What is Statistics Day?
- Statistics Day is celebrated annually on 29th June to commemorate the birth anniversary of Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, a pioneering Indian statistician and planner.
- The day aims to create awareness, especially among the youth, about the importance of statistics in socio-economic planning and evidence-based policymaking.
- Theme of Statistics Day 2025: “75 Years of National Sample Survey”
- It highlights the long-standing contribution of the National Sample Survey (NSS) in providing reliable, timely, and large-scale socio-economic data essential for governance and national development.
- Organised by: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
About Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis
- Birth: 29 June 1893
- Known as the Father of Indian Statistics.
- Creator of Mahalanobis Distance – a key statistical metric for multivariate data analysis.
- Founder of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in 1931.
- Established the National Sample Survey (NSS) in 1950.
- Member of India’s First Planning Commission, contributed to Five-Year Plans.
- Awarded the Padma Vibhushan for his contribution to science and statistics.
- Advocate of data-based governance and
Other Important Facts
- National Statistics Day was first celebrated in
- World Statistics Day is observed by the United Nations every five years on 20th October.
