Saka Calendar

The national calendar of India is based on the Saka era, which begins in 78 CE. It was adopted on the recommendation of the Calendar Reform Committee led by the scientist Meghnad Saha and has been used for official purposes since 22 March 1957 (Chaitra 1, 1879 Saka), alongside the Gregorian calendar.

Its months – Chaitra, Vaisakha, Jyaistha and so on – are aligned with the Gregorian calendar, with Chaitra 1 normally falling on 22 March. Dates in the Saka calendar appear in the Gazette of India and on news broadcasts by All India Radio.