In honor of the contributions of Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, the Government of India celebrated Statistics Day on June 29, marking his birth anniversary. Designated as a national day since 2007, Statistics Day aims to raise public awareness, particularly among the youth, about the critical role of statistics in socio-economic planning and policy formulation.
This year’s theme, ‘Use of Data for Decision-Making’, highlights the importance of data-driven strategies in enhancing decision-making processes across various sectors.
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The central event took place at the Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt., with Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, serving as the Chief Guest. He reflected on Prof. Mahalanobis’s pivotal role in shaping India’s statistical framework and emphasized the need for continued reliance on data for policy-making to advance the nation’s development.
Prof. Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar, Chairman of the National Statistical Commission (NSC), and Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), also addressed the gathering. Prof. Karandikar highlighted the necessity of making data more accessible and emphasized the importance of interoperability and collaboration among various data-producing agencies.
#MoSPI has celebrated 18th Statistics Day successfully today i.e. 29.06.2024 at Manekshaw Centre Auditorium, New Delhi.
The event, themed “Use of Data for Decision-Making,” honoured the legacy of Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis. pic.twitter.com/hukreLjxVE— Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (@GoIStats) June 29, 2024
Dr. Garg discussed recent initiatives aimed at reducing data collection time lags, including the use of Computer-Aided Personal Interviews (CAPI) and the launch of the eSankhyiki portal.
The event was attended by senior officials from central and state governments, international organizations like the UN and World Bank, and other stakeholders. It was also live-streamed on the Ministry’s social media channels. Additionally, winners of the 2024 ‘On the Spot Essay Writing Competition’ for postgraduate students were honored.
During the technical session, Dr. Ajay Kumar, former Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, spoke on the significance of data in governance in the digital age. He underscored the expanding role of MoSPI. Mr. Luis Felipe Lopez-Calva from the World Bank Group followed with insights on global data usage practices, reinforcing that data serves as essential infrastructure for effective policymaking.
