National Statistics Day - 29 June

Tags: Important Days

National Statistics Day is observed annually on 29 June to honour the contribution of Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in statistics and economic planning.

An Overview of the News

• Professor Mahalanobis, known as the 'Father of Indian Statistics', developed the Mahalanobis distance, a statistical measure to assess the difference between a point and a distribution.

• The program of National Statistics Day 2023 will be organised at SCOPE Convention Centre, SCOPE Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi.

• Rao Inderjit Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation will be the chief guest on the occasion.

Theme of National Statistics Day 2023

• Its theme is "Aligning the State Indicator Framework with the National Indicator Framework for Monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals".

• The theme highlights the importance of synchronising the indicator framework used by states with the national framework to monitor and evaluate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

History of National Statistics Day

• The Government of India designated 29 June as National Statistics Day on 5 June 2007.

• The designation was given to acknowledge the significant contributions of Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the field of statistics and economic planning.

• The first celebration of National Statistics Day took place on 29 June 2007.

• Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis was a prominent figure who played a key role in the first Planning Commission of India.

• He was instrumental in the establishment of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in 1931.

• The day is celebrated as a tribute to Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis and his remarkable contribution in the field of statistics.

About Indian Statistical Institute

• Director - Prof. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay

• Headquarters - Kolkata

• Establishment - 17 December 1931