Why in news?
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has invited nominations for the Sukhatme National Award in Statistics – 2026. The award will be presented on Statistics Day (29 June 2026) and honours lifetime contributions by Indian statisticians aged 45 years or above.
Background
The award commemorates Pandurang Vasudeo Sukhatme (1911–1997), an eminent statistician who pioneered sampling techniques for agricultural surveys. Born near Pune, Sukhatme studied at Fergusson College and later earned a PhD and DSc from University College London, where he was influenced by R.A. Fisher, Jerzy Neyman and E.S. Pearson. His research on bipartition functions and representative sampling laid the foundation for agricultural statistics in India. Sukhatme founded the Indian Society of Agricultural Statistics and served as the head of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Statistics Division (1952–70). He received the Padma Bhushan in 1973 and the Guy Medal of the Royal Statistical Society for his work on nutrition.
About the award
- Aims: To recognise exceptional contributions in research and improvement of official statistics in India.
- Frequency: The award is given every two years, starting in 2000.
- Eligibility: Eminent Indian statisticians aged 45 years and above are eligible. Candidates may nominate themselves or be nominated by institutions.
- Honours: The awardee receives a citation, shawl and memento, and is invited to deliver a lecture on their work during the Statistics Day function.
About P.V. Sukhatme
- Education and career: After earning advanced degrees in London, Sukhatme taught at the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health and later joined the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) as a statistician.
- Societal contributions: He founded the Indian Society of Agricultural Statistics and served as its first honorary secretary, promoting statistical literacy among scientists.
- Global impact: As head of FAO’s Statistics Division, he standardised methods for measuring crop yields and under‑nutrition, co‑developing the Sukhatme–Margen hypothesis on caloric efficiency.
- Legacy: Sukhatme’s work ushered in what scholars call the “Sukhatme era” in agricultural statistics, influencing research and policy worldwide.
Conclusion
The Sukhatme National Award recognises statisticians who, like P.V. Sukhatme, advance the science of statistics for public good. Inviting nominations for the 2026 edition reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening the statistical system and honouring those who build it.
Sources: Press Information Bureau
