The Postal Index Number (PIN) or the Pincode is a 6-digit post office code or numbering system that is deployed by India Post. This was first introduced on 15th August, 1972. India has 9 PIN regions with the first 8 being geographical ones and the 9 digit being solely reserved for the Army Postal Service. The first digit is an indicator of any one region while the second digit indicates any postal circle (State) or sub-region. The third digit is an indicator of any revenue or sorting district while the last three digits indicate the post office for delivery.
PIN is referred as Postal Index number. In short, this is called as PIN Code.
What is a Pin code?
A Pin Code is a unique code assigned to Post offices of a district to ease the process of mail delivery system in India.
What is the structure of a Pin code?
The first digit indicates the Zone, the second digit indicates States or Sub Zones, the third digit indicates specific districts or regions in a state, the fourth digit indicates the delivery office route and the last 2 digits represents the Post office.
How many postal zones are there in India?
There are 5 major Postal Zones in India: North, South, West, East & APS (Army Postal Service).
What is the postal code for the different zones in India?
1 is the code for North Zone in which the States/Union Territories of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Chandigarh are covered.
2 is the code for North Zone in which States of Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand are covered.
3 is the code for West Zone in which States/Union Territories of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli are covered.
4 is the code for West Zone in which States/Union Territories of Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh are covered.
5 is the code for South Zone in which States of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka are covered.
6 is the code for South Zone in which States/Union Territories of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Lakshadweep are covered.
7 is the code for East Zone in which States/Union Territories of West Bengal, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Sikkim are covered.
8 is the code for East Zone in which States of Bihar, Jharkhand are covered.
9 is the code for Army Postal Service (APS) and Field Post Office (FPO).
Can multiple areas have same pin code?
Yes, multiple areas can have same Pin codes if they fall under same post office.
Who introduced Pin code system in India?
The PIN code system in India was introduced by Shriram Bhikaji Velankar on 15th August 1972.