Explanations:The National Calendar of India, also known as the Saka Calendar, is the official calendar used for government purposes in India. It was officially adopted in 1957 by the Indian government to standardize the calendar system for official use. The Saka Calendar is based on the Saka era, which begins from the year 78 AD, corresponding to the coronation of King Saka, a historical figure from ancient India.
The adoption of the Saka Calendar was part of a broader effort to establish a unified and standardized calendar system for official use across the country. This was necessary because India has a rich history of various regional and religious calendars, such as the Vikram Samvat Calendar, the Tamil Calendar, and the Bengali Calendar, among others. Each of these calendars has its own historical and cultural significance and is used in different parts of the country for religious and cultural events.
Despite the adoption of the Saka Calendar for official purposes, the Gregorian Calendar remains widely used in India for most day-to-day activities, international business, and other non-governmental contexts. The Gregorian Calendar is the internationally recognized calendar system and is used in most countries around the world.
The Saka Calendar is a lunisolar calendar, meaning it is based on both the phases of the moon and the position of the sun. It consists of 12 months, with each month starting on the day of the new moon. The length of the months varies, with some months having 29 days and others having 30 days. The calendar also includes a leap month every few years to keep the calendar in sync with the solar year.
Understanding the Saka Calendar is important for students preparing for competitive exams, as questions related to the official calendar of India often appear in exams such as the UPSC, SSC, and various state-level public service commissions. It is essential to know that while the Saka Calendar is the official national calendar, the Gregorian Calendar is still widely used in everyday life and for international purposes.