DIGIPIN
The Department of Posts has undertaken an initiative to establish a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for a standardized, geo-coded addressing system in India. As a part of this initiative, The Department has finalised DIGIPIN – the foundation layer of the DPI. This initiative seeks to provide simplified addressing solutions for seamless delivery of public and private services and to enable “Address as a Service” (AaaS) across the country. DIGIPIN is an open-source national level addressing grid developed by Department of Posts in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad and NRSC, ISRO and is a key component of the digital address ecosystem. 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.
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A technical document detailing the code and architecture of DIGIPIN grid may be downloaded here:
Technical Document
[2690 KB]
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Beta version of the
web application to capture the DIGIPIN value of your location is available at:
digipin.cept.gov.in
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs) on DIGIPIN
DIGIPIN is an open source nationwide geo-coded addressing system developed by the Department of Posts in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad and NRSC, ISRO. It divides India into approx. 4m x 4m grids and assigns each grid a unique 10-character alphanumeric code based on latitude and longitude coordinates.
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.
Yes, DIGIPIN is designed to be used offline too. Department of Posts is planning to share the programming code for DIGIPIN logic in public domain for fetching and decoding the DIGIPIN.
Yes, DIGIPIN codes can be integrated into navigation systems and apps, allowing for precise location access.
No, your postal address remains the same. DIGIPIN is an additional layer of digital addressing that complements the existing system for more precise and standardized location identification. But as the DIGIPIN ecosystem expand into more sectors and is integrated with more GIS systems, the need for providing a descriptive postal address to service agencies for availing any service may reduce.
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 any private or personal data. It only provides an alphanumeric code based on geographic coordinates, ensuring privacy.
Yes, DIGIPIN works for all areas, including rural, remote, and urban regions. Even places without a traditional address, like forests or water bodies, 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.
DIGIPIN is applicable only in the bounding box as mentioned below: Longitude 63.5 - 99 degrees east; Latitude 1.5 - 39 degrees north, which mainly covers the geographical boundaries of India, including maritime regions.
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 is in the process of developing a web application which enable public to fetch the corresponding DIGIPIN of their location. Department of Posts have also planned to share 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 onboarding. >
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.
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 longitude, making it unique for each approx. 4m x 4m area. Department of Posts is planning to share 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, DIGIPIN is a pure function of latitude and longitude of the location and no personal data is associated with a DIGIPIN. 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 any other 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.
