Your home to get its own Aadhaar? Why India’s plan for digital address system is significant

After bringing in Aadhaar for digital ID and UPI for digital payments, the Centre is now working on giving every address its own digital identity.

The main idea is to treat “address information management” as “core public infrastructure”. Right now, this area is not regulated in India, even as digital use keeps growing.

The government also wants to make sure that address details are shared only when a person clearly agrees to it.

ALSO READ | Now, ChatGPT is generating Aadhaar, PAN cards: Here's what you should watch out for

In this explainer, we look at what this plan is all about, why it is being done now, what Digipin is, and what steps will follow.

More from Explainers

Trump and jihadist forces: Is the US taking a U-turn on war on terror? Can Donald Trump build Golden Dome without Canada?

Let’s take a look:

What is the plan?

The Centre is looking to include addresses as part of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).

At present, there is no proper system or rule to manage address details in the country. Many companies collect people’s address information and may share it without asking.

In order to prevent this, the government wants to make sure that address data is shared only when a person gives clear permission.

The plan has two main goals: one is to set up systems that make sure people’s consent is taken and their address data is shared safely across government and private platforms. The second is to help the government deliver services to the right address quickly and accurately, The Economic Times reported.

Impact Shorts

View All

'My god, what have we done': The 2 US pilots who dropped atomic bombs on Japan's Hiroshima and Nagasaki

US is making it tougher to obtain green card for married couples. Here’s why

The draft framework for this new digital address system, which will include uniform “addressing standards”, is being prepared by the Department of Posts. The Prime Minister’s Office is closely following the work.

The draft will be opened for public feedback within a week, and a full plan is expected to be in place by the end of the year, the report said.

Things are moving quickly. A new law may be brought in during the winter session of Parliament to set up a digital address-DPI authority.

This body would be responsible for putting the system in place and keeping a check on its use, according to ET.

ALSO READ | All you need to know about new Aadhar app with face ID, QR code features

Why is it needed now?

With the rise of online shopping, courier services and food delivery apps, having the right address has become more important than ever.

But India’s current address system has several issues. Many addresses are hard to understand, incomplete, or written in different ways. Often, they rely on landmarks instead of proper location details. This makes them hard to use in digital systems and delays service delivery.

Government studies suggest that wrong or incomplete address information may be costing the economy nearly $10-14 billion, around 0.5% of the GDP, according to the ET report.

To deal with the issue, the government formed a special working group in December 2023 under the National Geospatial Policy to work out clear “addressing standards”.

Another problem is that address data is sometimes passed on to other organisations or sold, often without the person’s consent.

This is why the Centre is looking to bring in proper rules that will ensure address data is used safely and only when people give their permission, the report said.

Enter ‘Digital Address’ system and Digipin: What are they?

The government is working on a new system called the ‘Digital Address’ framework.

This setup will include clear rules on how addresses should be written and shared safely. It will let digital platforms access address details securely, but only if the person gives permission.

It is being developed by the Department of Posts and is under close watch by the Prime Minister’s Office.

A draft of the plan will be released soon for public feedback, and the final version is expected by the end of the year, according to reports.

Now, what exactly is Digipin?

A key part of the Digital Address system is the Digipin, short for Digital Postal Index Number. It is meant to play a big role in improving how public services are delivered.

Unlike normal postal codes, Digipin will be linked to the exact location of a place using map coordinates. It will be a 10-character alphanumeric code that points to the exact spot of a home, shop or building, India Today reported.

This makes address handling much easier by offering accurate, location-based identification.

It is especially helpful in places where standard addresses are not reliable, like villages, slums, forest areas or hilly regions.

With Digipin, even homes in far-flung or hard-to-reach areas can get a unique digital address.

Once fully rolled out, this system could become as much a part of daily life as Aadhaar or UPI.