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== History ==
== History ==
The PIN system was introduced on 15 August 1972 by Shriram Bhikaji Velankar, an additional secretary in the [[Government of India|Government of India's]] [[Ministry of Communications (India)|Ministry of Communications]].<ref name="India 1974">{{cite book|title=India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kj9EAAAAIAAJ|access-date=17 May 2013|year=1974|publisher=Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India|page=305}}</ref><ref name="Mails section">{{cite web|title=Mails section|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-school/it-s-how-india-s-pin-codes-work/story-1yTxGBZFZ64QqlSwZ0ZORL.html|access-date=17 May 2013|publisher=Indian government postal department|archive-date=23 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723133655/https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-school/it-s-how-india-s-pin-codes-work/story-1yTxGBZFZ64QqlSwZ0ZORL.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrint_TOI&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=TOIPU/2010/08/20&ID=Ar00401|title=Using pincode, maps to trace address|work=timesofindia.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005130055/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib%3ALowLevelEntityToPrint_TOI&Type=text%2Fhtml&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=TOIPU%2F2010%2F08%2F20&ID=Ar00401|archive-date=2016-10-05}}</ref> The system was introduced to simplify the manual sorting and delivery of mail by eliminating confusion over incorrect addresses, similar place names, and different languages used by the public.<ref name="tamilnadupost.nic.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.tamilnadupost.nic.in/hsvc/pincode.htm|title=Tamilnadu Postal Circle – Pincode|work=tamilnadupost.nic.in|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720160939/http://www.tamilnadupost.nic.in/hsvc/pincode.htm|archive-date=2014-07-20}}</ref>
The PIN system was introduced on 15 August 1972 by [[Shriram Bhikaji Velankar]], an additional secretary in the [[Government of India|Government of India's]] [[Ministry of Communications (India)|Ministry of Communications]].<ref name="India 1974">{{cite book|title=India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kj9EAAAAIAAJ|access-date=17 May 2013|year=1974|publisher=Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India|page=305}}</ref><ref name="Mails section">{{cite web|title=Mails section|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-school/it-s-how-india-s-pin-codes-work/story-1yTxGBZFZ64QqlSwZ0ZORL.html|access-date=17 May 2013|publisher=Indian government postal department|archive-date=23 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723133655/https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-school/it-s-how-india-s-pin-codes-work/story-1yTxGBZFZ64QqlSwZ0ZORL.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrint_TOI&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=TOIPU/2010/08/20&ID=Ar00401|title=Using pincode, maps to trace address|work=timesofindia.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005130055/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib%3ALowLevelEntityToPrint_TOI&Type=text%2Fhtml&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=TOIPU%2F2010%2F08%2F20&ID=Ar00401|archive-date=2016-10-05}}</ref> The system was introduced to simplify the manual sorting and delivery of mail by eliminating confusion over incorrect addresses, similar place names, and different languages used by the public.<ref name="tamilnadupost.nic.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.tamilnadupost.nic.in/hsvc/pincode.htm|title=Tamilnadu Postal Circle – Pincode|work=tamilnadupost.nic.in|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720160939/http://www.tamilnadupost.nic.in/hsvc/pincode.htm|archive-date=2014-07-20}}</ref>


== PIN structure ==
== PIN structure ==
Line 23: Line 23:
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 1
| style="text-align: center;" | 1
| North
| rowspan="2" | North
|
| [[Delhi]], [[Haryana]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[Ladakh]], [[Chandigarh]]
* [[Delhi|National Capital Territory of Delhi]]
* [[Haryana|State of Haryana]]
* [[Himachal Pradesh|State of Himachal Pradesh]]
* [[Punjab, India|State of Punjab]]
* [[Chandigarh|Union Territory of Chandigarh]]
* [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir]]
* [[Ladakh|Union Territory of Ladakh]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 2
| style="text-align: center;" | 2
|
| North
| [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]]
* [[Uttarakhand|State of Uttarakhand]]
* [[Uttar Pradesh|State of Uttar Pradesh]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 3
| style="text-align: center;" | 3
| West
| rowspan="2" | West
|
| [[Rajasthan]], [[Gujarat]], [[Daman and Diu]], [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]]
* [[Gujarat|State of Gujarat]]
* [[Rajasthan|State of Rajasthan]]
* [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu|Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 4
| style="text-align: center;" | 4
|
| West
| [[Maharashtra]], [[Goa]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Chhattisgarh]]
* [[Chhattisgarh|State of Chhattisgarh]]
* [[Goa|State of Goa]]
* [[Madhya Pradesh|State of Madhya Pradesh]]
* [[Maharashtra|State of Maharashtra]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 5
| style="text-align: center;" | 5
| South
| rowspan="2" | South
|
| [[Telangana]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Karnataka]]
* [[Andhra Pradesh|State of Andhra Pradesh]]
* [[Karnataka|State of Karnataka]]
* [[Telangana|State of Telangana]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 6
| style="text-align: center;" | 6
|
| South
* [[Kerala|State of Kerala]]
⚫
| [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Kerala]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]], [[Lakshadweep]]
* [[Tamil Nadu|State of Tamil Nadu]]
⚫
* [[Puducherry (union territory)|Union Territory of Puducherry]]
* [[Lakshadweep|Union Territory of Lakshadweep]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 7
| style="text-align: center;" | 7
| East
| rowspan="2" | East
|
| [[West Bengal]], [[Odisha]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Nagaland]], [[Manipur]], [[Mizoram]], [[Tripura]], [[Meghalaya]], [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], [[Assam]], [[Sikkim]]
* [[Arunachal Pradesh|State of Arunachal Pradesh]]
* [[Assam|State of Assam]]
* [[Manipur|State of Manipur]]
* [[Meghalaya|State of Meghalaya]]
* [[Mizoram|State of Mizoram]]
* [[Nagaland|State of Nagaland]]
* [[Odisha|State of Odisha]]
* [[Sikkim|State of Sikkim]]
* [[Tripura|State of Tripura]]
* [[West Bengal|State of West Bengal]]
* [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands|Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 8
| style="text-align: center;" | 8
|
| East
| [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]]
* [[Bihar|State of Bihar]]
* [[Jharkhand|State of Jharkhand]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | 9
| style="text-align: center;" | 9
| APS
| APS
|
⚫
| [[Army Postal Service]] (APS), [[Field post office|Field Post Office]] (FPO)
* [[Army Postal Service]] (APS)
⚫
* [[Field post office|Field Post Office]] (FPO)
|}
|}


