UPSC CSAT Simplified: How to approach ‘Calendar’ questions? (Part 2)

Here are some tips and tricks on questions from Calendar topic for CSAT paper. Let’s learn from our expert.

Written by Manas Srivastava

New Delhi | Updated: June 29, 2024 03:41 PM IST

5 min read

UPSC CSAT Simplified: How to approach ‘Calendar’ questions? (Part 2)

Mudit Gupta, our CSAT expert gives you tips and tricks of one of the most frequently asked topics: Calendar. This is part 2 of the topic of the calendar. (Image source: Freepik)

Cracking UPSC Prelims is not just about your knowledge of General Studies. The CSAT paper too, gives a hard time to aspirants. UPSC Prelims 2024 also had a clear message for students that CSAT practice has to be a constant part of preparation. So, UPSC Essentials’ special series ‘UPSC CSAT Simplified’ presents some important topics from the qualifying CSAT paper of UPSC prelims. The aim is to provide you with some tested methods to answer the questions correctly without wasting precious time.

Manas Srivastava talks to Mudit Gupta, our CSAT expert who gives you tips and tricks of one of the most frequently asked topics: Calendar. This is part 2 of the topic of the calendar. Click here to revise Part 1. Don’t miss to ‘Check your progress’ towards the end of the article. Also, let us know what topics you want us to cover as part of this new series. Please write to us at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com.

About our Expert: Mudit Gupta has been a mentor and faculty for the UPSC Civil Services exam for 8 years with expertise in CSAT, Polity, International Relations, and Current Affairs. He is known to break complex concepts into simpler ones that allow UPSC aspirants to develop a grip over the subject matter.

In Part 1 you discussed one of the most important types of calendar questions. What is the other type from this topic that an aspirant must look into?

Mudit: Let us begin with a question. Have you ever wondered why there are 365/366 days in a year with different combinations of days and dates? Are these combinations unique or are they repeated over the years?

REVISE | UPSC CSAT Simplified: How to approach ‘Calendar’ questions? (Part 1)

The answer is that the calendar dates and the corresponding days are not unique. These combinations of days and dates tend to repeat themselves over time. But the question is if it is possible to find out the repetitive pattern.

Again, the answer is yes. If we manually start searching for the repetitive calendars, it might take a lot of time. But how about an idea if I tell you a shortcut to find the calendar repetitions?

This shortcut to remembering the calendar repetitions is like an OTP on your mobile phone and it goes like 6, 11, 11.

But how to apply it?

Mudit: If any given year lies immediately after a leap year, for example — 2025 (it follows 2024 immediately which is a leap year) then we need to add 6 to it to get the repetitive calendar. It means, 2025+6 i.e. 2031 will have a calendar similar to 2025. So, whenever we are given a year of the format of (Leap Year +1), we add 6 to it.

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Similarly, in case of a year that is 2 years ahead of a leap year for ex 2026 (it is 2 years ahead of 2024, which is a leap year) it will be repeated after 11 years i.e. 2026+11 = 2037 will have the same calendar as 2026.

The same process is to be repeated for the years that are 3 years ahead of a leap year. For example, 2027 (which is 3 years ahead of 2024) will be repeated in 2027+11 = 2038.

To summarize, if we are given a year immediately after the leap year, we add 6 to it. If we are given a year 2 years ahead of a leap year, we add 11 to it. Likewise, if we are given a year 3 years ahead of a leap year, we add 11 to it.

Note: The calendar of the year 2081 will be repeated in 2087 because 2081 lies immediately after 2080, which is a leap year. The calendar of the year 2050 will be repeated in 2061 because 2050 is 2 years ahead of 2048 (which is a leap year) and the calendar of the year 2067 will be repeated in 2078 because 2067 is 3 years ahead of 2064, which is a leap year.

Check your progress:

Using the above logic, try and answer this:

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Question: Find the year when the calendar of 2005 will be repeated.

(Please post your answers in the comment box.)

Previous Article in the UPSC CSAT Simplified series:

How to approach Reading Comprehensions?

How to approach ‘Cubes and Dice’ questions?

How to approach ‘Calendar’ questions? (Part 1)

6 Tips to score 66.67 and qualify Prelims 2024 CSAT paper

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Manas Srivastava

Manas Srivastava leads the UPSC Essentials section of The Indian Express (digital). He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than five years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called ‘Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik’ and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called ‘LIVE with Manas’.His talks on ‘How to read a newspaper’ focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University’s Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women’s Studies by the Women’s Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on ‘Psychological stress among students’ at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More

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