Celebrate the Extra Day!

First Creative — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 11:37:06 +0000

In 2024, we get an extra day on February 29th thanks to Leap Day! It’s a special occasion that adds a bit of thrill to the year. This day, which only comes around every four years, has some interesting history and customs.

The idea of Leap Day can be traced back to the time of the Roman Empire when the Julian calendar was in use. According to this calendar, a year was considered to be 365.25 days long. However, since the Earth’s revolution around the sun takes a little longer than that, an additional day was added every four years. This practice has been carried forward to the present day with the Gregorian calendar, which helps us keep our calendars aligned with the changing seasons.

Different cultures have their unique ways of celebrating Leap Day. For instance, in Ireland, it is customary for women to take the initiative and propose marriage on this special day. This tradition is believed to have its roots in a law passed during the 5th century that allowed women to propose during leap years. On the other hand, in Greece, Leap Day is seen as an unlucky day. As a result, some individuals prefer to refrain from starting new projects or tying the knot on this particular day.

Fun Facts:

Individuals born on February 29th are known as “leaplings” and have the option to celebrate their birthday on February 28th during non-leap years. The likelihood of being born on a leap day is approximately 1 in 1,461. Various countries have distinct customs related to Leap Day babies. In certain societies, they are given presents on both February 28th and March 1st.

Celebrating Leap Day 2024:

If you’re a “leapling” or simply enjoy unique celebrations, here are some exciting suggestions for Leap Day 2024:

1. Organize a themed gathering: Commemorate the occasion with a “leap year” theme, incorporating decorations and activities that represent the four seasons.

2. Plan a special adventure: Embark on a day trip, explore a new hobby, or simply indulge in a relaxing day filled with activities you adore.

3. Spread happiness: Perform a kind gesture for someone special or contribute to a cause that holds significance to you.

Leap Day provides an opportunity to break free from the ordinary and create lasting memories. So, embrace the additional day and commemorate Leap Day 2024 in your unique way!

VIRAL NEWS – FIRSTRAY NEWS

Leap Day 2024: Google celebrates ‘Leap Day’ with animated doodle on Feb 29 (youtube.com)

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Can you still use Paytm FASTag after 29 February?

Minal Upadhyay — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 13:28:03 +0000

In a significant development, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has instructed Paytm Payments Bank to cease accepting deposits or top-ups in any customer accounts, wallets, FASTags, and other instruments after 29 February. The directive, issued due to persistent non-compliances and ongoing supervisory concerns, has prompted Paytm users, especially those with FASTags, to seek clarity on the impact of this decision.

According to the RBI statement, “No further deposits or credit transactions or top-ups shall be allowed in any customer accounts, prepaid instruments, wallets, FASTags, NCMC cards, etc. after 29 February 2024.” The central bank has directed that no other banking services, except for specified transactions like fund transfers (AEPS, IMPS, etc.), BBPOU, and UPI facility, should be provided by the bank after the given date.

"Two years ago, embargo was placed earlier on on-boarding new customers, we had already started to work with banks, and we will continue to decline & decrease dependency on PPB," says our Founder and CEO @vijayshekhar
— Paytm (@Paytm) February 1, 2024

Furthermore, the RBI has called for the termination of the “nodal accounts” of One97 Communications Ltd and Paytm Payments Services, not later than 29 February 2024. Settlement of all pipeline transactions and nodal accounts initiated on or before February 29, 2024, should be completed by 15 March 2024, with no further transactions permitted thereafter.

The move follows the Indian Highways Management Company’s (IHMCL) decision to prohibit Paytm Payments Bank from issuing new FASTags due to non-compliance with prescribed parameters.

For Paytm FASTag users, the directive means that while they can continue using their existing FASTags after 29 February, they won’t be able to top off or recharge them using the Paytm Wallet. Users are advised to utilize the existing balance until depleted, as recharging or porting the FASTag to another bank from Paytm Payments Bank will not be possible post the specified date.

In response to these developments, Paytm announced its intention to collaborate with various other banks instead of Paytm Payments Bank. The company emphasized that existing user deposits in savings accounts, wallets, FASTags, and NCMC accounts can still be utilized, but credit top-ups for Paytm users are blocked after 29 February.

The RBI’s directive has prompted Paytm to decrease its dependency on Paytm Payments Bank and work with other banks for continued service provision. Paytm President Madhur Deora stated, “Going forward, we will work with large banks who also provide these services to other consumer companies.”

Customers making Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-based payments through the Paytm app won’t experience immediate effects, but those using UPI payments with accounts linked to Paytm Payments Bank will face interruptions after 29 February. Wallet services will also be affected as PPBL is essential for a user’s Paytm wallet. Money can be deposited into the wallet until 29 February, and clients can spend the balance until depleted.