PINCODE in India

India Postal History

October 12, 2022

A commemorative postage stamp on the Golden Jubilee of personal identification number (PIN) code :

Issued by India

Issued on Oct 12, 2022

Issued for : Department of Posts is pleased to issue Commemorative Postage Stamp on 50 Years of Pincode and appreciates its contribution to the economic development of the Nation.

Credits :
Stamps/FDC/Brochure/Cancellation Cachet : Mrs Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 201600

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About :

India Post, a network of 1.59 lakh post offices, spread across the length and breadth of India, is mandated to provide doorstep mail delivery to every Indian. Locating 25 crore households in an area of 32.87 lakh sq. km makes this task both challenging and exciting. It requires professional mail management and a scientific system to ensure timely deliver of mail.
In the absence of Pincode, considerable time was being consumed in collecting, sorting, transporting and delivering of the postal articles. Reading an address was a time consuming process and the sorter had to memorize a very large number of sorting patterns to route the mail to the proper destination.
The PIN (Postal Index Number) was introduced in India on August 15, 1972. It is a 6 digit code of Post Office numbering used by India Post. Each digit in the 6-digit number has a specific meaning. The first digit from left designates which is the overall geographical region, and the first 2 digits designate the postal circle or sub-region. The third digit designates the sorting district. Thus the first 3 digits collectively designate the postal district while the last 3 digits indicate the specific post office within the district. Entire country is divided into 9 PIN regions in the country.
Each Pincode is mapped to one delivery post office which receives all the mail to be delivered to one or lower offices within its jurisdiction, all of which share the same code. The delivery office can either be a General Post Office (GPO), or a head office (HO), or a sub-office (SO) which are usually located in urban areas. The post from the delivery office is sorted and routed to other delivery offices for a different PIN or to one of the relevant sub-offices or branch offices for the same PIN.
PIN Code ensures speedy and accurate processing of mail. While many of the small places may not be known to the officials who sort the mail, the Pincode helps in identifying immediately the correct routing for such mail and helps in ensuring a fast and reliable sorting and delivery. The Pincode has also simplified the sorting system for bulk mail users. In long distance transmission of mail, it cuts down the time of sorting by giving broad indications, firstly of the routing and thereafter of the details of the sorting.
Pincode simplify the delivery of mail by finishing confusion over incorrect addresses, similar place names, and different languages used by the public. Use of Pincode on mail articles and parcels ensure timely delivery even in the remotest parts of the country.
To make citizens aware about their Pincode, the department has created an online Pincode finder tool. Available on India Post website, this tool helps the users to locate the Pincode for a locality and vice versa. Users can search the Pincode of their area either by providing locality, State, and District Details or by entering Post Office Name.
Department of Posts has computerised and mechanised the entire process of mail delivery in India. The department now uses more sophisticated ways of sorting out the mail through computers. Pincode is also essential for sorting of mail through automated machines.
With the emergence of Digital Systems, the relevance and use of Pincode has extended to other government departments and private sector. MICR code being used by banks is based on the Pincode system. The cowin.gov.in platform developed for COVID vaccination has also adopted the mechanism of Pincode for booking of vaccination slots by the general public. Anyone can book the nearby vaccination centre by using the Pincode of the particular area.
Pincode is a national asset contributing to economic development. It provides readymade national geographical classification system. Businesses can plan their internal systems of sales and distribution according to the Pincode geographical classification.
Text : Department of Posts.