National Statistics Day 

  • Every year, the Statistics Day is celebrated on 29th June, the birth anniversary of Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, to recognise his invaluable contribution in establishing the National Statistical System.
Key Points

Aim:

    • To popularise the use of statistics in everyday life and sensitise the public as to how statistics help in shaping and framing policies.
Theme for 2021:
  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)- 2 (End Hunger, Achieve FoodSecurity and Improved Nutrition and Promote Sustainable Agriculture).

Related Events:

    • Winners of P.C. Mahalanobis National Award in Official Statistics, 2021 and Prof C. R. Rao National Award for Young Statistician, 2021 will be announced
    • In2019, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation instituted Prof. P C Mahalanobis National Award in official statistics for recognizing outstanding achievement of official statisticians in central government, state governments and institutions.
    • The Ministry also recognises the outstanding contribution forhigh-quality research work in the field of applied and theoretical statistics benefitting the official statistical system through the C R Rao and Prof. P V Sukhatme awards, awarded in alternate years.
Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis (1893-1972)
  • He is considered the father of modern statistics in India, founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), shaped the Planning Commission (which was replaced by the NITI Aayog on 1st January 2015) and pioneered methodologies for large-scale surveys.
  • He introduced innovative techniques for conducting large-scale samplesurveys, calculated acreages and crop yields, using the method of random sampling.
  • He also devised a statistical method called ‘Fractile Graphical Analysis’, used to compare socio-economic conditions of varied groups.
Timeline:
  • 1930: Proposed the Mahalanobis Distance for the first time, which is a measure of comparison between two data sets.
  • The formula is used to find the distance between a point and a distribution, based on measurements in multiple  It is widely used in the field of cluster analysis and classification.
  • 1932: Founded the ISI in Kolkata which was declared as an institute of national importance in 1959.
  • 1933: Launched ‘Sankhya: The Indian Journal of Statistics’.
  • 1950: Established the National Sample Survey and set up the Central Statistical Organisation to coordinate statistical activities.
  • 1955: Became a member of the Planning Commission and continued in that capacity till 1967.
  • He was instrumental in formulating India’s second five-year-plan (1956-1961), which laid the blueprint for industrialisation and development in India.
  • 1968:Honoured with the Padma Vibhushan.
  • He was also conferred a large number of awards by international organisations.
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