The Statistics Day, celebrated every year on 29th June, honours the birth anniversary of Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis. It is a tribute to his invaluable contribution to India’s National Statistical System. The day focuses on amplifying the use of statistics in everyday life and enlightening the public on how statistics shape and influence policies.
Objective of Statistics Day
The aim of Statistics Day is to raise awareness about the importance of statistics in our daily lives. This includes understanding its role in policy-making and decision processes. It is also an opportunity to recognise the crucial contribution of the statistical community in guiding policy formulation.
The Theme for 2021
Every year, a theme is selected that aligns with present concerns. For 2021, the theme chosen is Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)- 2 – “End Hunger, Achieve Food Security and Improved Nutrition and Promote Sustainable Agriculture.” This reflects the global urgency to address issues related to hunger, food scarcity and the need for sustainable agricultural practices.
Associated Events and Recognition
Alongside this day, specific awards recognize exceptional individuals in the statistical domain. Winners of the Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis National Award in Official Statistics, 2021 and Prof C. R. Rao National Award for Young Statistician, 2021 will be announced. Instituted in 2019 by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, these awards acknowledge the incredible work of official statisticians across central and state governments and institutions.
About Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis
Born in 1893, Prof. Mahalanobis is rightly regarded as the father of modern statistics in India. He founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), shaped the Planning Commission (later replaced by the NITI Aayog on 1st January 2015) and pioneered methodologies for large-scale surveys.
Renowned for his innovative techniques, Prof. Mahalanobis introduced ways to conduct large-scale sample surveys and calculated acreages and crop yields using random sampling. He also came up with a statistical method known as ‘Fractile Graphical Analysis’.
Timeline of Prof. Mahalanobis contributions
To understand his contributions better, here’s a timeline:
1930 – Proposed the Mahalanobis Distance, a formula for comparison between data sets.
1932 – Founded the ISI in Kolkata.
1933 – Launched ‘Sankhya: The Indian Journal of Statistics’.
1950 – Established the National Sample Survey and set up the Central Statistical Organisation.
1955-1967 – Was a member of the Planning Commission, instrumental in formulating India’s second five-year-plan (1956-1961).
1968 – Awarded the Padma Vibhushan.
A recipient of numerous national and international awards, Prof. Mahalanobis significantly impacted the way statistics is perceived and utilised in our society. His contributions exemplify the untapped potential of statistics in influencing policy-making and other vital areas.