Why in the News?
June 29 is observed annually as National Statistics Day in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, hailed as the Father of Indian Statistics.
About National Statistics Day:
- Purpose: National Statistics Day is observed on June 29 each year to commemorate the birth anniversary of P.C. Mahalanobis and highlight the value of statistics in national development.
- First Observance: It was first celebrated in 2007, following a government resolution to raise awareness about the role of statistics in socio-economic planning.
- Objectives: It aims to emphasise the use of statistical tools in governance, policy-making, and development planning.
- Organizers: Events are led by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI).
- Annual Themes: Each year features a dedicated theme focusing on a statistical challenge or development goal.
- Events and Outreach: Celebrations include seminars, exhibitions, competitions, and lectures across institutions.
- Commemorative Status: Though not a public holiday, it is a nationally recognized observance.
Who was P.C. Mahalanobis?
- Background: He was born on June 29, 1893, in Kolkata, into a Brahmo Samaj family.
- Education: He studied at Presidency College and later at King’s College, Cambridge.
- Legacy Title: He is hailed as the Father of Modern Statistics in India and was known as “The Professor”.
- Institution Builder: He founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) and helped set up India’s Planning Commission.
- His Major Contributions:
- National Sample Survey (NSS): Launched in 1950, it enabled the systematic collection of household data for policymaking.
- Mahalanobis Distance: Introduced in 1936, it remains a widely used statistical tool for identifying outliers in data.
- Applied Statistics: He applied statistical methods to flood control in Bengal and Odisha, offering cost-effective solutions.
- Planning Vision: Mahalanobis played a key role in drafting the Second Five-Year Plan, focusing on industrialisation and state-led growth.
- Academic Promotion: He started the journal Sankhya, modeled on Biometrika, to foster statistical research in India.
- Infrastructure Vision: His early proposal led to the Hirakud Dam project, completed in 1957.
- Balanced Approach: Though viewed as pro-Soviet during the Cold War, he was admired for his intellectual integrity.
| [UPSC 2016] A recent movie titled The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the biography of:
(a) S. Ramanujan (b) S. Chandhrashekhar (c) S. N. Bose (d) C. V. Raman |
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