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Context:
The Department of Posts has released a draft amendment in 2025 proposing DHRUVA (Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address), a UPI-like digital addressing system. This system aims to digitise, standardise, and virtualise physical addresses across India, allowing users to share secure, consent-based address “labels” such as name@entity.
Key Features of DHRUVA
UPI-Like Address Labels
- Each user can obtain a virtual address label, e.g., name@entity, which acts as a proxy for their physical address.
- Reduces the need to repeatedly fill address forms in government and private services.
Consent-Based Access
- Users control who can access their geocoded or textual addresses.
- Access is time-bound and consent-driven, ensuring strong privacy protections.
DIGIPIN Backbone
- DIGIPIN is a 10-character alphanumeric geocode representing latitude–longitude coordinates.
- Maps every 14 sq m patch of India (~228 billion unique pins).
- Open-sourced, precise, and particularly useful for rural and hard-to-map areas.
Address-as-a-Service (AaaS) Framework
- Secure APIs enable integration of address data across:
- Government agencies
- Logistics companies
- E-commerce platforms
- Fintech and other private-sector services
Aim of DHRUVA
- Create a unified, secure, and user-controlled digital address ecosystem.
- Treat address data as core public infrastructure, similar to Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker.
- Enable Address-as-a-Service (AaaS) for seamless integration across public and private services.