Comparison
Vikram Samvat vs. Shaka Samvat
India uses two major calendar eras side by side. Here's how they actually differ.
| Vikram Samvat | Shaka Samvat | |
|---|---|---|
| Epoch (Year 1) | 57 BCE | 78 CE |
| Offset from Gregorian | ~56–57 years ahead | ~78–79 years behind |
| Traditional origin | Associated with King Vikramaditya of Ujjain | Associated with the Shaka king Chashtana or Kanishka I |
| Primary use today | Religious & civil use in North India; official calendar of Nepal | India's official National Calendar (Rashtriya Panchang) since 1957 |
| New year begins | Chaitra Shukla Pratipada | Chaitra 1 (fixed to March 22, or March 21 in leap years) |
| Month lengths | Lunar (Masa), with periodic leap month | Solar (fixed lengths, like the Gregorian calendar) |
The key practical difference
Vikram Samvat months are lunar — tied to Tithi and the Moon's phase, like the religious festival calendar. Shaka Samvat months, as formalised in 1957, are solar with fixed lengths, functioning much like the Gregorian calendar but numbered differently and starting the year at a different point.
Which one will you actually encounter?
If you see a year-date in a wedding invitation, temple inscription, or religious Panchang, it's almost certainly Vikram Samvat. If you see one in the Gazette of India or an All India Radio broadcast, it's Shaka Samvat.
Related reading
See the Indian Calendar overview for how both eras relate to the Samvatsara cycle and the Panchanga underneath them.