The Leap year.

Dateline 28 Feb

All of us know that when a year is divisible by 4, it is known as a leap year. 2024 is a leap year and its February has 29 days.

The leap year correction is required because the number of days in a year is not 365 but 365.25. This extra 0.25 adds up to one day (0.25 x 4 = 1 day), every four years and it's adjusted in the leap year.

But it does not end with this.

The number of days in a year is not 365.25 but 365.24 only. This 0.01 difference adds up to 1 day (0.01 x 100 =1 day) every 100 years.

Hence, every century year will skip one leap year ie. the century years 2100, 2200, 2300 though divisible by 4, are not leap years. Now, hold your breath, it does not end up with this too. The number of days in a year is not 365.24 also and it is actually 365.2425. This additional 0.00025 adds up to 1 day (0.0025 x 400 = 1 day) in 400 years.

Hence the year that is divisible by 400 viz. 1600, 2000, 2400 and so on will be leap years.

In 2000, February had 29 days because it was a leap year as it was divisible by 400. This will happen only once in 400 years!

Our children and grandchildren will see that the year 2100 is not a leap year.

To be more precise, the accurate number of days in a year is 365.2422 which means there is still a difference 0.0003.

But we will stop with this.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 4, washed up and recited my prayers. Turned off to sleep thereafter and got up at 7, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 9. Reached the Foundation at my usual time.

Co-ordinated and kept a watch on all activities.

To the Animation Centre for booking for lunch on 01 Mar. had lunch there. Earlier, there was a barricade that prevented our vehicle from moving because of the SUCI's Raj Bhavan march.

Gopu had come by and reported about the happenings at the general body meeting at the JSS, Kollam.