Q. Saka era was introduced by
(a) Ashoka
(b) Kanishka
(c) Chandragupta Maurya
(d) Harsha Vardhana
Ans: (b) Kanishka
Explanation: The correct answer is (b) Kanishka.
The Saka era was introduced by Kanishka, a prominent ruler of the Kushan Empire. Kanishka was a Kushan emperor who ruled a vast empire in the 2nd century CE, covering regions of present-day India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.
The Saka era is a calendar system that starts from 78 CE and is associated with the Saka people who were a group of Scythian-origin nomadic tribes. Kanishka is credited with the introduction and popularization of the Saka era as a means of marking time in his empire.
The Saka era gained widespread usage, especially in the Indian subcontinent, and it continues to be used in some regions for specific purposes, such as determining dates for religious festivals.
Therefore, the correct answer is (b) Kanishka.