National Statistics Day | 02 Jul 2024

Source: PIB

Recently, National Statistics Day was celebrated on 29th June 2024 marking the birth anniversary of Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, a renowned Indian statistician and applied scientist.

  • The theme for Statistics Day 2024 is "Use of Data for Decision-Making".
  • This day has been celebrated since 2007 to create public awareness of the role and importance of statistics in socio-economic planning and policy formulation for the development of the country.
  • The e-Sankhyiki data portal and Central Data Repository were launched on this day.
  • Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis was known for pioneering the Mahalanobis distance and statistical measure.
    • He was a member of India’s inaugural Planning Commission and was instrumental in establishing the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in 1931.
    • He was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan for his contribution to science.
  • World Statistics Day is celebrated by the United Nations every 5 years on 20th October.

Read more: National Statistics Day, Mahalanobis's Approach: Addressing India's Big Data and AI Challenges