Remembering C R Rao: Man of statistics and science

Source: The post is based on the article “Remembering C R Rao: Man of statistics and science” published in The Indian Express on 26th August 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Achievements of Indians in science & technology.

News: The article praises C. R. Rao’s vital role in statistics, explaining his innovations, awards, and influence. It mentions his academic journey, mentorship, and lasting impact on global and Indian statistical communities.

What are the major roles of C. R. Rao in the field of statistics?

Major Roles of C. R. Rao in Statistics

Pioneering Tools: Rao formulated the Cramer-Rao bound in 1945, setting a benchmark for assessing statistical techniques. His Rao-Blackwellisation concept in 1948 improved estimator efficiency.

Influential Publications: Over his career, Rao authored roughly 500 papers and 14 books, addressing complex statistical problems.

Multivariate Analysis: Rao’s work in multivariate analysis, estimation theory, and differential geometry was groundbreaking. His Fisher-Rao metric is widely used in probability and physics.

Applications Across Disciplines: His innovations impacted various fields. For instance, geologists use Rao-Blackwellised estimates for rock dating, and biologists use Rao’s score test for genetic associations.

Education & Mentorship: Rao’s textbook, published in 1952, influenced many statisticians, and he supervised over 30 PhD students, fostering the next generation of experts.

What are the major achievements of C. R. Rao?

Renowned Publications: He authored around 500 papers and 14 influential books on complex statistical challenges.

Prestigious Awards: Rao received the Guy Medal in silver (1965) and gold (1993) from the Royal Statistical Society. India honored him with the Padma Vibhushan in 2001, and the U.S. awarded him the National Medal of Science in 2002.

Global Impact: Known as ‘Rao’s children’, his academic descendant’s number over 50, spanning the globe, attesting to his widespread influence.

Institution Building: Rao played a crucial role in establishing the Indian Statistical Institute as a top-tier research center, leaving a lasting legacy in India.