Which is the National Calendar of India?
VerifiedAnswer: Saka Calendar
Explanation:
The Saka Calendar has been officially recognized as India's National Calendar since 1957. This ancient calendar system holds deep cultural and historical significance for our country and reflects India's rich astronomical heritage.
The Saka Calendar was adopted following the recommendation of the Calendar Reform Committee, which was established by the Government of India to create a unified calendar system. The committee was headed by renowned astrophysicist Dr. Meghnad Saha and included other distinguished scientists and scholars. Their goal was to standardize the various regional calendars used across India while maintaining our cultural identity.
The Saka era begins from 78 CE, which corresponds to the reign of the great Kushana king Kanishka. This means that the Saka year is always 78 years behind the Gregorian calendar year. For example, the year 2024 CE corresponds to 1946 in the Saka Calendar. The calendar follows a solar year system and consists of 12 months, similar to the Gregorian calendar.
The months in the Saka Calendar are: Chaitra, Vaisakha, Jyaistha, Asadha, Sravana, Bhadra, Asvina, Kartika, Agrahayana, Pausha, Magha, and Phalguna. The first month, Chaitra, typically begins around March 22nd in the Gregorian calendar during normal years and March 21st during leap years.
An interesting feature of the Saka Calendar is its scientific accuracy. The first month (Chaitra) has 30 days, while the following five months have 31 days each. The remaining six months have 30 days each, making it 365 days in a regular year. During leap years, an extra day is added to the first month, making Chaitra 31 days long.
Today, the Saka Calendar is used for all official government documents, notifications, and communications alongside the Gregorian calendar. You can find both dates mentioned on Indian currency notes, government gazettes, and official announcements. This dual system helps maintain our cultural heritage while staying connected with international standards.
