Indian Statistical Institute to Celebrate 133rd Birth Anniversary of Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis and National Statistics Day 2026
Prof. Arup Bose Announced as Recipient of Sukhatme National Award in Statistics 2026
By Suman Munshi
Kolkata / New Delhi, June 29:
The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata, commemorates the 133rd Birth Anniversary of its founder, Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, on June 29, 2026, alongside the observance of National Statistics Day and ISI Workers’ Day, with a day-long programme at its historic campus on B.T. Road.
The celebration highlights the enduring legacy of Prof. Mahalanobis, widely regarded as the pioneer of statistical science in India and the architect of the country’s modern statistical system. This year’s Statistics Day was observed under the theme “Unlocking the Potential of Administrative Data,” as declared by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
The event was inaugurated with a garlanding ceremony at the bust of Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis at Amrapali Lawn at 10:00 a.m., followed by the main programme at the Platinum Jubilee Auditorium .
The programme graced by Prof. Somak Raychaudhury, Vice Chancellor of Ashoka University, who attended as the Chief Guest. Prof. Dipankar Dasgupta, Former Acting Director and faculty member of ISI, was the Special Guest and delivered a lecture on Prof. Mahalanobis’ remarkable contributions to economic planning and statistical development in India.
Several distinguished members of the Institute’s leadership also addressed the gathering, including:
- Prof. Amartya Kumar Dutta, Director, Indian Statistical Institute
- Prof. Sankar Kumar Pal, President, Indian Statistical Institute
- Prof. Biswabrata Pradhan, Dean of Studies, ISI
- Dr. Partha Pratim Mohanta, President, ISI Workers’ Organization
- Dr. Paramita Das, Convener of the Reception Committee, who will deliver the welcome address
- Shri Ravinder Kumar, Chief Executive (Administration & Finance), who will propose the vote of thanks.
Founded by Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, the Indian Statistical Institute has played a pioneering role in advancing statistical research, data science, economic planning, and policymaking in India. The annual observance of his birth anniversary and National Statistics Day serves as a tribute to his visionary contributions while promoting the growing importance of statistics and data-driven governance in national development.
Earlier this week, the Training Unit of the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Prof. Arup Bose, Professor (Retired) of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata, the recipient of the Sukhatme National Award in Statistics 2026.
The announcement, dated June 23, 2026, states that the award recognises Prof. Bose’s outstanding and sustained contributions to several areas of modern statistical science, including Statistical Theory, Probability, Random Matrix Theory, High-Dimensional Data Analysis, Resampling Methods, and Time Series Analysis.
Prof. Bose’s pioneering research has significantly influenced contemporary statistical research and its practical applications, earning him one of the country’s most prestigious recognitions in the field of statistics.
The award presented on June 29, 2026, as part of the National Statistics Day Celebration 2026 in New Delhi.
The announcement bears the signature of Himani Mehta, Deputy Director, Training Unit, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Government of India. It also indicates that copies of the communication were forwarded to relevant government departments, including MoSPI’s Media and Publicity Unit and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), for dissemination.
The Sukhatme National Award in Statistics is a significant national honour that recognises exceptional contributions to the advancement of statistical science and research in India.
— IBG NEWS
