Content

1. Sukhatme National Award in Statistics – 2026
2. Lokpal of India – Foundation Day 

Sukhatme National Award in Statistics – 2026

Why in News ?

• MoSPI invited online nominations for Sukhatme National Award in Statistics – 2026.
• Last date: 31 January 2026.

Relevance

GS I (Indian Society / History of Science / Awards)

• Evolution of scientific and statistical institutions in post-Independence India.
• Role of eminent Indians (e.g., P.V. Sukhatme) in nation-building through science.

About the Award

• Instituted by: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• Year of institution: 2000.
• Frequency: Given biennially (alternate years).
• Purpose:
  • Recognise exceptional / outstanding contributions in:
    • High-quality statistical research.
    • Improvement of official statistics system in India.

Eligibility Criteria

• Nationality: Indian.
• Age: 45 years and above.
• Nature of contribution:
  • Lifetime contributions and achievements.
  • Field: Statistics (especially official statistics).
• Nomination type:
  • Self-nomination allowed.
  • Nomination by institutions also permitted.

Nomination Process

• Mode: Online.
• Portal: National Awards Portal (awards.gov.in).
• Deadline: 31 January 2026.
• Additional source: MoSPI website (mospi.gov.in).

Significance for India

• Strengthens credibility and quality of official statistics.
• Encourages rigorous data culture in governance.
• Supports evidence-based policymaking.
• Reinforces India’s commitment to statistical transparency and accuracy.

About Sukhatme (Static Linkage)

• Named after P.V. Sukhatme:
  • Eminent Indian statistician.
  • Pioneer in agricultural statistics and sampling theory.
  • Instrumental in strengthening India’s statistical system post-Independence.

Prelims Pointers

• Award by MoSPI, not NSO separately.
• Given alternate years, not annually.
• Age criterion: 45+.
• Presented on Statistics Day (29 June).
• Focus on official statistics, not general mathematics.

Lokpal of India – Foundation Day 

Why in News ?

• Lokpal of India observed its Foundation Day on 16 January 2026.
• Reaffirmed commitment to integrity, accountability and transparent governance.

Relevance

GS II (Polity, Governance, Constitution)

• Anti-corruption institutional framework in India.
• Lokpal as:
  • Statutory body
  • Accountability mechanism over executive.
• Issues of:
  • Transparency
  • Checks and balances
  • Democratic oversight.
• Centre–State dimension (Lokpal–Lokayukta architecture).

Statutory & Constitutional Context

• Established under: Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
• Date of establishment:
  • 16 January 2014 (Section 3 came into force).
• Nature of institution:
  • Statutory, not constitutional.
  • Sui generis anti-corruption body.
• Mandate:
  • Inquiry and investigation into allegations of corruption against public functionaries, including highest executive authorities.

Foundation Day 2026

• Venue: Lokpal of India Office, New Delhi.
• Reason for modest in-house celebration:
  • Budgetary austerity and expenditure control.
• Contrast with 2025:
  • Lokpal Day 2025 was celebrated as a large national event at Manekshaw Centre.

Institutional Significance 

• Lokpal described as:
  • “Body by the people, of the people and for the people.”
• Core values emphasised:
  • Independence
  • Objectivity
  • Fairness
  • Rule of law
• Public trust reflected in:
  • Steady rise in complaints over last two years.
  • Projected exponential increase in complaints (2025–26) compared to 2024–25.
  • Increase in bench sittings.
  • Minimal pendency and timely disposal.

Democratic & Ethical Dimension

• Lokpal Day seen as:
  • Moment of institutional introspection.
  • Reaffirmation of ethical governance.
• Citizen role highlighted:
  • Citizens, NRIs and OCIs termed “ground soldiers against corruption”.
  • Silence against corruption equated to moral failure.
• Quote used:
  • “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression of the bad people, but the silence of the good people” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Historical Linkages

• Acknowledged contributions of:
  • Anna Hazare – mass anti-corruption movement.
  • Justice N. Santosh Hegde – former Lokayukta of Karnataka.
• Lokpal emerged from:
  • Sustained public demand for an independent anti-corruption mechanism.

Governance & Administrative Developments

• Inauguration of new IT Infrastructure & Data Centre:
  • End-to-end digitised, paperless complaint processing.
  • Enhances:
    • Efficiency
    • Confidentiality
    • Institutional capacity.
• Reflects shift towards:
  • Tech-enabled vigilance governance.

Social & Institutional Recognition

• Felicitation of:
  • Winners of competitions held on International Anti-Corruption Day (9 Dec 2025).
  • Longest-serving staff members.
  • Children of Lokpal staff excelling in:
    • Academics
    • Sports
    • Arts and culture.

Challenges 

• High complaint volume may:
  • Strain investigative capacity.
• Dependence on other agencies for investigation/prosecution.
• Awareness gap among rural and marginalised citizens.
• Need to balance:
  • Speed vs due process.

Way Forward

• Strengthen:
  • Institutional manpower and domain expertise.
  • Coordination with CBI and vigilance bodies.
• Expand:
  • Digital access and multilingual complaint mechanisms.
• Enhance:
  • Public awareness and whistle-blower protection.
• Align functioning with:
  • Rule of law
  • Constitutional morality
  • Citizen-centric governance.

Prelims Pointers 

• Lokpal established on 16 Jan 2014, not 2013.
• Created by Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
• Lokpal ≠ CBI; Lokpal supervises/inquires.
• Chairperson must be former CJI / SC Judge or eminent person.
• Lokpal is statutory, independent, sui generis body.