Important Days★ Must Know

India Observes 20th National Statistics Day with Theme 'Unlocking the Potential of Administrative Data'

By TestNeeti Editorial TeamPublished Monday, 29 June 2026 2 min readSource: PIBArticle 1 of 6

On 29 June 2026, India observed the 20th National Statistics Day, organised by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The day is celebrated every year on June 29 to mark the 133rd birth anniversary of Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, the architect of India's modern statistical system and a pioneer of economic planning. The theme for 2026 is 'Unlocking the Potential of Administrative Data', underscoring the growing importance of using data generated through administrative processes for evidence-based policymaking and governance, and the need to strengthen data quality, interoperability and integration. At the event, the UN Resident Coordinator praised India's digital public infrastructure (DPI) ecosystem.

Key Facts & Details

9 points

1
India observed the 20th National Statistics Day on 29 June 2026.
2
It is celebrated to honour the 133rd birth anniversary of Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis.
3
Mahalanobis is regarded as the architect of India's statistical system and a pioneer of economic planning.
4
The 2026 theme is 'Unlocking the Potential of Administrative Data'.
5
The day is organised by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
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The theme stresses using administrative data for evidence-based policymaking and stronger data governance.

Deep Dive

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Mahalanobis founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Kolkata in 1931 and devised the famous Mahalanobis distance statistical measure.
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He designed the heavy-industry-focused Mahalanobis model that shaped India's Second Five-Year Plan.
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National Statistics Day is distinct from World Statistics Day (observed under the UN every five years).

Exam Focus

On whose birth anniversary is National Statistics Day observed, and what is the 2026 theme?

Exam Relevance & Angle

Important Days — with the date, the personality honoured and the year's theme — are among the most frequently asked static-plus-current GA questions. National Statistics Day links to P.C. Mahalanobis, the ISI, the Mahalanobis model/Second Five-Year Plan and MoSPI, all recurring exam touchpoints.

Target Exams

SBI POSBI ClerkIBPS POIBPS ClerkIBPS RRB OfficerIBPS RRB AssistantRBI Grade BRBI AssistantNABARD Grade ASSC CGLSSC CHSLRRB NTPCLIC AAONIACL AOUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

National Statistics Day is observed in India every year on 29 June, the birth anniversary of Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis (1893-1972), to recognise his contributions to statistics and economic planning. Mahalanobis founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Kolkata (1931), introduced the statistical measure known as the Mahalanobis distance, and developed the Mahalanobis model of growth emphasising heavy industry, which formed the basis of India's Second Five-Year Plan (1956-61). The day is organised by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the nodal body for India's official statistics, and each year carries a theme spotlighting a contemporary statistical priority.