The Department of Posts has introduced a draft amendment to the Post Office Act, 2023, unveiling a revolutionary digital addressing framework known as DHRUVA. This initiative is crafted to enhance address sharing, making it interoperable, user-centric, and compatible with India's growing digital ecosystem.
One of the primary goals of DHRUVA is to minimize repetitive form-filling while improving the accuracy of address sharing. Additionally, it aims to stimulate innovation in the private sector, fostering a more efficient addressing system.
DHRUVA stands for Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address. This framework proposes a shift from traditional textual addresses to virtual labels, akin to email or UPI handles. These labels, structured as name@entity, will serve as proxies for physical locations.
Users will have the ability to share their addresses instantly using these identifiers, thereby enhancing convenience for both public and private services.
The DHRUVA framework is intended to be part of India's digital public infrastructure. A Section 8 not-for-profit entity, which will operate under the supervision of the postal department, will manage the core functions, analogous to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) model.
Participation from private firms in this system is voluntary. However, e-commerce platforms and gig-economy services are expected to gain significantly from the simplified address management and the seamless consent-based access offered by DHRUVA.
Under the proposed framework, users can authorize firms to access their complete address and geolocation data linked to their virtual labels for specific periods. Once this authorization expires, firms will need to obtain fresh consent to access the data again.
Address service providers will issue these labels, while address information agents will oversee the consent framework, ensuring user autonomy and data security are prioritized.
At the core of the DHRUVA ecosystem is DIGIPIN, a 10-character alphanumeric code that represents precise latitude and longitude coordinates. Each DIGIPIN corresponds to a 14-square-metre area, providing highly accurate location data, which is vital for rural and poorly mapped regions.
This open-sourced system, developed by the postal department, has the potential to generate approximately 228 billion unique identifiers across India, revolutionizing the way addresses are managed.
Q1. What is DHRUVA?
Answer: DHRUVA is the Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address, a new addressing framework introduced under the Post Office Act, 2023 aimed at modernizing address sharing in India.
Q2. How does DHRUVA improve address sharing?
Answer: DHRUVA replaces traditional textual addresses with virtual labels, allowing users to share their locations easily and accurately, thereby enhancing convenience.
Q3. Who governs the DHRUVA framework?
Answer: A Section 8 not-for-profit entity under the supervision of the postal department will manage the DHRUVA framework, ensuring compliance and functionality.
Q4. What is DIGIPIN in relation to DHRUVA?
Answer: DIGIPIN is a technical foundation for DHRUVA, consisting of a 10-character code that represents precise geographic coordinates for accurate location identification.
Q5. How does user consent work in DHRUVA?
Answer: Users can grant firms access to their address and geolocation data for limited periods, ensuring control over their information and privacy.
Question 1: What does DHRUVA stand for?
A) Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address
B) Digital Hub for Reliable Unique Virtual Address
C) Digital Hub for Reference and Unified Virtual Address
D) Digital Hub for Real-time Unique Virtual Address
Correct Answer: A
Question 2: Who will manage the DHRUVA framework?
A) A government agency
B) A Section 8 not-for-profit entity
C) Private firms
D) Local governments
Correct Answer: B
Question 3: What is the purpose of DIGIPIN?
A) To identify postal services
B) To provide precise location data
C) To manage user consent
D) To simplify address sharing
Correct Answer: B
Question 4: What is the format of DHRUVA virtual labels?
A) name@location
B) name@entity
C) name@address
D) name@identifier
Correct Answer: B
Question 5: How long can firms access user data in DHRUVA?
A) Indefinitely
B) For fixed periods
C) Until revoked
D) For a lifetime
Correct Answer: B
Question 6: Which sectors might benefit from DHRUVA?
A) Healthcare and education
B) E-commerce and gig economy
C) Agriculture
D) Manufacturing
Correct Answer: B
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