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[[File:2 digit postcode india.png|thumb|00px|2-digit postcode areas in India (defined through the first two PIN digits)]]
[[File:2 digit postcode india.png|thumb|00px|2-digit postcode areas in India (defined through the first two PIN digits)]]


The third digit of a PIN, combined with the first two digits, represents a specific geographical region (except in the case of the functional zone for the Army) called a sorting district that is headquartered at the main post office of the largest city in the region and is known as the sorting office. A state may have one or more sorting districts depending on the volume of mail handled.
The third digit of a PIN, combined with the first two digits, represents a specific geographical region (except in the case of the functional zone for the Army) called a sorting district that is headquartered at the main post office of the largest city in the region and is known as the [[sorting office]]. A state may have one or more sorting districts depending on the volume of mail handled.


{| class="sortable wikitable"
{| class="sortable wikitable"
Line 107: Line 141:
|-
|-
| 396
| 396
| DH
| DD
| [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]
| [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]
|-
|-
Line 123: Line 157:
|-
|-
| 49
| 49
| CT
| CG
| [[Chhattisgarh]]
| [[Chhattisgarh]]
|-
|-
Line 138: Line 172:
| [[Karnataka]]
| [[Karnataka]]
|-
|-
| 60–66 (except 605)
| 60–66
| TN
| TN
| [[Tamil Nadu]]
| [[Tamil Nadu]]
Line 167: Line 201:
|-
|-
| 75–77
| 75–77
| OR
| OD
| [[Odisha]]
| [[Odisha]]
|-
|-
Line 213: Line 247:
[[File:Somnathpur pictorial cancellation.JPG|thumb|A post box with its PIN marked on it]]
[[File:Somnathpur pictorial cancellation.JPG|thumb|A post box with its PIN marked on it]]
The last two digits represent the delivery office within the sorting district starting from "01" which would be the General Post Office (GPO) or head office (HO). The numbering of the delivery office is done chronologically with higher numbers assigned to newer delivery offices. If the volume of mail handled at a delivery office is too large, a new delivery office is created and the next available PIN is assigned.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icar.org.in/files/circulars/new_pin.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-08-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814194346/http://www.icar.org.in/files/circulars/new_pin.pdf |archive-date=2014-08-14 }}</ref> Thus, two delivery offices situated next to each other will only have the first four digits in common.
The last two digits represent the delivery office within the sorting district starting from "01" which would be the General Post Office (GPO) or head office (HO). The numbering of the delivery office is done chronologically with higher numbers assigned to newer delivery offices. If the volume of mail handled at a delivery office is too large, a new delivery office is created and the next available PIN is assigned.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icar.org.in/files/circulars/new_pin.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-08-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814194346/http://www.icar.org.in/files/circulars/new_pin.pdf |archive-date=2014-08-14 }}</ref> Thus, two delivery offices situated next to each other will only have the first four digits in common.

=== Dakshin Gangotri and Maitri in Antarctica ===
The pin code of Dakshin Gangotri, as well as [[Maitri (research station)]], in [[Antarctica]] is 403001, which is of the pin code of [[Panaji]], Goa.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pin code of Dakshin Gangotri in Antarctica |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/sending-warm-regards-to-antarctica-use-panajis-pin-code/articleshow/105769970.cms |website=Times of India}}</ref>


