The Department of Post has released a comprehensive policy document titled DHRUVA (Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address) laying out the framework for a national Digital Address Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
About DHRUVA (Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address)
- The DHRUVA envisions a standardized, interoperable, and geocoded digital addressing system which is aimed at building a national-level Digital Address Digital Public Infrastructure.
- Based on: DHRUVA is based on its core concept of Address-as-a-Service (AaaS)
- AaaS is an array of services associated with address data management to support secure efficient interactions between users, government entities, and private sector organizations.
- Aim: To recognize address information management as a foundational public infrastructure and build a robust address data sharing and management ecosystem ensuring smooth integration across both public and private sectors.
- Features:
- Digital Postal Index Number (DIGIPIN) – The National Addressing Grid: It is an open source nationwide geo-coded addressing system dividing India into approx. 4m x 4m grids and assigns each grid a unique 10-character alphanumeric code based on latitude and longitude coordinates
- Interoperability: The DHRUV system is interoperable across government, citizens and private business to co-develop solutions that are secure and inclusive.
- Privacy: It ensures a secure, consent-based sharing of address information across public and private sectors.
- Significance:
- Improve the quality and consistency of address data
- Enable seamless integration across government departments and private services
- Promote citizen autonomy through consent-based data sharing and promotes user autonomy, drives innovation, and supports ease of living.
- Enhance delivery of welfare schemes, e-commerce services, and financial inclusion
- Application:
- Catalyse Innovation: DHRUVA will catalyze innovation across key sectors such as governance, e-commerce, logistics, and financial inclusion
- Efficient Service Delivery: It is publicly accessible and supports improvements in emergency response, logistics efficiency, and citizen service delivery.
- Emergency Response: The geo coded addressing system will be particularly useful for providing immediate and speedy emergency response like ambulance service, fire rescue service.
- Logistics: DHRUV will help in improving the logistics bottleneck in the country.
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
- It refers to foundational digital systems and services provided by the public sector to support essential public services and support the growth of the digital economy and enabling seamless interactions between individuals, businesses, and the government.
- Pillars: India, with its India Stack Platform has developed all three foundational pillars of DPI
- Digital Identity: This pillar provides citizens with a unique digital identity, allowing for authentication and verification across various systems and services.
- Examples: Aadhaar in India.
- Payments: This pillar enables secure and efficient digital payments, facilitating transactions between individuals, businesses, and the government.
- Example: The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in India
- Data Exchange: This pillar facilitates the secure and prompt exchange of information between different systems and entities.
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31 May 2025
