The Bangalore Centre of the Indian Statistical Institute was conceived by Prof.P.C.Mahalanobis during 1960s, even when the city was emerging as a centre of science. It is a tribute to his foresight that the Institute is now well-established in one of the most vibrant scientific communities in Asia.

With the Statistical Quality Control unit functioning in Bangalore from 1956, and Documentation Research and training Centre from 1962, Professor Mahalanobis thought of starting a centre of ISI around the mid-sixties.  The presence of several national institutes of higher learning, the salubrious climate and the growing metropolitan culture must have prompted him to consider this possibility.  In 1966, Govt. of Karnataka granted ISI 30 acres of forest land full of eucalyptus trees, next to the upcoming Bangalore University on Mysore Road, at a token price.