approving authority shall verify that the
items have been purchased by the student.
4. All bills should be in the name of the student and have been issued in the appropriate financial
year.
5. Books purchased should have the name of the student written on their first page.
6. Identification number/License number of electronic items and software should be mentioned
in the contingent claim form.
7. Since the annual contingency grant is given for the entire academic year, students claiming
reimbursement for expenses made in a financial year must ensure that their claim forms are
submitted well in advance for processing to be completed by the 31st of March.
8. The unspent balance of the contingency grant at the end of any academic year will not be
carried forward to the next year.
9. A student can make claims under his/her contingency grant only when he/she is getting full
stipend at that point in time, that is, at the time of submission of bills, the student should
be getting full stipend, bill dates should be in the appropriate financial year and the claim
should be in the appropriate academic year. If stipend is restored, then the student becomes
eligible again for making claims under his/her contingency grant.

19
6 Miscellaneous

6.1 Medals and Prizes

There are several prizes and medals for outstanding performance in various degree programmes of
the Institute. Currently, following prizes are given from various sources:

Degree Programme Name of the Medal/Award/Prize Selection Criterion

ISIAA – Mrs. M. R. Iyer Memorial Gold Medal Outstanding overall performance
D. Basu Memorial Gold Medal Outstanding performance
[Link].
Nikhilesh Bhattacharya Memorial Gold Medal Best Performance in Statistics
Mukul Chaudhuri Cash Award Best Female Student
[Link]. S. H. Aravind Gold Medal Outstanding performance
ISIAA – Mrs. M. R. Iyer Memorial Gold Medal Outstanding overall performance
[Link].
P. C. Mahalanobis Memorial Gold Medal Outstanding performance
[Link]. ISIAA – P. C. Panesar Memorial Gold Medal Outstanding overall performance
MS(QE) Sanghamitra Das Memorial Gold Medal Outstanding overall performance
ISIAA – Rashi Ray Memorial Medal Outstanding overall performance
[Link].(CS) Sunity Kumar Pal Memorial Gold Medal For Best Dissertation
TCS Award For Best Dissertation
[Link].(QROR) ISIAA – Mrs. M. R. Iyer Memorial Gold Medal Outstanding overall performance

6.2 Library Rules

Every student is allowed to use the reading room facilities in the library and allowed access to the
stacks. Students need to pay a security deposit of an amount fixed by the Institute (and periodically
revised) in order to avail of the borrowing facility. Details of the library rules are posted in the
libraries.

6.3 Hostel Facilities

The Institute provides limited hostel facility for male and female students in the Headquarters and
in all its centres. However, it may not be possible to accommodate all students in the hostels.
The students have to pay a caution deposit of an amount fixed by the Institute (and periodically
revised) and a minimal monthly room rent. Limited medical facilities are available free of cost at
the Headquarters in Kolkata and in all of its centres.

20
6.4 Field Training Programme

All expenses for the necessary field training programmes are borne by the Institute, as per the
Institute rules.

6.5 Educational Tour

Students of all bachelor and master degree programmes are allowed to go for an annual Educational
Tour conducted by the Institute. Following are the guidelines for the Educational Tour:
1. For the purpose of Educational Tour, students of a relevant centre should form a tour orga-
nizing committee, the composition of which needs to be intimated to the Tour Guidelines
committee. The students from Chennai may be encouraged to join the tour organized by the
students from Kolkata.
2. The tour organizing committee has to take a priori approval of the tour proposal from the
Dean/Associate Dean. A tour comprising at most five nights of hotel stay except travel days
will be allowed. No pilot tours will be entertained. The tour proposal has to explicitly
include an educational component like a visit to an educational institute or an industry visit
or attending a conference/lecture, etc. The proposed tour timings should not affect regular
class and examinations. After the tour is complete a report has to be mandatory submitted to
the Tour Guidelines Committee.
3. The students have to carry ISI Identity Card during travel. At least one faculty/SRF has
to accompany the students during the travel and he/she has to stay at the same hotel and
travel in the same train. If there is a girl student in the touring party, it is recommended
that there should be one female faculty/SRF as an accompanying person. The accompanying
faculty/SRF(s) will be reimbursed Hotel charges and per diem costs as per his/her entitlement
according to ISI rules. A student can go on a maximum of one such tour per academic year.
4. ISI travel cell will arrange the purchase of tickets for the relevant travel. The Institute shall
bear travel expenses up to a maximum of Rs. 1,500 per student. The students will be
entitled to sleeper class travel in trains anywhere in India/Nepal/Bhutan. For each student,
the maximum expenditure covered by the Institute shall be as follows: Rs. 400 for hotel stay
per night and Rs. 150 for food per day during their stay and Rs. 250 for food during the
travelling time. Hence, the maximum expenditure borne by the Institute per student in a tour
programme will be Rs. 4,500 with the restriction of maximum expenditure covered under
each head as mentioned above.

6.6 Students Receiving Stipends/Scholarships from External Agencies

As mentioned in Section 5.12, if a student is awarded a stipend/scholarship from another govern-

ment agency then the stipend paid by ISI will be discontinued. If, during a degree programme, a

21
student obtains any scholarship with retrospective effect then he/she must return the stipend given
by the institute. Failure to do so will be deemed as unsatisfactory conduct and corresponding rules
shall apply (see Section 5.4 for more details).
All students who receive stipends from external agencies, like KVPY and INSPIRE, must satisfy
all requirements, including attendance requirements, which are applicable to students receiving
stipends from ISI. If such students do not satisfy these requirements, then the Institute reserves the
right not to forward their requests for renewal of funding to their respective funding agencies.

6.7 Change of Rules

The Institute reserves the right to make changes in the above rules, course structure and the syllabi
as and when needed.

22