The calendar for the year 2025 is same for
- (a) 2029
- (b) 2030
- (c) 2031 ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) 2033
Why the answer is (c)
• A year's calendar repeats only when the next year begins on the same weekday AND is of the same type (common or leap). January 1, 2025 falls on a Wednesday, and 2025 is a common year (365 days).
• Each common year shifts the starting weekday forward by 1; each leap year shifts it forward by 2. Tracking forward: 2026 starts Thursday, 2027 starts Friday, 2028 (leap) starts Saturday, 2029 starts Monday (Saturday + 2), 2030 starts Tuesday, and 2031 starts Wednesday.
• 2031 is a common year (not divisible by 4), so it has 365 days and begins on Wednesday — exactly matching 2025 in both starting weekday and year type.
• Therefore the calendar of 2025 is identical to the calendar of 2031, making option (c) correct.
• The 6-year gap (2025 → 2031) contains one leap year (2028), giving a total shift of 5 × 1 + 1 × 2 = 7 days, which is exactly one full week, returning the starting weekday to Wednesday.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 2029
- 2029 begins on a Monday (Saturday + 2 after the leap year 2028), not Wednesday, so its calendar does not match 2025.
- (b) 2030
- 2030 begins on a Tuesday (Monday + 1), not Wednesday, so its calendar does not match 2025.
- (d) 2033
- 2033 begins on a Saturday (Thursday + 2 after the leap year 2032), not Wednesday, so its calendar does not match 2025.
Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, held on 16 June 2024. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.