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U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992

Indian Chronology and Eras

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

When was Vikram Samvat started?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept Indian chronology is defined by several eras, with the Vikram Samvat being one of the oldest and most widely used lunisolar calendars.

Explanation Vikram Samvat began in 57 B.C. (historically linked to the expulsion of Sakas from Ujjain). It is approximately 57 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: It is named after King Vikramaditya of Ujjain, commemorating his victory over the Sakas.
Logic 2: It is a lunisolar calendar with 12 months, starting after Diwali in regions like Gujarat.
Logic 3: Distractor 78 A.D. refers to the Saka Samvat, which is the official national calendar of India.

Active Recall

Question

How do you convert Vikram Samvat to Gregorian years?

Answer

Subtract 57 (or 56 depending on the month) from the Vikram Samvat year to get the Gregorian year.

Core Insight

The Vikram Samvat represents a indigenous effort to track astronomical and ritual time, persisting despite the global adoption of the Gregorian system.

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