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Q84 (IAS/2014) History & Culture › Heritage & Misc Culture › National symbols and calendar Official Key

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?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The Indian National Calendar year begins on 22 March, which is the day after the spring equinox.[1] Chaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Saka Era generally corresponds to March 22 of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days.[2] In leap years, it corresponds to March 21.[2]

The Indian National Calendar, also known as the Saka Calendar, was adopted for use with effect from 21 March 1956 CE, that is, 1 Chaitra 1878 Saka.[3] This calendar system ensures synchronization with the Gregorian calendar while maintaining traditional Indian month names. The variation between March 22 (normal years) and March 21 (leap years) accounts for the adjustment needed to keep the calendar aligned with astronomical events, particularly the spring equinox. Therefore, option A correctly identifies both possible dates for Chaitra 1 in the Saka Era calendar.

Sources
  1. [1] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 11: Keeping Time with the Skies > Fig. 11.9: Indian National Calendar > p. 182
  2. [3] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 11: Keeping Time with the Skies > Ever heard of ... > p. 183
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. 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 n…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 7.5/10
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This is a classic 'National Symbols' question derived directly from the India Year Book (Chapter 2) and basic NCERT Geography. It tests the official administrative definition of Indian time. It is a fair, static GK question: you either know the specific adoption date or you derive it using the Vernal Equinox logic.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Does Chaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Saka Era correspond to 22nd March (or 21st March) of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 11: Keeping Time with the Skies > Fig. 11.9: Indian National Calendar > p. 182
Presence: 5/5
“It is a solar calendar (Fig. 11.9) consisting of 365 days in a year. The year begins on 22 March, which is the day after the spring equinox. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, months in the Indian National Calendar have either 30 or 31 days. The names of these months were taken from traditional Indian calendars. In a regular year, the second to sixth months have 31 days and the rest have 30 days. The leap years are matched to the Gregorian calendar by adding a day to Chaitra, the first month of the year. In such years, the new year begins on 21 March of the Gregorian calendar.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states the Indian National Calendar year begins on 22 March in a regular (365-day) year.
  • Explains leap years are handled by adding a day to Chaitra, and in such years the new year begins on 21 March.
  • Directly links Chaitra (first month) to these Gregorian dates, giving the normal vs leap-year correspondence.
Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 11: Keeping Time with the Skies > Ever heard of ... > p. 183
Presence: 3/5
“In 1952, the Government of India set up a Calendar Reform Committee (CRC) to examine all existing calendars which were being followed in the country at that time and to recommend an accurate and uniform calendar for the whole of India. The CRC recommended 'Unified National Calendar' was adopted for use with effect from 21 March 1956 CE, that is, 1 Chaitra 1878 Saka. The Indian National Calendar follows the general principles as that of the Surya Siddhanta.”
Why this source?
  • Records the adoption example where 1 Chaitra (Saka) corresponded to 21 March 1956, showing historical occurrence of the 21 March mapping.
  • Supports the claim that 1 Chaitra can correspond to 21 March in specific years (consistent with the leap-year adjustment described in [1]).
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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CDS-II · 2007 · Q107 Relevance score: 5.54

Consider the following statements : 1. At the time of independence, the Government of India followed the calendar based on Saka era. 2. The National Calendar commenced on Chaitra 1 Saka, 1879 corresponding to March 22, 1957 A D. Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

CDS-I · 2008 · Q114 Relevance score: 5.38

Consider the following statements 1. At the time of independence, the Government of India followed the calendar based on Saka era. 2. The National Calendar commenced on Chaitra I Saka, 1879 corresponding to March 22, 1957 AD. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

CDS-II · 2009 · Q37 Relevance score: 5.04

Considered the following statements about national calendar of India I. The national calendar based on the Saka era with Chaitra as its first month. II. Dates of the national calendar have a permanent correspondence with dates of the Gregorian calendar. Which of the statement given above is/are correct?

IAS · 2003 · Q47 Relevance score: 4.12

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

CAPF · 2008 · Q31 Relevance score: 0.53

From which year did Saka era begin ?