JE Lifestyle Desk: Every year is observed on June 29 to recognise the contributions of Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the fields of statistics and economic planning. It is UN-designated and is celebrated on October 25 every five years. Also known as the ‘Father of Indian Statistics,’ Professor Mahalanobis is known for his contribution to developing the Mahalanobis distance, a statistical measure used to determine the disparity between a point and distribution.
National Statistics Day 2023: History And Significance
The special occasion of National Statistics Day was designated to commemorate the contributions made by Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the field of statistics and economics. The government of India designated 29 June as National Statistics Day. The first National Statistics Day was celebrated in the country in 2007, and since then it has been observed every year.
National Statistics Day 2023: Theme
The theme for National Statistics Day 2023 is “Alignment of State Indicator Framework with National Indicator Framework for Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals.”
All You Need To Know About Professor Mahalanobis
Prasanta Mahalanobis was an Indian mathematician who made important contributions to statistics and to its application in meteorology and anthropology.
He started his education at Brahmo Boys’ School, which was founded by his grandfather Guru Charan Mahalanobis in 1904.
His contributions were massive on the academic side as the builder of the Indian Statistical Institute, organiser of the Indian statistical systems, a pioneer in the applications of statistical techniques to practical problems, an architect of the Indian Second Five Year Plan, and much more.
He was also the Principal of Presidency College for a few years and held the post of Meteorologist in the Alipore Observatory in Calcutta from 1922 to 1926.
He set up the Statistical laboratory in the baker laboratory of Presidency College, Calcutta, in the early 1920s.
Through his initiative in 1953, a small analogue computer was designed and built in the Institute.