Probability and Statistics Online Course | IIT Kharagpur NPTEL | Prof. Somesh Kumar
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 320 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Core |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Mathematics |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 26 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Unlock the Power of Data with a Foundational Course in Probability and Statistics
In today's data-driven world, the ability to understand uncertainty, analyze patterns, and make informed decisions based on data is a superpower. Whether you're an engineering student, a budding data scientist, a researcher, or a professional in finance or analytics, a strong grasp of Probability and Statistics is indispensable. This is where the meticulously designed online course by Prof. Somesh Kumar from IIT Kharagpur becomes an invaluable resource.
About the Instructor: Learn from an Esteemed Expert
Prof. Somesh Kumar is a distinguished professor in the Department of Mathematics at IIT Kharagpur with over 32 years of teaching experience. His expertise spans a wide range of statistical domains, including Statistical Inference, Stochastic Processes, Regression Analysis, and Decision Theory. A prolific educator, his NPTEL courses are highly popular, and he has extended his reach through national television under the IIT-PAL scheme. With more than 100 research publications and supervision of numerous Ph.D. and Master's dissertations, Prof. Kumar brings both academic rigor and practical insight to this course. His current research even includes innovative projects like “Drone for Vaccine Delivery,” showcasing the real-world impact of statistical methodology.
Course Overview: What You Will Learn
This 12-week undergraduate/postgraduate level course is structured to take you from the fundamental axioms of probability to advanced topics in statistical inference. It is designed not just to teach formulas, but to build deep conceptual understanding through examples and application-oriented problems.
Intended Audience: Any interested learner, particularly students and professionals in Science, Engineering, Technology, Economics, and Social Sciences.
Prerequisites: A good knowledge of Differential and Integral Calculus, Sequences and Series, and Basic Linear/Matrix Algebra is required.
Detailed 12-Week Course Layout
| Week | Key Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Week 1-2 | Foundations: Sets, Probability Definitions, Conditional Probability, Independence, Random Variables. |
| Week 3-5 | Distributions: Moments, Special Discrete & Continuous Distributions (Binomial, Poisson, Normal, etc.). |
| Week 6-7 | Multivariate Concepts: Joint Distributions, Correlation, Bivariate Normal, Transformations. |
| Week 8 | Sampling Distributions: Chi-Square, t, and F-Distributions; Descriptive Statistics. |
| Week 9-10 | Estimation Theory: Unbiased Estimators, MLE, MME, UMVUE, Sufficiency, Confidence Intervals. |
| Week 11-12 | Hypothesis Testing: Neyman-Pearson Lemma, Tests for Mean & Variance, t-Tests, Proportion Tests. |
Why This Course is Essential for Your Career
Industry Relevance: Statistical methods form the backbone of modern industries. This course is directly applicable and highly valued in:
- Business Analytics & Data Science
- Banking, Finance, and Insurance (Risk Modeling)
- Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
- Engineering and Quality Control
- Research & Development across all scientific disciplines
Mastering this content will provide you with the critical thinking tools needed to solve complex, real-world problems and give you a significant edge in the job market.
Recommended Textbooks for Further Study
To complement the video lectures, Prof. Kumar recommends several authoritative texts, including:
- An Introduction to Probability and Statistics by V.K. Rohatgi & A.K. Md. E. Saleh
- Probability and Statistical Inference by Hogg, Tanis, & Zimmerman
- Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists by Walpole, Myers, Myers, & Ye
- Introduction to the Theory of Statistics by Mood, Graybill, and Boes
Enroll Today and Build Your Analytical Foundation
Prof. Somesh Kumar's Probability and Statistics course is more than just an online class; it's a comprehensive journey into the language of data. With clear explanations, a logical progression from basics to advanced topics, and instruction from one of India's leading statistics educators, this course offers an unparalleled learning opportunity. Whether you are preparing for advanced studies, aiming to switch to a data-centric role, or simply want to strengthen your analytical skills, this course is the perfect starting point. Take the first step towards mastering data—enroll now!
Enroll Now →