**Executive Summary**
On 29 June 2026, the National Statistical Office (NSO) celebrated the 20th Statistics Day in Nagpur to highlight the role of administrative data in evidence-based governance. The event, themed "Unlocking the Potential of Administrative Data for Decision-Making," commemorated the birth anniversary of Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis. Key activities included technical addresses on emerging technologies and awareness-raising competitions for students and the public.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Event Objectives and Theme**
* **Commemoration:** The event marked the 20th Statistics Day and the birth anniversary of eminent statistician Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis.
* **Thematic Focus:** The 2026 theme focused on "Unlocking the Potential of Administrative Data for Decision-Making" to foster citizen-centric policymaking.
* **Organizing Bodies:** The program was a joint effort by the NSO’s Zonal Office, Regional Office, and the Household Survey Unit.
**Strategic Role of Data in Governance**
* **Evidence-Based Policy:** Statistics were identified as the "eyes and ears of the Government," essential for effective governance.
* **Data Integration:** Officials underscored the necessity of integrating administrative data with survey data to improve public service delivery.
* **Modernization:** Speakers highlighted the growing relevance of statistics in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Big Data.
**Ethics and Professional Standards**
* **Core Principles:** Young statisticians were encouraged to adopt emerging technologies while maintaining the principles of accuracy and reliability.
* **Ethical Usage:** Guest speakers emphasized the transformative role of administrative data and the importance of its ethical use in research and public welfare.
**Public Engagement and Awareness**
* **Educational Outreach:** To encourage awareness of statistics in national development, the NSO organized competitions including quizzes, poster-making, slogan writing, and crosswords for students and the public.
**Impact Analysis**
**National Statistical Office (NSO) and Government Bodies**
**Impact**
The NSO is positioned as a critical driver for responsive governance through the management of robust data systems.
**Action Required**
Must prioritize the integration of administrative and survey data to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and public service delivery.
**Young Statisticians and Students**
**Impact**
This group is identified as the future workforce tasked with navigating the intersection of traditional statistics and emerging technologies like AI.
**Action Required**
Need to leverage Big Data and Data Science tools while strictly upholding the ethical standards, accuracy, and reliability of official statistics.
**Researchers and the General Public**
**Impact**
The public gains a better understanding of how statistics contribute to national development, while researchers gain insights into the transformative potential of administrative data.
**Action Required**
Participants and researchers should utilize available data ethically to contribute to research, governance, and public welfare.
Key Entities Referenced
Statistics Day: An annual national observance held on the birth anniversary of Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis to highlight the role of statistics in evidence-based governance and policymaking.
National Statistical Office (NSO): The primary statistical wing of the Government of India responsible for the coordination of statistical activities, data collection, and organizing the commemorative event.
Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis: A renowned statistician whose birth anniversary is celebrated as Statistics Day in recognition of his foundational contributions to India’s statistical system.
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation: The central ministry that oversees the NSO and is responsible for maintaining statistical standards and national programme implementation.
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
NSO Nagpur Marks 20th Statistics Day,
Highlights Role of Administrative Data in
Governance
प्रव तथ: 29 JUN 2026 5:35PM by PIB Mumbai
Nagpur, 29 June 2026
The National Statistical Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation, Government of India, celebrated the 20th Statistics Day in Nagpur on Monday,
highlighting the growing importance of administrative data in strengthening evidence-based
governance and informed policymaking. The programme was jointly organised by the NSO's
Zonal Office (Coordination & Quality Control Division), Regional Office (Field Operations Division)
and Household Survey Unit at the Indian Bureau of Mines, Civil Lines.
The event commenced with floral tributes to the portrait of eminent statistician Prof. P.C.
Mahalanobis, whose birth anniversary is observed as Statistics Day, followed by the ceremonial
lighting of the lamp and screening of a documentary on his life and contributions to India's
statistical system.
Delivering the welcome address, Shri Srinivas Uppala, Deputy Director General, NSO, described
statistics as the "eyes and ears of the Government" and underscored the need to integrate
administrative and survey data for effective governance and improved public service delivery.
Referring to this year's theme, "Unlocking the Potential of Administrative Data for Decision-
Making," he said robust data systems are essential for responsive and citizen-centric
policymaking.
Shri Niyati Joshi, Deputy Director General, NSO, highlighted the increasing relevance of
statistics in the era of Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Big Data, and encouraged young
statisticians to leverage emerging technologies while upholding the principles of accuracy andreliability in official statistics.
Guest speakers Dr. Aparna Samudra, Assistant Professor, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur
University, and Shri T.K. Basu, former Additional Director General, emphasized the ethical use of
data and the transformative role of administrative data in research, governance and public
welfare.
Poster-making, slogan writing, speech, quiz, crossword and word-search competitions were also
organised as part of the celebration to encourage greater awareness among students and the
public about the importance of statistics in national development.
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