National Statistics Day

• 29 Jun 2021

Why in News

Every year, the Statistics Day is celebrated on 29^th 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 Food Security and Improved Nutrition and Promote Sustainable Agriculture).
• Related Events:
  
  • Winners of Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis National Award in Official Statistics, 2021 and Prof C. R. Rao National Award for Young Statistician, 2021 will be announced
    
    • In 2019, 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 for high-quality research work in the field of applied and theoretical statistics benefitting the official statistical system through the Prof. 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 1^st January 2015) and pioneered methodologies for large-scale surveys.
• He introduced innovative techniques for conducting large-scale sample surveys, 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 dimensions. 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.

Source: PIB