The Department of Posts is advancing a transformative initiative to establish a standardized, geo-coded addressing system in India, aimed at simplifying address solutions for citizen-centric delivery of public and private services.
The launch of Digital Postal Index Number (DIGIPIN) - the National Addressing Grid, in this regard marked a significant milestone in this journey. The DIGIPIN system serves as a strong and robust pillar of Geospatial Governance, enabling enhancements in public service delivery, emergency response, and logistics efficiency. It allows for logical location of addresses through a naming pattern with directional properties and is designed to be freely accessible in the public domain.
Building on this foundational work, the Department has now released a comprehensive policy document titled DHRUVA (Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address). This policy lays out the framework for a national Digital Address Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
The DHRUVA envisions a standardized, interoperable, and geocoded digital addressing system that supports secure, consent-based, and seamless sharing of address information. At its core is the concept of Address-as-a-Service (AaaS) — the array of services associated with address data management to support secure and efficient interactions between users, government entities, and private sector organizations.
The initiative aims to recognize address information management as a foundational public infrastructure—vital for effective governance, inclusive service delivery, and enhanced user experience. It seeks to build a robust address data sharing and management ecosystem that ensures smooth integration across both public and private sectors. By giving users meaningful control over their address data, the policy promotes user autonomy, drives innovation, and supports ease of living.
Furthermore, DHRUVA seeks to foster a collaborative ecosystem in which public and private stakeholders co-create user-centric solutions built on a secure and trusted digital foundation. It aims to catalyze innovation across key sectors—such as governance, e-commerce, logistics, and financial inclusion—through broad-based adoption by ministries, state governments, and other stakeholders.
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