DHRUVA Framework | 10 Dec 2025

Source:TH 

Why in News?  

The Department of Posts has prepared a draft of proposed amendments to the Post Office Act, 2023 to provide the necessary legislative backing for the Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address (DHRUVA) framework.  

• The amendments aim to support DHRUVA’s ecosystem reforms and enable its nationwide rollout. 

What is the DHRUVA Framework? 

• DHRUVA: It is proposed as a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), similar to Aadhaar and Unified Payments Interface (UPI).  
  • It will allow logistics companies, e-commerce firms, and gig platforms to receive a user’s digital address “label” instead of a full physical address. 
  • Once the user authorises this label, the platform can access both the descriptive address and the geo-coded DIGIPIN (Digital Postal Index Number). 
    • DIGPIN is an open-source, in-house location pin system developed by India Post, assigning a unique code to every 12 sq. metre block in the country.  
    • DIGIPIN uses a 10-digit alphanumeric code derived from latitude–longitude coordinates. It divides India into a grid using 16 unique characters (2 to 9, C, J, K, L, M, P, F, T), enabling a hierarchical and precise location encoding system. 
    • It is especially useful in rural areas where clear descriptive addresses may be unavailable, providing delivery personnel with precise geo-location as a fallback alongside the traditional PIN code. 
• DHRUVA’s Ecosystem: DHRUVA proposes the creation of specialised institutions: 
  • Address Service Providers (ASPs): Generate the digital address labels. 
  • Address Validation Agencies (AVAs): Verify and authenticate addresses. 
  • Address Information Agents (AIAs): Allow users to manage consent and address-sharing settings. 
  • A Central Governance Entity: Similar to National Payments Corporation of India, to regulate standards and operations. 
• Significance of DHRUVA: 
  • Enhances User Control and Privacy: Introduces consent-based address sharing, allowing users to decide who can access their address and for what duration.  
    • This reduces repeated disclosure of personal address information while ensuring secure and controlled data sharing. 
  • Boosts Efficiency for Digital and Delivery Platforms: A single, verified digital address token streamlines operations for platforms like Amazon, Uber, and India Post.  
    • It reduces delivery failures, returns, and misrouting, improving overall efficiency and reducing operational costs. 
  • Seamless Address Updates: When users relocate, DHRUVA allows address updates to be reflected across multiple platforms automatically.  
  • This ensures continuity in deliveries, communication, and service access without repeated manual updates.