Understanding PIN Codes a Postal Index Number
Understanding PIN Codes A Postal Index Number (PIN), or sometimes redundantly a PIN code, refers to a six-digit code in the Indian postal code system used by India Post. India has 19,252 unique pin codes for public. India has the world’s largest postal network. Up to 31st March, 2016, there have been 1,54,882 post offices out of which 1, 39,182 are located in rural areas. At the time of independence India had only 23,344 post offices most of which were located in urban areas. Since independence, there have been seven folds increase in the number of post offices in India the majority of which have been set up in rural areas. Currently, there is a post office located at about 21.22 square kilometre for about 8221 people. History The PIN system was introduced on 15 August 1972 by Shriram Bhikaji Velankar, an additional secretary in the Union Ministry of Communications. 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. PIN Structure 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. Example: - If the PIN code is 600014, it can be read as: - 6: indicates a Zone of South India, 60: indicates the Sub-zone of Tamil Nadu, 600: indicates the Sorting District of Chennai, 014: indicates the Post Office located in Royapettah area.
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