Syllabus:

GS3: Achievements of Indians in science & technology

Context:

Every year on June 29th, India celebrates National Statistics Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, the father of modern statistics in India. 

More on the news:

• This year’s theme, “75 Years of National Sample Survey”, highlights the monumental contributions of the National Sample Survey (NSS) in shaping evidence-based policymaking and governance. 
• The day serves as a reminder of the critical role statistics plays in economic planning, scientific research, and national development. 

Significance of National Statistics Day:

• In 2007, the Government of India designated June 29th as National Statistics Day to honour Mahalanobis’ birth anniversary. 
• The first National Statistics Day celebration took place in 2007 and has since become an annual event that highlights the crucial role of statistics in national development.

Three key publications released this year:

• Sustainable Development Goals – National Indicator Framework Progress Report, 2025
• Data Snapshot on Sustainable Development Goals – National Indicator Framework, 2025
• Sustainable Development Goals – National Indicator Framework, 2025.

P.C. Mahalanobis: The Architect of India’s Statistical System

• Early Life and Education: Born on June 29, 1893, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Mahalanobis graduated from Brahmo Boys School in 1908. His academic journey later took him to Cambridge University, where he developed an interest in statistics.

Foundational Contributions: 

• Indian Statistical Institute (ISI, 1931): Established as a pioneering center for statistical research and training.
• National Sample Survey (NSSO): Revolutionized large-scale data collection through scientific sampling techniques.
• Mahalanobis Distance: A statistical measure used to determine the distance between a data point and a distribution, widely applied in multivariate analysis.
• Five-Year Plans: Played a key role in India’s economic planning, emphasizing industrialization and correcting census errors.
• Recognition and Legacy: Awarded the Padma Vibhushan (1968) for his contributions to science.

The National Sample Survey (NSS):

• Evolution: Launched in 1950, the NSS conducts nationwide household surveys on socio-economic issues, employment, health, and agriculture.

Key functions:

• Annual Survey of Industries (ASI)
• Crop estimation and rural-urban price data collection
• Supervision of state-level statistical operations

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)

• Structure and Functions: Formed in 1999 by merging the Department of Statistics and the Department of Programme Implementation.

MoSPI comprises:

The Ministry has two wings, namely, Statistics and Programme Implementation. 

• The Statistics Wing called the National Statistical Office (NSO) consists of:
• Central Statistics Office (CSO)
• National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)
• The Programme Implementation (PI) Wing has three Divisions:
• Central Twenty Point Programme (TPP)
• Infrastructure and Project Monitoring (IPM)
• Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)