
National Statistics Day 2024: On Saturday, June 29, India will celebrate National Statistics Day 2024 in memory of Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis , who is known as the father of Indian statistics. This day honours his significant contributions to the fields of statistics and economic planning.
National Statistics Day highlights the crucial role of statistical data in policy-making and development planning. The observance aims to raise public awareness about the importance of statistics in socio-economic planning and encourage the use of statistical tools and techniques in addressing real-world challenges.
Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, who was born on June 29, 1893, is renowned as a pioneering Indian statistician and known as the
‘Father of Indian Statistics’
. His birth anniversary is annually celebrated as National Statistics Day in India.
Mahalanobis played a crucial role in the planning process of independent India by formulating the
Second Five-Year Plan
and is credited with the Mahalanobis model, which emphasized the importance of the industrial sector in economic development. His visionary work in the application of statistical methods has left a lasting legacy in the fields of statistics, economics, and national planning.
| Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis Biography | |
| Particular | Details |
| Birth | June 29, 1893 |
| Also Known As | The Father of Indian Statistics |
| Birthplace | Calcutta, Bengal Presidency (now Kolkata, West Bengal) |
| Education | Presidency College, King's College, and Cambridge University |
| Career | Professor of Physics; Principal of Presidency College; Founder and Chief Executive of Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) |
| Contributions | Statistical Laboratory in the Presidency College, Mahalanobis distance, Mahalanobis model, Indian Journal of Statistics, Sankhya, etc. |
| Awards | Padma Vibhushan (1968), Honorary Fellow of King's College, Cambridge |
| Legacy | Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in 1931 |
| Spouse | Nirmal Kumari Mahalanobis |
| Death | June 28, 1972 (at the age of 78) |
