The Citizen Advocate Summary: Declaring
April 11 as Safe ePay Day
Proposing April 11 as Safe ePay
Day to mark UPI’s pilot launch on April 11, 2016, by NPCI with 21 banks,
initiated by Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan in Mumbai. This initiative celebrates UPI’s
seamless integration of banking and merchant payments.
July 13 – Appeal No 54
April 11 – Declare ‘Safe ePay
Day’,
Yes, April 11 is vacant in the UN
Observance Day calendar
UPI 10th Birthday -April 11 2026 – 273
Days to go
July 13 Is National
Fry Day—April 11 Could Be the National Day for Secure Digital Payments
🍟 National French Fry Day, originally
observed on July 13, was officially moved to the second Friday of
July in 2023 after a successful petition by fast food chains Checkers and
Rally’s.
The change aimed to give fry
lovers a perfect excuse to indulge at the start of the weekend—celebrating the
beloved snack with free deals, sizzling variations, and a nod to its Belgian
roots.
🥔💳 From Fry-Day to Pay-Day: A Tale
of Crispy Comfort and Digital Empowerment
Celebrating National French Fry
Day & Proposing Safe ePay Day
🍟 The Golden Origins of National
French Fry Day
French fries are more than just a
side dish—they’re a cultural icon. Their story begins in the Meuse Valley of
Belgium, where villagers began frying thin slices of potato in the late
1600s. When rivers froze and fishing became impossible, potatoes became the
substitute. American soldiers stationed in Belgium during World War I tasted
these crispy delights and, mistaking the French-speaking Belgians for the
French, brought the name “French fries” back home.
Over the decades, fries have
evolved into a global comfort food, appearing in countless forms:
- 🇨🇦 Poutine
in Canada, smothered in gravy and cheese curds
- 🇬🇷
Greek-style fries with feta and oregano
- 🇮🇳
Masala fries with spicy seasoning
- 🇺🇸
Loaded fries with bacon, cheese, and ranch
They’re a symbol of indulgence,
nostalgia, and togetherness.
📅 The Fry-Day Shift: From July 13
to the Second Friday of July
Originally celebrated on July
13, National French Fry Day was a fixed-date observance. But in 2023,
a major shift occurred—driven not by government decree, but by public
enthusiasm and brand advocacy.
🔄 Why the Change Happened
Fast-food chain Checkers &
Rally’s, known for its seasoned fries, launched a petition to move the date
to the second Friday of July. Their reasoning? To align the celebration
with the punny appeal of “Fry-day,” making it more memorable, marketable, and
fun.
The National Day Calendar,
which tracks unofficial holidays, agreed. With the support of their mascot
“Cal” and overwhelming public interest, the change was made official in 2023.
The first Fry-day celebration took place on July 14, 2023.
📣 Cultural Significance of the
Shift
This shift reflects a broader
trend in how we celebrate:
- Flexibility over tradition:
Moving to a Friday makes it easier for restaurants and consumers to
participate.
- Marketing meets meaning:
“Fry-day” is catchy, social-media friendly, and ripe for brand engagement.
- Community-driven observance:
The change wasn’t top-down—it was powered by public demand and corporate
creativity.
It’s a powerful example of how non-UN
observances can evolve organically, much like the proposed Safe ePay Day.
💳 A Heartfelt Call to Establish
Safe ePay Day – April 11
While French Fry Day celebrates
indulgence and joy, Safe ePay Day is a call to action for digital
security and financial inclusion.
On April 11, 2016, India’s
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was launched in pilot form by the National
Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). In less than a decade, UPI has
revolutionized digital finance, processing over 14 billion transactions
monthly as of May 2025.
We propose declaring April 11
as Safe ePay Day—a global observance to:
- Celebrate India’s fintech legacy
- Promote secure digital payment practices
- Inspire international collaboration for safe,
inclusive finance
🔐 Why April 11 Deserves to Be Safe
ePay Day
Here are four compelling reasons
to support this initiative:
1. 🏆
Celebrating UPI’s Legacy
UPI has democratized digital
payments, enabling instant transactions via mobile apps, QR codes, and Virtual
Payment Addresses. From street vendors to startups, it’s empowered millions. Safe
ePay Day honors this legacy and encourages users to adopt safe practices to
protect their financial interactions.
