Each year, on June 29, National Statistics Day is commemorated to honor the remarkable contributions of Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the fields of statistics and economic planning. Widely recognized as the ‘father of Indian statistics,’ Prof. Mahalanobis is renowned for his groundbreaking work on the Mahalanobis distance, a statistical measure used to assess the disparity between a point and a distribution.
Event Details and Chief Guest
The National Statistics Day 2023 event is currently underway at the Scope Convention Centre, Scope Complex, Lodhi Road in New Delhi. The esteemed Chief Guest for this occasion is Rao Inderjit Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
National Statistics Day Theme 2023
This year, National Statistics Day revolves around the theme of “Alignment of State Indicator Framework with National Indicator Framework for Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals.” This theme underscores the importance of aligning state-level indicators with the national framework to effectively monitor and achieve sustainable development goals.
Significance of National Statistics Day 2023
National Statistics Day holds great significance in raising public awareness, especially among the younger generation, about the pivotal role and significance of statistics in strategic planning, economic development, and policy formulation. It serves as a reminder to learn from the remarkable achievements of Prof. Mahalanobis in the field of statistics.
Historical Background and Prof. Mahalanobis’ Contributions
On June 5, 2007, the Indian government officially designated June 29 as National Statistics Day to pay homage to the invaluable contributions made by Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis. He played a pivotal role as a member of India’s inaugural planning commission and was instrumental in establishing the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in 1931.
Prof. Mahalanobis, born on June 29, 1893, in Kolkata, was an eminent scientist and statistician. His most notable accomplishment was the development of the “Mahalanobis Distance,” a formula employed to measure the distance between a point and its distribution points in multiple dimensions, which proves indispensable in classification and cluster analysis.
Another noteworthy milestone in Prof. Mahalanobis’ illustrious career was the establishment of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in 1950. Through the 1959 Act of the Indian Parliament, ISI was accorded the status of an institute of national importance.
In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the field of statistics and his dedicated service to the nation, Prof. Mahalanobis was honored with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan Award in 1968. Sadly, he passed away on June 28, 1972, one day before his 79th birthday, leaving behind an enduring legacy.
In conclusion, National Statistics Day serves as an annual tribute, celebrating the enduring legacy of Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis and his extraordinary contributions to the realm of statistics and economic planning. The event aims to heighten awareness, particularly among the younger generation, regarding the crucial role of statistics in shaping policies and fostering sustainable development.
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