<span style="color: #222222;">Statistics Day was observed today. It is celebrated every year on the birth anniversary of Prof. P C Mahalanobis on 29th June in recognition of his invaluable contribution in establishing the National Statistical System.<br />'' <br />'' This year, due to the global pandemic, the Statistics Day 2020 was celebrated through video conferencing.<br />'' <br />'' It was also live streamed nationally and internationally through various social media channels.<br />'' <br />'' The theme was Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)- 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages) and SDG – 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls).<br />'' <br />'' Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation Rao Inderjit Singh addressed the Statistics Day, 2020 gathering.<br />'' <br />'' Dr. Bibek Debroy, Chairman, Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council and President, Indian Statistical Institute, Prof. Bimal Kumar Roy, Chairman, among others also addressed the gathering on various aspects of the theme of the occasion and its importance.<br />'' <br />'' The Ministry has instituted a new award 'Prof. P. C. Mahalanobis National Award in Official Statistics' for recognizing outstanding achievement of official statisticians in Central Government, states and union territories and institutions.<br />'' <br />'' Prof. P. C. Mahalanobis National Award in Official Statistics 2020 was conferred upon Dr. Chakravarthi Rangarajan, Former Governor, Reserve Bank of India in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the National Statistical System in India.<br />'' <br />'' Presentations on various thematic items on challenges and way forward for achieving SDGs were also made.<br />'' <br />'' The d version of the Report on Sustainable Development Goals-National Indicator Framework (NIF) Progress Report, 2020 (version 2.1) was released during the event.<br />''<br />''Along with the report, the d NIF and a SDGs data snapshot handbook were also released.</span>