A PIN Code in India is a specific code assigned to one or several post office(s) in one geography by the Indian Postal Services to facilitate easy and accurate delivery of posts and parcels. The system was introduced in 1972.
A PIN Code currently has six digits, where the first digit of the PIN Code denotes a geographic zone in India, while the first two digits represent the state (or area) of delivery. The third digit of the code indicates the district. To ensure a more accurate identification within the district, the last three digits of the PIN Code act as a local code of the post office(s).
In the future, the Indian Postal Service plans to add two more digits to this code, keeping in mind that various machines or automated processes may become involved for a more accurate delivery process. At present, the department is experimenting with using this 8-digit PIN Code in multiple regions around the country.
Postal Index Number (PIN) is a six-digit postal code that the Indian Postal department uses to deliver posts around the country efficiently.
The first digit of the PIN Code denotes the geographical zone. The second digit represents a postal circle (state) or a sub-area. The third digit represents a district, while the last three digits represent the code of the post office.
India has 9 Postal (PIN) zones, out of which 8 represent various geographic regions, and the last one (9th) is reserved for providing postal services to the armed forces. Listed are the nine PIN Code zones (geographical areas) in India:
| Postal Code | Postal Geographical Area |
|---|---|
| 1 | Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh |
| 2 | Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhan |
| 3 | Gujarat, Rajasthan, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli |
| 4 | Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Goa |
| 5 | Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Yanam (part of Puducherry) |
| 6 | Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry (other than Yanam), Lakshadweep |
| 7 | West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland,Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar |
| 8 | Bihar, Jharkhand |
| 9 | Armed Forces Post Office (APO) and Area Post Office (FPO) |