== Delivery system ==
== Delivery system ==
Each PIN is mapped to exactly 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), 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. Branch offices (BOs) are located in rural areas and have limited postal services.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiapost.gov.in/Pdf/Manuals/PO_Guide_Part-1.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-08-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530045527/http://www.indiapost.gov.in/Pdf/Manuals/PO_Guide_Part-1.pdf |archive-date=2014-05-30 }}</ref> [https://www.inindiapost.com/2020/11/best-ways-to-search-pincode-of-my-location.html Pin Code of My Location].
Each PIN is mapped to exactly 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), 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. Branch offices (BOs) are located in rural areas and have limited postal services.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiapost.gov.in/Pdf/Manuals/PO_Guide_Part-1.pdf |title=Post Office Guide Part I |access-date=2014-08-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530045527/http://www.indiapost.gov.in/Pdf/Manuals/PO_Guide_Part-1.pdf |archive-date=2014-05-30 }}</ref>


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
Line 228: Line 265:
{{Asia topic|Postal codes in}}
{{Asia topic|Postal codes in}}


[[Category:1972 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Indian pincodes]]
[[Category:Indian pincodes]]
[[Category:Postal system of India]]
[[Category:Postal system of India]]

Latest revision as of 06:51, 13 December 2024

A Postal Index Number (PIN; sometimes redundantly a PIN code)[note 1] refers to a six-digit code in the Indian postal code system used by India Post. On 15 August 2022, the PIN system celebrated its 50th anniversary.

History

[edit]

The PIN system was introduced on 15 August 1972 by Shriram Bhikaji Velankar, an additional secretary in the Government of India's Ministry of Communications.[1][2][3] The system was introduced to simplify the manual sorting and delivery of mail by eliminating confusion over incorrect addresses, similar place names, and different languages used by the public.[4]

PIN structure

[edit]
An example of a Postal Index Number from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. 4 indicates the West postal zone, 5 indicates a postal sub-zone in Madhya Pradesh, 6 indicates the Ujjain sorting district, 0 indicates the Ujjain core area service route, 01 indicates the Ujjain Head Office as the delivery office.

The first digit of a PIN indicates the zone, the second indicates the sub-zone, and the third, combined with the first two, indicates the sorting district within that zone. The final three digits are assigned to individual post offices within the sorting district.

Postal zones

[edit]

There are nine postal zones in India, including eight regional zones and one functional zone (for the Indian Army). The first digit of a PIN indicates the zone and is allocated over the 9 zones as follows:

1st digit of PIN Zone States or Union Territories
1 North
2
3 West
4
5 South
6
7 East
8
9 APS

Sorting district

[edit]
2-digit postcode areas in India (defined through the first two PIN digits)

The third digit of a PIN, combined with the first two digits, represents a specific geographical region (except in the case of the functional zone for the Army) called a sorting district that is headquartered at the main post office of the largest city in the region and is known as the sorting office. A state may have one or more sorting districts depending on the volume of mail handled.

PIN prefix Postal abbreviation Region
11 DL Delhi
12–13 HR Haryana
14–15 PB Punjab
16 CH Chandigarh
17 HP Himachal Pradesh
18–19 JK, LA Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh
20–28 UP, UT Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand
30–34 RJ Rajasthan
36–39 (except 396) GJ Gujarat
396 DD Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
40–44 (except 403) MH Maharashtra
403 GA Goa
45–48 MP Madhya Pradesh
49 CG Chhattisgarh
50 TG Telangana
51–53 AP Andhra Pradesh
56–59 KA Karnataka
60–66 TN Tamil Nadu
605 PY Puducherry
67–69 (except 682) KL Kerala
682 LD Lakshadweep
70–74 (except 737 & 744) WB West Bengal
737 SK Sikkim
744 AN Andaman and Nicobar Islands
75–77 OD Odisha
78 AS Assam
790–792 AR Arunachal Pradesh
793–794 ML Meghalaya
795 MN Manipur
796 MZ Mizoram
797–798 NL Nagaland
799 TR Tripura
80–85 BR, JH Bihar, Jharkhand
90–99 APS Army Postal Service

Service route

[edit]

The fourth digit represents the route on which a delivery office is located in the sorting district.[4] This is "0" for offices in the core area of the sorting district.

Delivery office

[edit]
A post box with its PIN marked on it

The last two digits represent the delivery office within the sorting district starting from "01" which would be the General Post Office (GPO) or head office (HO). The numbering of the delivery office is done chronologically with higher numbers assigned to newer delivery offices. If the volume of mail handled at a delivery office is too large, a new delivery office is created and the next available PIN is assigned.[5] Thus, two delivery offices situated next to each other will only have the first four digits in common.

Dakshin Gangotri and Maitri in Antarctica

[edit]

The pin code of Dakshin Gangotri, as well as Maitri (research station), in Antarctica is 403001, which is of the pin code of Panaji, Goa.[6]

Delivery system

[edit]

Each PIN is mapped to exactly 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), 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. Branch offices (BOs) are located in rural areas and have limited postal services.[7]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Sometimes incorrectly written as "Pin code", "Pincode", "PINcode", or "pincode".

References

[edit]
  1. ^ India. Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 1974. p. 305. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  2. ^ "Mails section". Indian government postal department. Archived from the original on 23 July 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  3. ^ "Using pincode, maps to trace address". timesofindia.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Tamilnadu Postal Circle – Pincode". tamilnadupost.nic.in. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Pin code of Dakshin Gangotri in Antarctica". Times of India.
  7. ^ "Post Office Guide Part I" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 May 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
[edit]
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