UPSC Prelims 2014 GS Paper I · Q84 of 100 History easy

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?

  1. (a) 22nd March (or 21st March) ✓ UPSC's answer
  2. (b) 15th May (or 16th May)
  3. (c) 31st March (or 30th March)
  4. (d) 21st April (or 20th April)

Why the answer is (a)

• The Indian national calendar (Saka Era, adopted 1957) begins the year on Chaitra 1, which falls on 22 March in a normal year and 21 March in a leap year, aligning with the spring equinox — option (a).

• The Saka Era began in 78 CE; 2026 CE is Saka 1948.

• Hence option (a).

Why the other options are wrong

(b) 15th May (or 16th May)
Chaitra 1 is not in May.
(c) 31st March (or 30th March)
Chaitra 1 is 22 March, not 31 March.
(d) 21st April (or 20th April)
Chaitra 1 is not in April.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2014, held on 24 August 2014. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

Reading the answer is not the same as getting it right under a clock. Practise this question with UPSC's negative marking, and anything you miss goes into an error notebook until you get it right twice.

Practise this paper free