DIGIPIN Initiative
The Department of Posts is advancing an initiative to establish a standardized, geo-coded addressing system in India, ensuring simplified addressing solutions for citizen-centric delivery of public and private services.
The Department had collaborated with IIT Hyderabad for developing a National Level Addressing Grid-based addressing system, named as Digital Postal Index Number (DIGIPIN). This system will act as a strong and robust pillar of Geospatial Governance, leading to enhancements in public service delivery, faster emergency response, and a significant boost to logistics efficiency.
The advent of DIGIPIN will mark a revolutionary step in India's journey towards digital transformation by bridging the crucial gap between physical locations and their digital representation.
Beta Release for Public Feedback
The Department is releasing a beta version of the National Level Addressing Grid ‘DIGIPIN’ for public feedback. Industry leaders, technical institutes, state/local governments, and the public are encouraged to participate and provide their valuable input, which will help in fine-tuning the specifications of the DIGIPIN.
- Download the technical document (2122 KB)
- Beta version of the web application
- Download the DIGIPIN grid logic (3 KB)
- Download code to convert DIGIPIN to latitude/longitude (3 KB)
Comments and suggestions can be submitted by email to: digipin@indiapost.gov.in by 22.09.2024.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
DIGIPIN is a nationwide geo-coded addressing system developed by the Department of Posts in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad. It divides India into approximately 4m x 4m grids and assigns each grid a unique 10-character alphanumeric code based on latitude and longitude coordinates. This system simplifies addressing for public and private services, improving logistics efficiency and emergency response capabilities.
While a regular postal address depends on locality, street, and house numbers, DIGIPIN is a geospatial reference using a 10-character alphanumeric code based on the exact coordinates of a location.
DIGIPIN simplifies address management by providing precise location-based identification, especially in areas with unstructured or changing addresses. It also helps in areas where no clear address exists, such as rural regions, forests, and oceans.
The beta version of DIGIPIN is not the final version. It was released for public feedback and expert opinion to incorporate relevant suggestions into the final version.
Yes, DIGIPIN is designed for offline use as well. The Department of Posts has shared the programming code for DIGIPIN logic in the public domain for fetching and decoding.
Yes, DIGIPIN codes can be integrated into navigation systems and apps, allowing for precise location tracking.
No, your postal address remains the same. DIGIPIN is an additional digital addressing layer that complements existing systems for more precise location identification.
DIGIPIN is derived from the latitude and longitude of a location, encoded into a 10-character alphanumeric format using predefined symbols.
No, DIGIPIN does not store personal data. It only provides a location code based on geographic coordinates, ensuring privacy.
Yes, DIGIPIN works in all areas, including rural, remote, and urban regions. Even places without traditional addresses are covered.
Each DIGIPIN code represents an approx. 4m x 4m square, which ensures a high level of precision, making it ideal for navigation, deliveries, and emergency services. However, the accuracy of DIGIPIN created for any location might depend upon the accuracy of the GNSS location capture device you are using.
A postal pincode identifies a broader area, such as a locality or neighborhood, whereas a DIGIPIN identifies a specific approx. 4m x 4m location, providing much more precision.
Yes, DIGIPIN is designed for the geographical boundaries of India, including maritime regions. Following are the details of the bounding box used: Longitude 63.5 - 99 degrees east Latitude 1.5 - 39 degrees north
DIGIPIN provides a precise location that can help emergency services reach the exact spot more quickly, especially in disaster-prone or remote areas.
You will need a device with GNSS facility to find your exact location (latitude and longitude), which can then be converted into a DIGIPIN code. Department of Post have created a beta web application which can be assessed at digipin.cept.gov.in. Department of Posts have also shared the programming code for DIGIPIN logic in public domain for fetching and decoding the DIGIPIN.
No, You don’t have to login or signup for fetching the DIGIPIN of your location. You might have to provide location access in the device to fetch the DIGIPIN value of your location.
DIGIPIN helps in delivering government services more efficiently by providing precise location-based addresses for citizens, improving service delivery and better address capture during beneficiary on boarding.
DIGIPIN codes are fixed and independent of changes in infrastructure or street names, as they are based solely on geographic coordinates. Even if a new building is constructed, the DIGIPIN of the location remains the same.
DIGIPIN is a pure function of latitude and longitude of the location. Floor information or any other address attribute does not affect the DIGIPIN value of a location. Since no personal information is needed for fetching the DIGIPIN , DIGIPIN is not different for different persons living in the same address. DIGIPIN is not an identifier of person but is only an addressing reference system.
No, DIGIPIN will complement traditional addresses. It offers an additional digital layer of precision but won’t replace existing postal addresses.
No. Now beta version of DIGIPIN is released for public comments and expert opinion. A final version of DIGIPIN will be officially released later. Once the final version is incorporated in Department of Posts systems, Department will officially announce and citizens can then start using DIGIPIN for booking article in Post offices.
Yes, DIGIPIN is particularly useful in creating geo-referenced landmarks in rural or underdeveloped areas where traditional addressing systems may not be well-defined.
A DIGIPIN code is a 10-character alphanumeric sequence. it’s a pure function of your location’s latitude and making it unique for each approx. 4m x 4m area. Department of Posts have shared the programming code for DIGIPIN logic in public domain for fetching and decoding the DIGIPIN.
Yes, because it is an offline system. Once a DIGIPIN is generated, it can be shared and used without the need for an internet connection.
Yes, since no personal data is associated with a DIGIPIN, it is secure. The code only represents a location, and no individual’s information is stored.
No, DIGIPIN does not compromise privacy. It only refers to a geographic location and does not store or display personal information linked to that location.
Businesses can use DIGIPIN to improve delivery accuracy, logistics, service coverage, and customer service, especially in areas with complex addresses.
