Almanac: Timelines and Calendars

Chaitra

Step 1: Just like January is the first month of the Gregorian Calendar, the Saka Calendar has its own first month. Step 2: Chaitra is the first month of the Saka Calendar. Step 3: The first day of Chaitra usually falls on 22 March in the Gregorian Calendar. Step 4: Phalguna is the last (12th) month of the Saka Calendar, not the first. Step 5: So the correct answer is Chaitra.

10 years

Step 1: We use special words to describe time periods. Step 2: A decade = 10 years. Step 3: A century = 100 years. Step 4: A millennium = 1000 years. Step 5: So, '100 years' is a century and '1000 years' is a millennium. The correct answer for a decade is 10 years.

15 August

Step 1: India became independent from British rule on 15 August 1947. Step 2: This date is celebrated every year as Independence Day. Step 3: 26 January is Republic Day — the day India became a republic in 1950. Step 4: 2 October is Gandhi Jayanti — the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. Step 5: So the correct answer is 15 August.

Common Era

Step 1: In recent years, historians started using new terms instead of AD and BC. Step 2: CE stands for 'Common Era' and is used in place of AD. Step 3: BCE stands for 'Before Common Era' and is used in place of BC. Step 4: These new terms are used so that the calendar system feels more inclusive for everyone. Step 5: So CE = Common Era, not Calendar Era or Century Era.