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Tracing the Genesis                                                                                        

National Statistics Day was first celebrated in 2007 to recognize the invaluable contributions of Professor P.C. Mahalanobis to the field of statistics and economic planning. Known as the 'Father of Modern Statistics in India,' Mahalanobis founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) and developed the Mahalanobis Distance, a widely used statistical measure. His work laid the foundation for India's national statistical system, significantly impacting economic planning and policy formulation.

The first National Statistics Day was commemorated in 2007. Following that event, a proclamation was released in the Indian Gazette on June 5, 2007. Since then, seminars, conferences, discussions, and contests have been conducted on this day to raise awareness of the role of official statistics in nationwide progress.

Statistics Day 2024

National Statistics Day 2024 will focus on the theme "Use of Data for Decision Making," highlighting the critical role that data plays in informing decisions across various sectors, driving sustainable development, and fostering innovation.

The celebration will include seminars, workshops, and educational programs aimed at promoting statistical literacy and showcasing the practical applications of statistics in policy- making and everyday life. By emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making, Statistics Day 2024 aims to inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation of statistics, encouraging individuals and organizations to harness the power of data for the betterment of society.

Relevance and Significance of National Statistics Day    

5. Honoring Contributions: It honors the contributions of Indian statisticians, especially Professor P.C. Mahalanobis, whose work has left an indelible mark on the field.

5. Promoting Statistics: The day aims to popularize statistics as a field of study, encouraging students and researchers to delve into this important discipline.

5. Public Awareness: It raises public awareness about the role of statistics in everyday life and its importance in shaping policies for societal welfare.

5. Inspires Youth: Encourages young minds to learn and apply statistics in daily life, fostering a new generation of statisticians.

5. Policy Development: Highlights the use of statistics in developing and outlining effective policies for the country's progress.

5. Showcases Practical Applications: Demonstrates the diverse applications of statistics across various sectors, emphasizing its relevance in governance and daily activities.

National Statistics Day: Theme over the years

A glance at previous National Statistics Day

• At National Statistics Day 2023 event, Sustainable Development Goals-National Indicator Framework Progress Report was released. It underscored India's progress towards sustainable development goals.

• National Statistics Day 2022 event was the joint awarding of the Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis National Award in Official Statistics to Shri Dilip Kumar Sinha and Dr. K. P. Suresh, along with the Prof. P.V. Sukhatme National Award for lifetime contribution in statistics to Dr. Padam Singh.

• Statistics Day 2021 focused on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) - 2, emphasizing efforts to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

• Statistics Day 2020 celebration was centered around Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG-3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages) and  SDG-5  (Achieve  gender  equality  and  empower  all  women  and  girls).

• Statistics Day 2019 focused on revamped portal for the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) and the SDG Dashboard.

• At Statistics Day 2018, commemorative coins were released in honor of Professor P. C. Mahalanobis on his 125th Birth Anniversary. The then Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu released a commemorative coin of Rs 125 and a circulation coin of Rs 5 denomination at the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata.

• 29th June, 2017 marked the beginning of the 125th year of birth of Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis. On the occasion of 11th Statistics Day, an exhibition was inaugurated on Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis in Mahalanobis Bhawan, Baranagar, Kolkata.

• On 29^th June, 2016, the 10^th Statistics Day was celebrated all over India by the Ministry, State Governments, Offices of National Sample Survey Office spread throughout the country, Indian Statistical Institute, Universities/Departments, etc.

• The 9^th Statistics Day, 2015 was celebrated by organizing Seminars, Conferences, etc. On this occasion, National Award in Statistics, constituted in the Honour of Prof. C.R. Rao was conferred to Dr. Hukum Chandra, Scientist, IASRI and Dr. Pulak Ghosh, Professor IIM, Bangalore

• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation celebrated the 8th Statistics Day 2014 on the theme ‘Services Sector Statistics’ in view of contribution and importance of this sector to Indian economy.

• 2013 Statistics Day theme focused on "Labour and Employment Statistics," emphasizing the role of statistics in understanding and addressing issues related to labor and employment in India

• 2012 Statistics Day’s theme was based on "Industrial Statistics," aimed at enhancing the quality of data in this field for objective planning and policy making

• 2011 Statistics Day focused on "Gender Statistics." This theme underscored the importance of collecting, analyzing, and utilizing gender-disaggregated data to support effective planning and monitoring of women empowerment programs in India.

• The fourth Statistics Day was celebrated on 29^th June 2010. The theme of Statistics Day 2010 was “Child Statistics”

• The Third Statistics Day was celebrated on 29^th June 2009 with two National Awards in Statistics in honour of great Indian Statistician Prof. C.R. Rao and in memory of Prof. P.V. Sukhatme.