Chaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Saka Era corresponds to which one of the following dates of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days?
Contents12
- A22nd March (or 21st March)
- B15th May (or 16th May)
- C21st March (or 30th March)
- D21st April (or 20th April)
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Answer: (A) 22nd March (or 21st March)
India's national calendar is based on the Saka Era (starting year: 78 AD).
Chaitra is the first month.
Chaitra 1 falls on:
- 22nd March in a normal year (365 days),
- 21st March in a leap year (366 days).
This is easy to remember: India's financial year also starts close to this date (1st April).
The Saka calendar was adopted in 1957 along with the Gregorian calendar for official purposes.
(Ref: India Year Book)
India officially uses the Saka calendar alongside the Gregorian calendar, with Chaitra 1 marking the start of the national calendar year on March 22nd in normal years.
The Saka Era begins from 78 AD and was formally adopted as India's national calendar in 1957 for official government use.
UPSC tests whether students know this basic constitutional and administrative detail about India's dual calendar system.
Saka Era & National Calendar
Art And Culture Chaitra 1 Saka Era national calendar
Saka Era & India's National Calendar: Key Facts for UPSC
Chaitra 1 corresponds to 22nd March (normal year) or 21st March (leap year)
Saka Era starts from 78 AD, adopted as national calendar in 1957
Used alongside Gregorian calendar for official purposes in India
Chaitra is the first month of Saka calendar (12 months total)
What is the Saka Calendar
India's national calendar is based on the Saka Era, which began in 78 AD. Adopted in 1957 for official use alongside the Gregorian calendar, it helps preserve India's traditional time-keeping system while maintaining international compatibility.
Saka vs Gregorian Calendar
Aspect | Saka Calendar | Gregorian Calendar |
|---|---|---|
Starting Year | 78 AD (Saka Era) | 1 AD |
First Month | Chaitra (Mar-Apr) | January |
New Year | Chaitra 1 = 22nd/21st March | January 1 |
Total Months | 12 months | 12 months |
Official Status | National calendar since 1957 | International standard |
Usage in India | Government documents, almanacs | Daily life, business |
Key Features
Chaitra 1 timing helps align with spring season and agricultural cycles
India's financial year (April 1) starts close to Saka new year for practical coordination
Calendar uses solar year calculation like Gregorian system
All 12 months have Sanskrit names still used in Indian almanacs and festivals
Date confusion: Chaitra 1 is 22nd March in normal years, 21st March in leap years — not fixed
Era confusion: Saka Era starts 78 AD, not 0 AD like Gregorian calendar
Month confusion: Chaitra is first month, not a random month in the calendar
Adoption confusion: National calendar adopted in 1957, not at independence in 1947
Traditional Indian Calendar Systems
Art And Culture
Traditional Indian Calendar Systems: Types & Characteristics
Vikram Samvat (57 BC) and Saka Samvat (78 AD) are major eras
Lunar calendars follow moon phases, solar calendars follow sun's position
Most Indian festivals follow lunar calendar, official work uses solar calendar
Calendar Diversity
India has multiple traditional calendar systems developed over centuries. While the Saka calendar is now the official national calendar, Vikram Samvat and regional calendars remain important for festivals and cultural events.
Major Indian Calendar Eras
Calendar Era | Starting Year | Type | Primary Usage | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikram Samvat | 57 BC | Lunar-Solar | North India, festivals | Most widely used traditional calendar |
Saka Samvat | 78 AD | Solar | National calendar, South India | Official government calendar since 1957 |
Kali Yuga | 3102 BC | Traditional | Religious calculations | Longest continuous calendar system |
Bengali San | 594 AD | Solar | Bengal region | Follows solar year, Pohela Boishakh |
Malayalam Era | 825 AD | Solar | Kerala | Kollam Era, local festivals |
Calendar Types
# Indian Calendar Systems
## **Solar Calendars**
- Saka Samvat
- Tamil Calendar
- Bengali San
- Follow sun's position
## **Lunar Calendars**
- Islamic Hijri
- Some Hindu months
- Follow moon phases
- Shorter year (354 days)
## **Luni-Solar**
- Vikram Samvat
- Most Hindu calendars
- Combines both systems
- Adds leap monthsEra confusion: Vikram Samvat starts 57 BC, Saka Era starts 78 AD — don't mix the starting years
Usage confusion: Vikram Samvat is more popular traditionally, but Saka is the official national calendar
Type confusion: Solar calendars have 365/366 days, lunar calendars have 354 days annually
Gregorian Calendar in India
Art And Culture Gregorian calendar normal year 365 days
Gregorian Calendar Adoption & Dual System in India
India uses dual calendar system: Gregorian for daily life, Saka for official purposes
Gregorian calendar has 365 days (normal year) and 366 days (leap year)
Adopted during British period, retained after independence for international compatibility
Why Dual System
India adopted the Gregorian calendar during British rule for administrative convenience. After independence, rather than abandoning it completely, India created a dual system — Gregorian for international business and daily life, Saka for preserving cultural identity and official government use.
Calendar Usage in Modern India
Purpose | Primary Calendar | Secondary Calendar | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
Daily Life | Gregorian | Regional traditional | Bank dates, newspapers, TV |
Government Documents | Saka | Gregorian | Official notifications, gazette |
Business & Trade | Gregorian | - | International transactions, contracts |
Festivals & Religion | Traditional (Lunar) | Regional | Diwali, Eid, regional festivals |
Financial Year | Gregorian (Apr-Mar) | Saka alignment | Budget, taxation, accounts |
Practical Implementation
Government offices display both Saka and Gregorian dates on official documents
Newspapers often print traditional calendar dates alongside Gregorian dates
International coordination requires Gregorian calendar for global business and diplomacy
Cultural preservation achieved through continued use of traditional calendars for festivals
System confusion: India has dual calendar system, not single calendar replacement
Usage confusion: Gregorian dominates daily life, Saka is official but less visible
Leap year confusion: Both calendars adjust for leap years but on different dates