A Complete Guide About What is Pin Code, History and Structure

Pin code stands for Postal index number. It is used by the Postal Department of India. It is basically used to identify any address or any person. This ensures the faster delivery of mails  or parcels by sorting the proper address. In a vast country like India, sorting the concerned post office is very challenging. Pin codes help to trace the location with ease. In this blog post we will describe what pin code is, the history of Pin code, structure of pin code, how it works, What is the pin code used  in different states of India. Click here to know every things about pin codes

What is Pin Code

Pin or  Postal Index Number is used at the end of any address. It is a six digit numeric code. In a huge country like India there are so many cities and villages. So identifying any city or village with the same name or person with similar names is very challenging and confusing. Pin code traces the address and works as a navigation tool. It makes the delivery of mails and parcels easier by sorting the city or village. In this technological era online services and deliveries become very frequent. Here lies the importance of pin codes that ensures connectivity even for a remote place also.

History of Pin Code

In the earlier days letters were the important media for communication. In India there are several numbers of post offices. It was very difficult for the postal department to identify the exact location. Hence The Indian Postal Department had introduced the Pin Code. It was introduced on 15th August 1972 by the then additional Secretary of the Ministry of Communication of India, Shriram Bhikaji Velankar. The object was to make the delivery of mails and parcels faster.

Also Read: Difference about Pin Code and Zip Code

Structure of Pin Code 

India is divided in 9 Postal zones. The first eight zones are reserved for different states and union territories and the ninth zone is for the Indian Army. Every digit of a pin code represents different areas from region to city or village. The breakdown is as follows:

The first digit: The first digit indicates the geographical zone in India.

Third Digit of Pin Code:  The third digit stands for the sorting district in the state.

The Fourth Digit:  The fourth digit indicates the service routes for the post office. The 0 indicates the central post office of the concerned state.

The fifth and sixth digit: The  fifth and sixth digits of a pin code stand for the exact post office.

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How Pin Code works

Every pin code is allotted  a delivery post office which is a general post office ( GPO), sub post office or a head post office  located in an urban area in the sub zone. The mails  and parcels  are collected from these offices and sent to the sub offices, Then they are finally sent to the relevant post office. The entire process is designed to ensure the quickest delivery at the scheduled address. With the rapid growth of technology the postal department has also implemented the digital transformation. Online tracking of delivery, collaboration with e-commerce have come into force recently. So Pin code is playing a vital role in today's digital world.

In Conclusion, From the black and white days to colored digital era pin code is playing the silent role to ensure the delivery timely. It became a seamless and priceless symbol of connectivity .It joins the people of different parts of India together and helps them to get their desired necessities at doorstep timely. So we can say pin code plays the role of a silent hero in the vast India to make the country  properly connected.