The United Nations Statistical Commission celebrates third World Statistics Day on October 20, 2020 with the theme “connecting the world with data we can trust”. This theme reflects the importance of trust, authoritative data, innovation and the public good in national statistical systems.

Background of World Statistics Day

At its 41st Session in February 2010, the United Nations Statistical Commission proposed celebrating 20 October 2010 as World Statistics Day.

Acknowledging that the production of reliable, timely statistics and indicators of countries’ progress is indispensable for informed policy decisions and monitoring implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, the General Assembly adopted resolution, which officially designated October 20, 2010 as the first ever World Statistics Day. The theme was “service, professionalism, integrity: celebrating the many contributions and achievements of official statistics”.

In 2015, the General Assembly decided to designate October 20, 2015 as the second World Statistics Day under the theme “better data, better lives,” as well as to celebrate World Statistics Day every five years on 20 October.

The celebration of World Statistics Day 2020 is a global collaborative endeavour, organised under the guidance of the United Nations Statistical Commission.

United Nations Statistics Division

The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) is a global centre for data on all subject matters, bringing to the world statistical information compiled by the entire UN system. 

It is committed to the advancement of the global statistical system, by compiling and disseminating global statistical information, developing standards and norms for statistical activities, and supporting countries’ efforts to strengthen their national statistical systems. 

It also facilitates the coordination of international statistical activities and supports the functioning of the United Nations Statistical Commission.

Major roles of UNSD:

• Collection, processing and dissemination of statistical information.

• Standardisation of statistical methods, classifications and definitions.

• Implementation of technical cooperation programme.

• Coordination of international statistical programmes and activities.

• Monitor the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through a framework of indicators and statistical data.

Functions of UNSD:

The mandate and substantive focus of UNSD translate into seven core functions. They are:

• Provide a global centre for data on international trade, national accounts, energy, industry, environment and demographic and social statistics gathered from national and international sources.

• Promote international standards of methods, classifications and definitions used by national agencies.

• Assist Member States, at their request, to improve their statistical services by giving advice and training.

• Coordinate international statistical programmes and activities entrusted to the Division by the United Nations Statistical Commission and the Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities (CCSA).

• Provide input and secretarial support to the United Nations Statistical Commission.

• Facilitate the follow-up and review process of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, acting as Secretariat of the Inter-agency and Expert Group on SDG indicators and maintaining the global SDG indicators database.

• Promote modern surveying and mapping techniques as a tool for growth and development. 

United Nations Statistical Commission

The United Nations Statistical Commission, established in 1947, is the highest body of the global statistical system bringing together the chief statisticians from Member States from around the world. 

It is the highest decision making body for international statistical activities, responsible for setting of statistical standards and the development of concepts and methods, including their implementation at the national and international level.

The Statistical Commission oversees the work of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), and is a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council.

The Commission consists of 24 member countries of the United Nations elected by the United Nations Economic and Social Council on the basis of an equitable geographical distribution according to the following pattern:

(a) Five members from African States.

(b) Four members from Asia-Pacific States.

(c) Four members from Eastern European States.

(d) Four members from Latin American and Caribbean States.

(e) Seven members from Western European and other States.

The term of office of members is four years.

Monitoring statistics in India

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) came into existence as an independent ministry in 1999 after the merger of the Department of Statistics and the Department of Programme Implementation. 

The ministry has two wings:

1) Statistics Wing, called National Statistical Office (NSO).

2) Programme Implementation (PI) Wing. 

The Programme Implementation Wing has two divisions:

1) Infrastructure and Project Monitoring.

2) Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme. 

Besides these two wings, there is a National Statistical Commission (NSC) and one autonomous institute — Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) — declared as an institute of national importance by an Act of Parliament. 

Kshatrapati Shivaji, a 1986-batch Maharashtra cadre IAS officer, was appointed the secretary in the ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI) from September 1. The secretary at this ministry is known as the Chief Statistician of India.

Statistics Day in India

In recognition of the notable contributions made by Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the field of economic planning and statistical development, the government has designated June 29 every year, coinciding with his birth anniversary, as the Statistics Day in the category of Special Day to be celebrated at the national level. 

National Awards in Statistics

The ministry has instituted two National Awards in the names of two renowned statisticians in the country for outstanding and meritorious Research Work in Statistics.

• P.V. Sukhatme award is given to the senior Indian statisticians for their lifetime contribution.

• Prof. C.R. Rao award is given to young statisticians for his/her significant work in the field of statistics.

These awards are given in the alternate years.

In 2019, the ministry instituted a new award — Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis National Award in Official Statistics — for recognising outstanding achievement of official statisticians in the central government, state governments and institutions. 

National Statistical Office

The National Statistics Office (NSO) coordinates the statistical activities in the country and evolves statistical standards. 

NSO brings out important economic indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Index of Industrial Product (IIP), Consumer Price Index (CPI) and other official statistics to support Government decision making and framing of appropriate socio-economic policies/programmes. 

The NSO has a vast network of field offices spread across the length and breadth of the country for conducting nationwide large scale socio-economic surveys on a regular basis for providing insight into various facets of economy and society at large. 

Being the nodal agency in the country for official statistics, the NSO coordinates statistical activities amongst ministries/departments of the Centre as well as with the state/UT governments.

The National Accounts Division (NAD) of the NSO is responsible for preparation of National Accounts, which include the estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), National Income, Government/Private Final Consumption Expenditure, Capital Formation and Savings along with details of transactions of institutional sectors. 

National Statistical Commission

The setting up of the National Statistical Commission (NSC) followed the decision of the Cabinet to accept a recommendation of the Rangarajan Commission, which reviewed the Indian Statistical System in 2001. The NSC was initially constituted on July 12, 2006 and it has been functioning since then.

The NSC has a part-time chairperson and four part-time members, each having specialisation and experience in specified statistical fields. Also, the Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog is the ex-officio member of the NSC. The maximum tenure of a part-time chairperson/member is three years. The Chief Statistician of India is the secretary to the NSC.

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