National Statistics Day 

Official statistics help decision-makers develop informed policies that impact millions of people. Improved data sources, sound statistical methods, new technologies and strengthened statistical systems enable better decisions that eventually result in better lives for all of us.

In recognition of the notable contribution made by Prof Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the fields of economic planning and statistical development in the post independent era, the Government of India has decided to designate 29th June every year, coinciding with his birth anniversary, as the Statistics Day in the category of special day to be celebrated at the national level through various activities such as discussions, lectures with key note speakers and competitions.

These activities place an emphasis on the key role that statistics has played in the development of India. The objective of the day is to crate public awareness, among the people specially the younger generation for drawing inspirations from Prof Mahalanobis about the role of statistics in socio-economic planning and policy formulation.

This is in recognition of the vast contribution made by him in the field of statistics, in particular in the realm of planning for economic and social development. Prof Mahalanobis pioneered almost singularly, the setting up of Indian Statistical Institute, in the then Calcutta, largely to initiate adoption of statistical methodologies, in solving social and economic problems, furthered the cause of critical investigation, through rigorous innovative technique and analysis of issues in quantitative economics.

A graduate in the field of Physics, Professor Mahalanobis soon realised he had a true passion for charts, figures, graphs and facts while teaching at Presidency College. He soon left Physics and produced his first scientific research paper in 1922 regarding the field of anthropometry. Further contributions to the field of Statistics include his work on large-scale sampling methods, introduction of the Mahalanobis distance, and the importance of pilot studies.

It was his interest in the more practical applications of statistics that led to him being appointed as an advisor to various government projects, such as those related to agriculture, industrialisation and economic planning. With the Statistics Day being celebrated annually since 2007, the works of such a remarkable pioneer have helped foster a sense of importance with regard to Statistics in the hope that many others would adopt Professor Mahalanobis’s mantra: “Statistics must have a clearly defined purpose”

By Gudipati Rajendera Kumar