National Statistics Day

Every year on June 29, India celebrates National Statistics Day. Statistics is the mathematical study of data. It includes the collection, organization and presentation of data. This day is celebrated to honour the birth anniversary of the late scientist and statistician, Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis. PC Mahalanobis, popularly known as the Father of Indian Statistics, made many contributions to the field of statistics. 

PC Mahalanobis was born on June 29, 1893, in Kolkata, where he pursued his college education. After completing his higher education, PCMahalanobis became a professor at Presidency College. Here he would apply statistical methods to solve problems in biology and other subjects. 

The Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata was established by him in 1931. His formula of Mahalanobis distance helped develop the industries in India. To encourage statistical projects in India, he developed the Central Statistical Organization in 1951. In 1949, he became the honorary statistical adviser to the government of India. For all his achievements and contributions, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1968. 

National Statistics Day was established in 2007 in India and has been celebrated every year since, as a tribute to PC Mahalanobis.