Tue Dec 09 03:00:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a news article rewrite:
Summary:
India’s Department of Posts is proposing “DHRUVA,” a digital infrastructure project to standardize and share physical addresses using unique “labels” similar to email addresses. Built upon the existing open-source DIGIPIN system (a 10-digit alphanumeric pin code representing 12 square meter blocks), DHRUVA aims to streamline address sharing for various services like logistics, e-commerce, and government programs. The system will involve various entities like Address Service Providers, Validation Agencies and information agents managing user consent for address access and use. DHRUVA seeks to enhance service delivery, improve governance, and offer users control over their address data, enabling seamless updating and regulated access. However, concerns have been raised about the necessity of a consent-based mechanism if personal information is collected along with addresses, and the potential for incomplete datasets if citizens decline to share their data, which might hinder urban planning efforts.
News Article:
India Post Unveils DHRUVA: A Digital Address System Aimed at Revolutionizing Service Delivery
Visakhapatnam, December 9, 2025 – India’s postal service is set to transform how addresses are used and shared with the introduction of DHRUVA (Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address), a new digital public infrastructure project. The Department of Posts envisions DHRUVA as a standardized system that will allow users to share a unique address “label,” similar to an email address, instead of detailed physical addresses.
DHRUVA builds upon the existing DIGIPIN system, an open-source project that assigns a 10-digit alphanumeric code to every 12 square meter block across India. This combination will ensure precise location identification, particularly beneficial in rural areas where traditional addresses may be lacking.
The system aims to streamline processes for a wide range of services, from e-commerce and logistics to government programs. The plan involves several key players: Address Service Providers to generate labels, Address Validation Agencies to authenticate addresses, and Address Information Agents to manage user consent for data sharing.
India Post highlights key benefits, including enhanced data security. Users will have control over who can access their address information and for how long, fostering a consent-based data sharing model. Moving houses will also become easier as users can seamlessly update addresses for routine deliveries.
While the initiative is lauded for its potential to improve efficiency and empower users, concerns have been raised by policy experts. Dvara Research, a non-profit, suggests the need for specific legislation to authorize the data collection involved. Beni Chugh of Dvara’s Future of Finance Initiative questions whether the system’s reliance on personal consent could lead to incomplete address datasets, potentially hindering its usefulness for urban planning and governance. She argues that digitizing addresses without personal information might allow for richer data sets and remove the need for consent.
Despite these concerns, the Department of Posts is moving forward with DHRUVA, signaling a significant step toward digitizing India’s addressing system and enhancing service delivery across the nation. A draft amendment to the Post Office Act, 2023 has been put in place to enable DHRUVA. The rollout and its ultimate impact on various sectors will be closely watched.
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