Context: 

Recently, the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, launched the ‘Know Your DIGIPIN’ and ‘Know Your PIN Code’ web portals to modernise India's addressing system and geospatial governance.

More on the News

• These platforms were launched in alignment with the National Geospatial Policy 2022, which envisions the development of an advanced geospatial infrastructure to support digital governance and public service delivery.
• With this dual launch, the Department of Posts strengthens its position not only as a postal service provider but also as a key contributor to India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).

Know Your DIGIPIN Web Application

• The DIGIPIN (Digital Postal Index Number) is an open-source, interoperable, geo-coded, grid-based digital address system.
• It is developed by the Department of Posts in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad and National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), ISRO.

• It is a cornerstone of the Department of Posts' vision to offer Address-as-a-Service (AaaS).

• AaaS is an array of services associated with address data management to support secure and efficient interactions between users, government entities, and private sector organisations.

• The ‘Know Your DIGIPIN’ portal enables users to:

• Retrieve their DIGIPIN based on precise geolocation.
• Input latitude and longitude coordinates to fetch corresponding DIGIPINs and vice versa.

Key Features of DIGIPIN

• It is based on precise geolocation and coordinates.
• Enables location mapping, ensuring last-mile connectivity and enhancing logistics efficiency.
• A complete repository of the DIGIPIN technical documentation and source code has been made available on GitHub, promoting open collaboration and nationwide adoption.

Know Your PIN Code Web Application

• While the six-digit PIN Code system has supported postal services since 1972, the Department of Posts recently conducted a national geofencing exercise to geo-reference PIN code boundaries for better accuracy.
• Thus, based on this, the ‘Know Your PIN Code’ web application has been launched. 
• The portal allows users to retrieve their DIGIPIN using precise geolocation, including latitude and longitude inputs, and also enables reverse lookups.
• It uses GNSS to help users identify the correct PIN Code based on location and allows feedback to refine the data. 
• The geo-fenced PIN Code dataset is also available on the Open Government Data Platform.