New Delhi. The central government has launched two big digital platforms to modernize India’s traditional address system – ‘Know Your Digipin’ and ‘Know Your PIN Code’. This initiative is being considered a historical step towards strengthening the country’s geospatial infrastructure and strengthening digital governance under the National Geospatial Policy 2022. With the launch of both these platforms, India is now moving faster from the traditional address system to the digital addressing system, which will not only make it easy to serve to the end but emergency services, logistics and administrative work will also be more effective and accelerated.
Digipin: New digital age address
Digipin i.e. Digital Postal Index Number has been developed by the Department of Posts in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad and ISRO’s NRSC (National Remote Sensing Center). It is an open-source, inter-deaf, geo-coded and grid-based digital address system, a state-of-the-art version of the traditional PIN code system. The digipin system has been designed in such a way that it can make every citizen digitally locked and servicable, even if it lives in any corner of the country.
Vandita Kaul, Secretary, Postal Department said during the launch:
“Both of these applications show our government’s unwavering commitment to digital transformation and prince governance. The Digipin will completely define the system and revolutionize revolutionary changes in providing digital services to citizens.”
Address-AS-A-Service (AAAS): Address became service
This initiative of the Department of Posts is not only limited to the addressing system, but its aim is to adopt the ‘Address-AA-Service (AAAS)’ model. Under this model, the address will not only be a location information, but will become a service for safe and efficient data interactions-in which ordinary citizens, government institutions and private companies will be able to connect with each other. Digipin not only offers people accurate geo-location based address, but it will also play an important role in making logistics, real estate, banking, insurance, emergency services and delivery of digital services better and accurate.
What does ‘Know Your Digipin’ portal do?
Through this portal, users can get their Digipin based on their precise geographical location. For this, the user only has to input Latitude and Longitude, after which the portal shows the related digipin. Conversely, if you have Digipin, you can also know the exact location from it. This system will prove to be important in ensuring the last mile service for rural, backward and inaccessible areas.
Know Your Pin Code: Digital version of Traditional PIN Code System
The six -digit PIN code system was implemented in India in 1972, which helped to operate the country’s postal service for decades. But over time, the lack of geographical accuracy in this system was felt. Keeping this in mind, the Department of Posts has conducted a geophanging survey of geographical boundaries across the country. Based on this, the department has now launched a new ‘Know Your Pin Code’ web application. This application informs users with the help of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) based on their accurate pin code. At the same time, users can also give feedback on the accuracy of the pin code of that location, so that the data can be upgraded and improved continuously.
Public data available on open data platforms
The Department of Posts has also taken steps towards making this effort completely public participation based and transparent. The department has uploaded the geoofing data file of all PIN code areas of the country to the Open Government Data Platform with the title “All India Pin Code Boundary Geo-JSS”. With this, researchers, planners, startups and tech companies will be able to use this data.
Future of Digipin and GIS based service distribution
The Digipin system has been officially accepted by the Thematic Working Group on Address formed under the National Geospatial Policy 2022. Its aim is to make service distribution in India based on GIS (Geographic Information System), so that government schemes and services can be transported to the end in affordable, effective and accurate manner. It is clear from this initiative that in the coming years all government and private organizations will be able to include Digipin in their workflow. From this:
Response of emergency services will decrease
E-commerce and logistics will increase accuracy and speed
The benefit of schemes and subsidy will reach the right place to the right place
Real estate and city planning will get strong basis
Now only postal department is not limited to letters
With this double digital launch, the Department of Posts is now installing itself as a major pillar of a digital public infrastructure – DPI, not just a postal service provider. This initiative will further strengthen India towards digital mapping, smart cities, and digital rule.
Foundation of a smart India
Platforms like ‘Know Your Digipin’ and ‘Know Your PIN Code’ are starting a new era of digital governance in India. This will not only make the administration more accountable and transparent, but will also strengthen the common citizen with digital services. Now that the place of every citizen can be identified through accurate geo-codes, India’s plans, subsidy, services and communications will be more accurate and inclusive than before. This is truly a step to convert the concept of Digital India into a ground reality.
