Know about DIGIPIN in detail here.
Technology Desk, New Delhi. DIGIPIN was introduced by the government in May last year to ease location mapping in India, improve logistics and emergency response. This new digital platform, introduced under the National Geospatial Policy 2022, will ensure last-mile delivery, especially in rural areas. According to the government, the launch of DIGIPIN is an important step towards the modernization of India's addressing system and geospatial governance. Let us know other things about DIGIPIN in detail. What is DIGIPIN?
DIGIPIN stands for Digital Postal Index Number. It is an open-source, interoperable, geo-coded, grid-based digital address system, developed by the Department of Posts in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad and NRSC, ISRO. In simple words, it is a location-based digital code to identify a very specific point on the map. Rather than representing an entire neighborhood or area, each DIGIPIN is tied to a small geographic grid, roughly the size of a room, derived from latitude and longitude coordinates.
Unlike traditional addresses, DIGIPIN is not descriptive, but is designed to work with digital maps and location systems.
With DIGIPIN, the Department of Posts aims to provide Address-as-a-Service (AaaS) for secure and efficient interactions between users, government entities and private sector organizations. This digital platform has been reviewed and adopted by the Thematic Working Group on Addressing Under the National Geospatial Policy 2022. According to the government, it is available to all ministries, state governments, institutions for integration in their workflow and to users for their own use.
Greater accuracy than PIN codes – Unlike traditional PIN code systems that cover large postal areas, DIGIPIN offers location-level accuracy. According to the information received, its precise approach reduces navigation and delivery errors, especially in densely populated, poorly addressed or rural areas.
Precise Location Identification – Since the DIGIPIN is tied to a specific location using latitude and longitude coordinates. It is therefore able to identify individual properties rather than broadly defined regions, eliminating the ambiguity of traditional address formats.
Interoperable – DIGIPIN is an open-source digital platform designed to work across all platforms and systems. It can be integrated with GIS tools, e-commerce platforms, logistics networks and emergency services without any ecosystem lock-in issues.
DIGIPIN vs PIN code
While DIGIPIN may seem like a modern replacement for India's traditional PIN code system, they serve very different purposes.
The traditional six-digit PIN code identifies the postal area serviced by a particular post office. In this way, one PIN code can cover hundreds of houses. Although this can be useful for sorting mail, precise navigation is difficult.
DIGIPIN, on the other hand, identifies an exact location, including two buildings on the same street. It is designed to complement the PIN code system, not replace it. But, while PIN codes are numeric and area-based, DIGIPIN is alpha-numeric and grid-based.
HOW TO FIND YOUR DIGIPIN?
Citizens can generate their DIGIPIN through the official portal provided by India Post. This code can be saved for future use during delivery, registration or navigation. Since it is linked to a fixed geographical point, it remains the same unless the location chosen while searching for DIGIPIN changes.
Also read: Upcoming Smartphones: Wait before buying a new phone! These powerful 5G smartphones are coming this month