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UPSC » Daily News Analysis ‘DHRUVA: India’s Proposed Digital Public Infrastructure for Address Standardisation’ : 9 December

Daily News Analysis ‘DHRUVA: India’s Proposed Digital Public Infrastructure for Address Standardisation’ : 9 December

Table of Content

Why in News?

  • The Department of Posts has proposed a new digital framework called DHRUVA and issued a draft amendment to the Post Office Act, 2023 to legally enable it.

What is DHRUVA

  • DHRUVA stands for Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address.
  • It is proposed as a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) like Aadhaar and UPI.
  • It will allow users to use a digital address label similar to an email ID instead of a full physical address.
  • The label will be linked to both descriptive address details and the geo-coded DIGIPIN.
  • It aims to enable standardised, shareable, and consent-based address usage.

Roe of DIGIPIN in DHRUVA

  • DIGIPIN is a 10-digit alphanumeric location code developed by India Post.
  • Every 12 square metre area in India has a unique DIGIPIN.
  • It is designed to support precise location identification, especially in rural areas.
  • DIGIPIN will act as the geo-spatial backbone of DHRUVA.

How DHRUVA Will Work

  • Users will share a tokenised address label instead of full address details.
  • Platforms like e-commerce, logistics, and gig services can use the label for delivery and services.
  • Address access will be based on user consent and time-bound authorisation.
  • Users can update their address once and shift routine services seamlessly.
  • A dedicated governance entity will oversee the entire DHRUVA ecosystem.

Role of DHRUVA in Governance

  • DHRUVA will enable standardised digital addresses for faster and more accurate service delivery.
  • It will support better targeting of government services and doorstep delivery of welfare schemes.
  • It will help in improving logistics efficiency for India Post and other public services.
  • It can strengthen emergency response, disaster management, and last-mile connectivity.
  • It supports India’s vision of Digital Public Infrastructure for inclusive governance.

Key Challenges of DHRUVA

  • The system relies on collection and sharing of personal address data, raising privacy concerns.
  • It requires a strong legal framework for data protection and consent management.
  • Non-consent by users may lead to incomplete address and infrastructure datasets.
  • Linking addresses to individuals may reduce its usefulness for urban planning and surveying.
  • Cybersecurity risks exist due to large-scale digital address data storage and sharing.