UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — MoSPI Celebrated 20th Statistics Day to commemorate the 133rd Birth Anniversary of Prof. P. C. Mahalanobis with the theme ‘Unlocking the Potential of Administrative Data”
Q1. With reference to the work and legacy of Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis, consider the following:
1. Founding of the Indian Statistical Institute in 1931
2. Introduction of the Mahalanobis Distance in 1936
3. The two-sector growth model underlying the Second Five-Year Plan
4. Establishment of the Reserve Bank of India
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly associated with him?
- Founding of the Indian Statistical Institute in 1931
- Introduction of the Mahalanobis Distance in 1936
- The two-sector growth model underlying the Second Five-Year Plan
- Establishment of the Reserve Bank of India
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 1 and 3
- D. 4 only
Q2. The Indian Statistical Institute, founded by P.C. Mahalanobis, currently functions under the administrative control of which one of the following?
- A. Ministry of Education
- B. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
- C. NITI Aayog
- D. Ministry of Finance
Q3. With reference to National Statistics Day in India, consider the following:
1. It is observed on 29 June every year.
2. It was instituted by the Government of India in 2007.
3. It commemorates the birth anniversary of P.C. Mahalanobis.
4. It was first observed in 1950, coinciding with the founding year of the National Sample Survey.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It is observed on 29 June every year.
- It was instituted by the Government of India in 2007.
- It commemorates the birth anniversary of P.C. Mahalanobis.
- It was first observed in 1950, coinciding with the founding year of the National Sample Survey.
- A. 1 only
- B. 4 only
- C. 2 and 3
- D. 1 and 4
Q4. Consider the following statements about recent editions of Statistics Day:
1. The 2024 theme was 'Use of Data for Decision Making'.
2. The 2025 theme was '75 Years of National Sample Survey'.
3. The 2026 theme was 'Unlocking the Potential of Administrative Data'.
4. The 2026 edition was celebrated as the 25th Statistics Day.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The 2024 theme was 'Use of Data for Decision Making'.
- The 2025 theme was '75 Years of National Sample Survey'.
- The 2026 theme was 'Unlocking the Potential of Administrative Data'.
- The 2026 edition was celebrated as the 25th Statistics Day.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q5. In which year was the National Statistical Office (NSO) formed under MoSPI through the merger of the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)?
- A. 2005
- B. 2007
- C. 2019
- D. 2015
Q6. With reference to the statistical products and structure of MoSPI, consider the following statements:
1. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) are compiled by MoSPI's National Statistical Office.
2. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) is also released by MoSPI.
3. The NSO was created in 2019 by merging the CSO and the NSSO.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) are compiled by MoSPI's National Statistical Office.
- The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) is also released by MoSPI.
- The NSO was created in 2019 by merging the CSO and the NSSO.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. Which one of the following best exemplifies a primary source of 'administrative data' as distinct from data collected through statistical surveys?
- A. Periodic Labour Force Survey
- B. Goods and Services Tax (GST) return filings
- C. National Sample Survey on consumption expenditure
- D. Census of India enumeration
Q8. Consider the following data sources:
1. Civil registration of births and deaths
2. Goods and Services Tax (GST) filings
3. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)
4. Vehicle registration records (Vahan database)
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as sources of administrative data?
- Civil registration of births and deaths
- Goods and Services Tax (GST) filings
- The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)
- Vehicle registration records (Vahan database)
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q9. The 20th Statistics Day, observed in 2026, commemorated which birth anniversary of Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis?
- A. 130th
- B. 132nd
- C. 133rd
- D. 134th
Q10. Consider the following statements about the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI):
1. It was founded by P.C. Mahalanobis in 1931 at Kolkata.
2. It was declared an Institution of National Importance through an Act of Parliament in 1959.
3. It currently functions under the Ministry of Education.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It was founded by P.C. Mahalanobis in 1931 at Kolkata.
- It was declared an Institution of National Importance through an Act of Parliament in 1959.
- It currently functions under the Ministry of Education.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q11. Consider the following statements about the National Statistical Commission (NSC):
1. It was set up on the recommendation of the Rangarajan Commission.
2. It is a statutory body created under an Act of Parliament.
3. The Rangarajan Commission was constituted in 2000 under the chairmanship of C. Rangarajan.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It was set up on the recommendation of the Rangarajan Commission.
- It is a statutory body created under an Act of Parliament.
- The Rangarajan Commission was constituted in 2000 under the chairmanship of C. Rangarajan.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q12. MoSPI's 2026 National Deliberative Summit on 'Harmonizing Administrative Data for Governance' was convened in which one of the following cities?
- A. New Delhi
- B. Bhubaneswar
- C. Kolkata
- D. Hyderabad