When Winter Starts In India =link=

| Definition | Start Date | Applicability in India | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | December 21 | Irrelevant for most of India except northern high Himalayas; does not match thermal reality. | | IMD Climatological | January 1 | Administrative convenience for record-keeping. The coldest months are January and February. | | Thermal Onset | Mid-Nov (NW) to Mid-Dec (S) | Accurate for agriculture, health advisories, and energy planning. |