India’s statistical community is set to come together in Udaipur on Tuesday as the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) hosts the culmination ceremony of the 75th anniversary of the National Sample Survey (NSS) along with World Statistics Day. The event will mark the conclusion of a year-long nationwide celebration honouring the country’s survey system and its contribution to evidence-based policymaking.
Themed “National Sample Survey: From the glorious past to the promising future for Viksit Bharat @ 2047”, the anniversary celebrations have spanned technical workshops, outreach programmes and cultural activities across NSS offices. These initiatives have highlighted the survey organisation’s role in shaping India’s expanding data ecosystem.
The day will begin with a ceremonial lamp lighting and a musical presentation by regional officials, followed by the inaugural session. Geeta Singh Rathore, Director General, NSS, will deliver the welcome address, while Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI, will outline the future agenda for strengthening data quality and innovation.
A series of key national releases will be unveiled, including a coffee table book titled The Story of National Sample Survey, a new edition of Stories Behind Numbers—journal of Field Operations Division, issues 118 & 119 of Sarvekshana, the National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025, and the launch of the DI Lab portal. These publications reflect what the Ministry described as the “institutional memory and forward-looking capabilities of India’s statistical architecture.”
Cultural performances from field offices will showcase India’s diversity and the spirit of teamwork behind the country’s data-collection machinery.
A panel moderated by former DG (NSS) S. L. Menaria will include voices from rural administration, entrepreneurship and grassroots governance, sharing how survey data captures lived experiences. A MoSPI official noted that such discussions underline the core message: statistics are not abstract figures, but stories of people and progress.
Aligned with the theme of World Statistics Day — “Quality Statistics and Data for Everyone” — the post-lunch segment will feature a session on communication strategies for field functionaries, conducted in collaboration with the Gates Foundation, and a demonstration of digital data collection tools used for Consumer Price Index surveys.
The event will conclude with a patriotic performance by officials from Thiruvananthapuram and felicitation of participants. A senior NSO officer will deliver the vote of thanks.
