Daily Current Affairs

India celebrated National Statistics Day on 29 June 2025 to underline the importance of statistics in evidence-based governance and socio-economic planning.

The day marks the birth anniversary of Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, a pioneering Indian statistician.

Mahalanobis’s contributions:

• Founded the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata
• Introduced the globally recognised Mahalanobis Distance
• Key architect of India’s Second Five-Year Plan, focusing on heavy industrialisation

The day reinforces the importance of reliable data in policymaking, monitoring welfare schemes, and measuring national development indicators.

On the occasion, government departments reiterated the use of advanced analytics, big data, and AI-powered dashboards to improve governance outcomes.

Statistical tools are increasingly used in:

• Poverty estimation
• Employment surveys
• Health and education indicators
• Climate and agricultural planning

India’s statistical system has expanded through digital data collection, real-time surveys, and improved transparency.

Institutions such as the National Statistical Office (NSO) play a critical role in:

• GDP estimation
• Inflation tracking
• Employment data collection

Experts emphasised that credible statistics are essential for global investor confidence and domestic policy reforms.

The International Day of the Tropics was observed on 29 June 2025 to recognise the ecological, cultural, and economic importance of tropical regions.

The tropics:

• Cover about 40% of Earth’s surface
• House nearly 80% of global biodiversity
• Are home to over 40% of the world’s population

The day highlights both opportunities (agriculture, tourism, biodiversity) and challenges (climate change, deforestation, poverty) faced by tropical nations, including India.

India reiterated the need for region-specific climate data to address tropical challenges such as:

• Heatwaves
• Monsoon variability
• Coastal erosion
• Biodiversity loss

Enhanced climate modelling and statistical forecasting are being promoted to support disaster preparedness and sustainable development.

Sports authorities highlighted how data analytics and performance statistics are increasingly shaping athlete training, injury prevention, and talent identification.

This reflects India’s growing professionalism in sports science.