SSC · State PCS
In India, National Statistics Day is celebrated on:
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Answer: Option B — 29 June
Detailed Solution
National Statistics Day ("Sankhyiki Diwas") is celebrated in India every year on 29 June, the birth anniversary of Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, the father of Indian statistics.
About the day:
- The Government of India declared it in 2007, and it has been observed since then.
- It aims to create public awareness about the importance of statistics in planning, policy-making and everyday life.
- It is organised by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), and each year has a theme.
About P. C. Mahalanobis (1893-1972):
- He was born on 29 June 1893 in Calcutta.
- He studied physics at Presidency College, Calcutta, and at King's College, Cambridge, where he became interested in statistics.
He founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Calcutta in 1931. It was declared an Institute of National Importance by an Act of Parliament in 1959.
He started the journal "Sankhya" in 1933.
He introduced the "Mahalanobis distance" (1936), a statistical measure widely used in data analysis and classification.
He pioneered large-scale sample surveys in India and helped set up the National Sample Survey (NSS) in 1950 and the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) in 1951.
He developed the "Mahalanobis model" on which India's Second Five-Year Plan (1956-61) was based. It emphasised rapid growth of heavy industries.
He was a member of the Planning Commission (1955-1967).
He received the Padma Vibhushan in 1968 and was a Fellow of the Royal Society (1945).
Related statistical facts:
- The NSSO and CSO were merged in 2019 to form the National Statistical Office (NSO).
- World Statistics Day: 20 October, observed every five years (2010, 2015, 2020, 2025) by the UN.
Why not the other options?
- ✗20 October is World Statistics Day.
- ✗1 July is National Doctors' Day and Chartered Accountants' Day.
- ✗15 September is Engineers' Day.
Quick tip
Remember: National Statistics Day = 29 June (P. C. Mahalanobis; ISI 1931; Mahalanobis distance; Second Five-Year Plan model); World Statistics Day = 20 October (every five years).
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Important Days & Dates — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Important Days & Dates, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers national and international days observed through the year, such as National Youth Day, World Environment Day and International Yoga Day, along with the themes announced for them and the events or people they commemorate. Questions ask for the date of a day, the day observed on a given date, or the person it honours (for example, National Sports Day on 29 August marks the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand). Revise days month by month in a calendar format. Themes change every year, so learn the current year's themes from current affairs. Practise the important days questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.