2. 🌐 Honoring
NPCI’s Visionary Leadership
NPCI’s design of UPI as a
real-time, interoperable platform has made it a global benchmark. Declaring Safe
ePay Day recognizes NPCI’s commitment to scalability, trust, and innovation
in secure digital finance.
3. 🛡️
Promoting Secure Digital Practices
With the rise of phishing, fraud,
and cyber threats, Safe ePay Day provides a platform to educate users on
safe e-payment habits—like two-factor authentication, app security, and
transaction verification.
4. 🌍
Inspiring a Global Movement
UPI’s success has inspired
adoption in countries like Nepal, Singapore, and Peru. Like the International
Day of Yoga, Safe ePay Day can position India as a global leader in
fintech, fostering international collaboration for secure digital ecosystems.
🔗 Fries & Fintech: A Symbolic
Synergy
At first glance, French fries and
digital payments seem worlds apart. But both represent accessibility,
transformation, and cultural impact.
|
Theme |
French Fry Day 🍟 |
Safe ePay Day 💳 |
|
Origin Story |
Belgian villagers frying
potatoes |
NPCI launching UPI in India |
|
Cultural Impact |
Global comfort food |
Global fintech model |
|
Shift in Date |
July 13 → Second
Friday (Fry-day) |
April 11 →
Proposed observance |
|
Celebration Mode |
Deals, parties, social media |
Workshops, awareness, fintech
pride |
|
Symbolism |
Joy, indulgence, unity |
Safety, empowerment, inclusion |
Both days invite participation,
spark innovation, and reflect the spirit of modern connectivity.
🌟 A Vision for Safe ePay Day
We envision Safe ePay Day
as a global celebration of secure digital payments. On April 11:
- Schools can teach digital safety
- Businesses can reward secure payment behavior
- Communities can host cybersecurity workshops
- Governments can promote inclusive fintech
policies
Just as French Fry Day evolved
through public enthusiasm, Safe ePay Day can rise through civic vision.
🧠 Lessons from the Fry-Day Shift
The Fry-day shift teaches us
that:
- Symbolism matters:
“Fry-day” is more engaging than a random date.
- Public support drives change: A
petition and mascot helped reshape a national observance.
- Flexibility fuels relevance:
Moving to a Friday made the celebration more accessible.
These lessons apply directly to Safe
ePay Day. If we want to build a global movement for secure digital
payments, we must:
- Choose a date with historical significance
(April 11 – UPI’s pilot launch)
- Rally public and institutional support
- Create a celebration that’s educational,
inclusive, and inspiring
🥔💳 Final Thoughts: From Fry-Day to
Pay-Day
Whether you’re dipping fries in
ketchup or scanning a QR code to pay for them, these two observances remind us
of the power of simple things—a potato, a payment—to connect, empower,
and transform.
So this July, as you crunch into
your favorite fries, remember: the future of celebration lies not just in
indulgence, but in innovation. And come next April, let’s make Safe
ePay Day a reality.
Let’s honor the past, embrace the
present, and build a safer, more inclusive digital future—one fry and one
transaction at a time.
## Call to
Action
I urge
governments, financial institutions, businesses, and communities worldwide to
join hands in declaring April 11 as **Safe ePay Day**.
Let’s
celebrate UPI’s milestone by making **Safe ePay Day** a global movement for
secure, innovative fintech.
Together, we
can build a future where financial access is universal, and every e-payment is
safe—starting with **Safe ePay Day** in 2026.
No Vada Pav, not even one bite,
Till SafeePay Day takes off in flight.
Quirky vow with a Mumbai flair—
Announce the date, and I’ll be there!
Disclaimer: - The only Joy is
Safe ePayments. Nothing More – Nothing Less.
April 11 – Declare ‘Safe ePay
Day’.
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