Background In recognition of the notable contributions made by Professor (late) Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the fields of statistics and economic planning, Government of India has designated June 29 every year, coinciding with his birth anniversary, as “Statistics Day” in the category of Special Days to be celebrated at the national level. The main objective of celebrating Statistics Day is creation of public awareness, especially among the younger generation, on the role and importance of statistics in socio-economic planning and policy formulation for development of the country. Since 2007, Statistics Day is celebrated every year with a theme of contemporary national importance. The theme for 19th Statistics Day is‘75 Years of National Sample Survey’, highlighting the enduring legacy and impact of the National Sample Survey in strengthening the statistical system of the country. Statistics Day 2026 The 20th Statistics Day would be held on June 29, 2026. On the occasion Sukhatme National Award in Statistics, instituted by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation to recognize the exceptional/ outstanding contribution made by the individuals in terms of high-quality research work, to improve the system of official statistics is awarded. This prestigious award is given in alternate years since the year 2000 to eminent Indian Statisticians of the age 45 years and above for their Lifetime Contributions and Achievements in the field of Statistics. Nominations have been invited online for Sukhatme National Award in Statistics – 2026 through the National Awards Portal. The eligible candidates can nominate themselves or the names can also be proposed by institution. To improve accessibility and engagement with official statistical products, the GoIStat mobile App was launched for enhancing the ease of access of official statistical data. The GoIStat mobile application represents NSO’s vision of creating an inclusive data ecosystem where every stakeholder can seamlessly access official data on the go. This new addition in the bouquet of dissemination services of the Ministry completes the website-portal-mobile app trinity provided to the public for accessing the official statistical data. Source: PIB