Relevance: GS-2 (Governance, Digital Infrastructure); Source: The Hindu, Dept. of Posts

Context

The Department of Posts has proposed DHRUVA, an interoperable, consent-based digital addressing system using smart labels (e.g., name@entity) to simplify sharing and verification of physical addresses.

What is DHRUVA? – Key Features

• Creates Virtual Addresses like UPI handles, replacing long textual addresses.
  
• Managed by Address Information Agents, allowing users to authorize firms to access exact coordinates or address details.
  
• Supports e-commerce, logistics, banking and delivery services.
  
• Aims to standardize and modernize India’s addressing ecosystem.
  

DIGIPIN: Foundational Layer

• A 10-character alphanumeric code representing latitude–longitude of a 14 sq. metre area.
  
• Developed to improve geolocation accuracy where textual addresses fail.
  
• Open-sourced by Dept. of Posts; ~228 billion unique DIGIPINs possible for India.
  

What About Privacy?

• Consent-based architecture: users choose who can view the full address and for how long.
  
• Requires re-authorisation after expiry.
  
• Government exploring a Section 8 (not-for-profit) body for governance, similar to the National Payments Corporation of India.
  

Q. With reference to DHRUVA, consider the following statements:

1. DHRUVA assigns each household a mandatory government-issued virtual address.
   
2. DIGIPIN is a geolocation code representing a small grid of land.
   
3. Address sharing under DHRUVA operates on a consent-based model.
   

Which of the above are correct?
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a)