What is PINCODE?

Do you know the exact significance of PINCODE? Someone asked

No!!! I  blurted out.

I indeed surprised myself with the extent of my ignorance because I have been using PINCODES since times immemorial.

Well the meaning of the PINCODE was explained to be my the poser of the question. Subsequently, I also sought the assistance of Professor Google.

The sum total of the above is summarized below:

Established in seventies, PINCODE is an abbreviation for Postal Index Number.  Described variously as ZIP Code, Postal Code, etc. it contains a series of numbers serving as a unique code aimed at effective sorting of mail.  India Post follows a 6 digit PINCODE system. The code represents 8 PIN zones in India, the sub- region or one of the postal circles, sorting/revenue district and the delivery Post Office.

The 8 PIN zones include two each of the northern, western, southern and eastern regions. The bifurcation of states are as under:

First Digit	Region	State
1.	Northern	Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, H.P, J&K
2.	Northern	U.P & Uttaranchal
3.	Western	Rajasthan & Gujarat
4.	Western	Chattisgarh, Maharashtra & M.P
5.	Southern	A.P & Karnataka
6.	Southern	Kerala & T.N
7.	Eastern	W.Bengal, Orissa & N.E
8.	Eastern	Bihar & Jharkhand

Source: http://www.indiapost.gov.in/netscape/pincode.html

           

While the first digit indicates the region, the first two digits read together convey the sub-region or a postal circle.  Upon reading the first three digits, one gets the details of the sorting/revenue district. For getting information about the delivery Post Office, the last three digits may be referred to.