When India became independent, there were 23,344 post offices, primarily in urban areas. The postal network has expanded manifold since then, making it the most widely distributed postal system in the world.
Obviously, the postal department needs a foolproof method to ensure that a letter reaches the right address. It is the six-digit number cited at the end of every postal address, which plays the most important role- the PIN code.
Velankar’s formula
PIN stands for Postal Index Number. It was devised by a Sanskrit scholar, Shriram Bhikaji Velankar who had joined the postal service in 1940. An ingenious man, he developed useful mathematical formulae to help his comrades sort the mail.
During the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, Indian soldiers fighting in Bangladesh were anxious for news from home. As there was no numerical system then, language barriers hindered the ability of the postal department to sort the letters quickly and effectively. Velankar proposed his idea of a PIN code system to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The PIN code was introduced on August 15, 1972, on the 25th anniversary of Indian independence.
There are 9 PIN regions in the country. The first 8 are geographical regions and the digit 9 is reserved for the Army Postal Service. The first digit of the PIN code indicates the region. The second digit indicates the sub-region (or postal circle), and the third digit indicates the sorting district within the region. The final three digits are assigned to individual post offices.
Picture Credit : Google