SSC
In the traditional Indian calendar, the Vasanta (spring) season falls in the months of:
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Answer: Option C — Chaitra and Vaishakha
Detailed Solution
In the traditional Indian (Hindu) calendar, the year is divided into six seasons, called "ritus", each lasting about two months. Vasanta Ritu (spring) falls in the months of Chaitra and Vaishakha, which correspond roughly to mid-March to mid-May.
The six ritus and their months:
- Vasanta (spring): Chaitra and Vaishakha (about March-May).
- Grishma (summer): Jyeshtha and Ashadha (about May-July).
- Varsha (monsoon): Shravana and Bhadrapada (about July-September).
- Sharad (autumn): Ashvin and Kartika (about September-November).
- Hemanta (pre-winter): Margashirsha and Pausha (about November-January).
- Shishira (winter or late winter): Magha and Phalguna (about January-March).
About Vasanta Ritu:
- It is regarded as the "king of seasons" ("Rituraj").
- It is the season of new leaves, flowers and mild weather.
- Festivals connected to the start of spring include Vasant Panchami (in the month of Magha, celebrating the arrival of spring and the goddess Saraswati), Holi (Phalguna Purnima) and the new year festivals of Chaitra.
The "Chaitra Shukla Pratipada" marks the new year in many Indian calendars: it is celebrated as Ugadi (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana), Gudi Padwa (Maharashtra) and Cheti Chand (Sindhi), and it marks the start of Chaitra Navratri.
About the Indian National Calendar:
- The Saka calendar was adopted as the National Calendar of India on 22 March 1957 (1 Chaitra 1879 Saka), on the recommendation of the Calendar Reform Committee headed by the astrophysicist Meghnad Saha.
- Its first month is Chaitra, which begins on 22 March (21 March in leap years).
- The Saka era began in 78 CE; its founding is traditionally linked to the Kushan king Kanishka.
In literature:
Kalidasa's "Ritusamhara" ("Garland of Seasons") describes all six seasons, beginning with summer (Grishma).
Why not the other options?
- ✗Magha and Phalguna form Shishira (winter).
- ✗Jyeshtha and Ashadha form Grishma (summer).
- ✗Shravana and Bhadrapada form Varsha (monsoon).
Quick tip
Remember: six ritus: Vasanta = Chaitra-Vaishakha; Grishma = Jyeshtha-Ashadha; Varsha = Shravana-Bhadrapada; Sharad = Ashvin-Kartika; Hemanta = Margashirsha-Pausha; Shishira = Magha-Phalguna; National Calendar (Saka) adopted 22 March 1957.
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Miscellaneous GK — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Miscellaneous GK, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic collects general knowledge questions that do not fit neatly into a single category, such as national symbols, famous nicknames of places, important events, entertainment, and facts that cut across history, geography and culture. Because these questions come from many areas, the best preparation is broad revision and regular practice. Read each explanation carefully, since it often includes a related fact that is tested in a different form. Keep a notebook of facts you get wrong and revise it before the exam. Practise the miscellaneous GK questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.