The Department of Statistics and Data Science at IIT Kanpur was established in June 2026, building upon the Institute’s distinguished legacy in probability and statistics that dates back to the 1970s. The Department traces its roots to the renowned Probability and Statistics Group, which flourished for decades within the Department of Mathematics and made nationally and internationally recognized contributions to research, education, and the advancement of the statistical sciences in India. The Group trained generations of statisticians and researchers who have gone on to make significant contributions in academia, industry, and government. As the discipline has evolved to embrace new challenges and opportunities arising from data science and machine learning, the time was ripe for a dedicated Department. Its establishment is both a celebration of a rich academic heritage and a commitment to shaping the future of the Statistical Sciences.

As one of the first dedicated departments in the Statistical Sciences among the IITs and IISERs, the Department reflects both the growing importance of the discipline and IIT Kanpur’s longstanding leadership in the field. It inherits a strong tradition of scholarship in probability theory, statistical inference, stochastic processes, and applied statistics, while expanding its scope to address emerging challenges in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

The Department is committed to fostering cutting-edge research across the broad spectrum of the Statistical Sciences, encompassing probability, statistics, data science, and machine learning. It promotes interdisciplinary collaboration within IIT Kanpur and beyond, recognizing that many of today’s most significant scientific and societal challenges require expertise that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Looking ahead, the Department aspires to be a leading global centre for research and education in the Statistical Sciences. Through its undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs, we seek to nurture future generations of scholars, innovators, and leaders equipped to advance knowledge, shape technology, and contribute to evidence-based decision making for the benefit of society.