Chaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Saka Era corresponds to which one of the following dates of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days?

Option (a) is correct because the National Calendar of India, based on the Saka Era, officially designates Chaitra 1 to coincide with the vernal equinox on March 22 in a normal year and March 21 in a leap year. Option (c) is the most tempting distractor as March 31 marks the end of the Indian financial year, but it holds no historical or astronomical significance for the start of the Saka calendar. The core concept tested is the official structure and synchronization of the Indian National Calendar (adopted in 1957) with the Gregorian system.