National Statistics Day 2021: Remembering PC Mahalanobis On This Day - Know Theme, Other Details

The theme for this year National Statistics Day is End Hunger, Achieve Food Security and Improved Nutrition and Promote Sustainable Agriculture (Sustainable Developent Goal or SDG 2 of the UN). 

Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis with Pt Jawharlal Nehru. (Pic courtesy: isid.ac.in)

National Statistics Day 2021: June 29 is observed as National Statistics Day which also marks the birth anniversary of late Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis. Known as the 'father of Indian statistics', Mahalanobis, was born on June 29, 1893, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal.

Who’s PC Mahalanobis?

Mahalanobis is credited for the Mahalanobis distance, a statistical measure. This formula is used to find the distance between a point and a distribution, based on measurements in multiple dimensions. It is widely used in the field of cluster analysis and classification.

He also founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) and made significant contribution to the design of large-scale sample surveys. For all his contributions in this field, Mahalanobis has been considered the father of modern statistics in India.

Mahalanobis was also the member of the first Planning Commission of India.

Significance of National Statistics Day

June 29 has been dedicated to honor Mahalonobis’ invaluable contribution in establishing the National Statistical System, the ministry of statistics and programme implementation said in a release.

As a result of the pandemic, the main event of Statistics Day, 2021 is being organized through Video Conferencing/ Webcasting at NITI Aayog, New Delhi.

Importance of statistics

Statistics is one of the most important disciplines which form the basis of economic plans and policies. It exhibits facts in a precise and definitive form. It plays a crucial role in the health field and helps conduct social surveys. It is also an essential part of Mathematics.

2021 National Statistics Day Theme

The theme for this year's National Statistics Day is End Hunger, Achieve Food Security and Improved Nutrition and Promote Sustainable Agriculture (Sustainable Developent Goal or SDG 2 of the UN).  The Goal 2 seeks "sustainable solutions to end hunger in all its forms by 2030 and to achieve food security."