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Keeping Time with the Skies - The Indian National Calendar

Grade 8CBSE

Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.

🔑Concepts

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The Indian National Calendar, also known as the Saka Calendar, was adopted on March 22, 1957 (11 Chaitra 18791879 Saka Era).

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It is based on the solar cycle, with the year beginning on the day after the Vernal Equinox (2121st March).

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The calendar consists of 1212 months: Chaitra, Vaisakha, Jyaistha, Asadha, Sravana, Bhadra, Asvina, Kartika, Agrahayana, Pausa, Magha, and Phalguna.

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A normal year has 365365 days, while a leap year has 366366 days. In a leap year, the first month 'Chaitra' has 3131 days instead of 3030.

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The Saka Era is calculated by subtracting 7878 from the Gregorian year for the period after the start of the Saka New Year.

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The first five months (Vaisakha to Bhadra) have 3131 days each, ensuring that the months align better with the solar movement through the zodiac.

📐Formulae

Saka Year=Gregorian Year−78\text{Saka Year} = \text{Gregorian Year} - 78

Length of Solar Year≈365.2422 days\text{Length of Solar Year} \approx 365.2422 \text{ days}

Condition for Leap Year: Y(mod4)=0 (for non-century years)\text{Condition for Leap Year: } Y \pmod{4} = 0 \text{ (for non-century years)}

💡Examples

Problem 1:

Calculate the corresponding Saka Era year for the Gregorian year 20242024.

Solution:

2024−78=19462024 - 78 = 1946

Explanation:

To find the Saka year, we subtract 7878 from the current Gregorian year. Using vertical subtraction: 2024−781946\begin{array}{r} 2024 \\ - 78 \\ \hline 1946 \end{array} Thus, the year 20242024 AD corresponds to the Saka year 19461946.

Problem 2:

Determine if the year 19461946 Saka Era (Gregorian 20242024) is a leap year and state the number of days in Chaitra.

Solution:

Since 2024(mod4)=02024 \pmod{4} = 0, it is a leap year. Therefore, Chaitra has 3131 days.

Explanation:

The Indian National Calendar follows the Gregorian leap year rule. If the Gregorian year is a leap year, the Saka year is also a leap year. In such cases, the month of Chaitra begins on March 2121 instead of March 2222 and contains 3131 days.