National Calendar of India – History and Uses

The national calendar of India is based on the Saka Era with Chaitra as its first month and a normal year of 365 days. The national calendar of India was adopted on March 22nd, 1957. The Hindu Saka calendar began in 78 AD with the Saka Era. Dates of the Indian national calendar have a permanent correspondence with the Gregorian calendar dates- 1 Chaitra falling on 22 March normally and on 21 March in a leap year.

The year 2022, according to the Saka Calendar, is 1944.  In 2022, the date of the New Year according to the official Indian Calendar is March 22

The national Calendar of India is used along with the Gregorian calendar for the following official purposes-

(i) Gazette of India,

(ii) news broadcast by All India Radio,

(iii) calendars issued by the Government of India, 

(iv) Government communications addressed to the members of the public.