The Postal Index Number (PIN) was introduced in India in 1972, as a system to simplify and streamline the process of sorting and delivering mail. Prior to the introduction of PIN codes, postal delivery in India was largely manual and time-consuming, with postal workers having to rely on a combination of address information, geographic knowledge, and memory to deliver mail to the correct recipients.
The idea for a PIN code system was first proposed in the early 1960s, but it took several years for the concept to gain traction and for the necessary infrastructure and technology to be put in place. The system was eventually launched in 1972, with the first PIN codes assigned to the major cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Bangalore.
Initially, the PIN code system was only used for major urban areas, but it was gradually expanded to cover rural areas as well. By the mid-1980s, nearly all areas of India were covered by the PIN code system.
Over the years, the PIN code system has been refined and updated to keep pace with changing technologies and the evolving needs of the Indian postal service. Today, it is an integral part of the postal service, and is used not only for sorting and delivering mail, but also for a wide range of other purposes such as online transactions, government services, and identity verification. The Indian Postal Service continues to maintain and update the PIN code system, ensuring that it remains an effective and efficient tool for delivering mail and other services across the country.
India uses a six-digit postal index number (PIN) code system to facilitate the sorting and delivery of mail. The PIN codes are divided into nine zones, with each zone having a specific range of codes. Here is a detailed breakdown of the PIN codes of India:
- Zone 1: Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Chandigarh. The PIN codes in this zone start with the digits 110 to 119, 120 to 129, and 140 to 149.
- Zone 2: Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The PIN codes in this zone start with the digits 201 to 203, 208 to 209, 221 to 222, 224 to 225, 227, 230 to 234, 238 to 239, 241 to 242, 244 to 245, 247 to 248, 250 to 259, 261 to 266, 268 to 269, 271 to 275, 280 to 284, 286 to 289, and 293 to 299.
- Zone 3: Rajasthan and Gujarat. The PIN codes in this zone start with the digits 300 to 305, 307 to 311, 313 to 344, 360 to 369, 370 to 389, 391 to 395, and 400 to 403.
- Zone 4: Maharashtra, Goa, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The PIN codes in this zone start with the digits 400 to 410, 415 to 416, 420 to 424, 431 to 443, 449 to 450, 455 to 459, 465 to 466, 469 to 473, 475 to 480, 490 to 493, and 496 to 499.
- Zone 5: Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The PIN codes in this zone start with the digits 450 to 452, 454, 462 to 466, 473 to 476, 480 to 485, 487 to 493, 495 to 498, and 500 to 505.
- Zone 6: Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The PIN codes in this zone start with the digits 500 to 508, 510 to 528, 530 to 534, 535 to 545, 547 to 555, 560 to 587, 589 to 591, 600 to 612, 614 to 619, and 630 to 679.
- Zone 7: Karnataka. The PIN codes in this zone start with the digits 560 to 569, 571 to 577, 580 to 586, and 591 to 599.
- Zone 8: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The PIN codes in this zone start with the digits 600 to 607, 609 to 620, 622 to 629, 631 to 635, 636 to 639, 641 to 648, 650 to 659, 660 to 665, 667 to 670, 671 to 679, and 744.
- Zone 9: Kerala and Lakshadweep. The PIN codes in this zone start with the digits 670 to 682, 686 to 695, and 682 to 699.
It is important to note that within each zone, the first two digits of the PIN code indicate the sub-zone or the district. The last four digits of the PIN code represent the specific
The PIN code of India is a 6-digit number assigned to each post office in the country. The PIN code system was introduced in India in 1972 to simplify and streamline the process of sorting and delivering mail. The PIN code is an acronym for Postal Index Number.
The PIN code of India is structured in a way that each digit represents a specific aspect of the address and helps in sorting the mail accurately and quickly. Here is a detailed breakdown of each digit in the PIN code:
- First digit: The first digit of the PIN code represents the region or postal circle. India has nine postal regions, and each region is assigned a specific range of codes. For example, the first digit of the PIN codes in Delhi and Haryana is 1, while the first digit of the PIN codes in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry is 6.
- Second digit: The second digit of the PIN code represents the sub-region within the postal circle. Each sub-region is assigned a specific range of codes. For example, the second digit of the PIN codes in Delhi is 1 or 2, while the second digit of the PIN codes in Tamil Nadu is 0 or 6.
- Third digit: The third digit of the PIN code represents the sorting district within the sub-region. A sorting district is a geographical area that is responsible for sorting and delivering the mail. For example, the third digit of the PIN codes in Delhi is 0 or 1, while the third digit of the PIN codes in Chennai is 0 or 5.
- Fourth, fifth, and sixth digits: The fourth, fifth, and sixth digits of the PIN code represent the specific post office within the sorting district. The last three digits are unique to each post office and help in accurately identifying the delivery location. For example, the PIN code 110001 belongs to the Connaught Place post office in Delhi.
In summary, the PIN code of India is a 6-digit number that represents the region, sub-region, sorting district, and post office of the delivery location. The PIN code system helps in sorting and delivering the mail accurately and quickly, thereby saving time and effort.