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.
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- 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.