The Postal Index Number scheme, called PIN Code in short, was introduced by
the Post and Telegraphe Department on 15th August, 1972.
Under the scheme, every Head Post Office and Sub-post Office which delivers
mail has been allotted an individual six digit number. The Branch Post
Offices use the number allotted to their parent account office.; In a
country with diverse languages and scripts, the introduction of the digital
code has eased the problem of sorting mail by sorters. Further, there
are several different towns in this country having the same name. The
addition of the PIN Code after the address enables the sort or to identify
the destination correctly, thereby eliminating chances of
missending and consequent delay to the articles, letters, inland letters,
post card etc. This has reduced the delay in transmission and hastened
delivery.
The Pin code digits from left to right progressively pin point and locate
the geographical position of the Post Office. The country has been
divided into eight different zones as shown in the accompanying PIN map of
India. The first digit indicates the Zone. The first three taken
together indicate the sorting unit under which the office falls. The
last three specify the particular delivery Post Office under the sorting
unit.
ZONE 1 : Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh,
Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir
ZONE 2 : Uttar Pradesh
ZONE 3 : Rajasthan and Gujarat, Damman, Diu, Dadra
& Nagar Haveli
ZONE 4 : Maharashtra, Goa and Madhya Pradesh
ZONE 5 : Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
ZONE 6 : Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Laccadive, Minicoy & A
minidivi Islands)
ZONE 7 : West Bengal, Andman & Nicobar Islands)
Orissa, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland,
Tripura and Sikkim.
ZONE 8 : Bihar
Please observe the following rules while addressing your mail.
a) Find out the PIN (Postal Index Number) of the delivery.
Post Office that serves you and mention it on your correspondence.
b) Ask your correspondents to let you know their PIN. It
would be available to you from your Near Post Office also.
c) The PIN should be the last item of information in the
addresses. Preferably on a line by itself. If this is not
possible. It may be added after the last item of the address.
d) Do not use full stops of any other punctuation marks between
or at the end of the Postal Index Number.
e) Postal Zonal Numbers which exist in certain cities have now
been incorporated in the six digit PIN, the zonal numbers therefore need nor
be mentioned if PIN is written which is obligatory.
f) Always write the name of the destination post town along with
the PIN.