The postal system is the backbone of our country. To make sending and receiving letters easier, a unique coding system was required to distinguish between regions with the same name.
There are two numbers - the Zip code and the Pin code which is used to send parcels and letters easily. Let’s try to understand how they are different.
Zip code means Zonal Improvement Plan. To make it simpler to sort mail, the United States created the Zip code system in the 1960s.
Pin code means Postal Index numbers, which are an indigenous Indian system of postal codes. It was first used to avoid misunderstandings that may result from incorrect or similar addresses, various local languages, and similarly named locations. Currently, they are used by all logistics service providers to deliver items to different areas.
Besides the most commonplace postal codes, since Zip code and Pin code are both confusing concepts, let's understand them in more detail to understand their differences better.
Zip codes are primarily used to pinpoint the precise place where packages or mail must be delivered. This is accomplished by classifying areas into fundamental geographic groups, making it simple to sort letters. These sites generally might contain many addresses, services, landmarks, etc.
It has 5 digits and each digit denotes something. They are mentioned below -
The first digit denotes the national region
The middle two digits denote the district post office
The last digit represents the local postal office
The technology simplified processes and reduced the number of mail-lost postings.
The US has also added four digits to the original 5 to make the process more efficient, which helps further restrict the region to which the mail is meant to be sent.
Indian Postal Services has used the Pin code to streamline mail delivery services. India now has nine postal zones in total. Eight of these zones are unique to distinct geographic regions. The remainder is devoted to the postal services offered to the armed services.
Each digit denotes a different thing in the Pin code. They are mentioned below -
The initial digit designates the region to which that digit is devoted
The state postal circle and the decentralized management to which it is designated are represented by the second digit of the code
The third digit of the same number identifies the specific state district
The final three numbers represent odes for the particular post offices in the towns, cities, and villages that make up the region
Now that you know what the Pin code and Zip codes mean, let us look at their differences -
| Criteria | Zip code | Pin code |
|---|---|---|
|
Year of introduction |
Since 1963, Zip codes have been used in the United States. |
The Pin code was first used in 1972 by the India Post, the nation's postal service. |
|
Used in the country |
In the USA, Zip codes are used. |
In India, Pin codes are used. |
|
Number of digits |
Five numbers make up Zip code, and four more numbers were added. |
A Pin code's six digits represent each stage of sorting. |
|
Abbreviation for |
Zonal Improvement Plan |
Postal Index Number |
|
Composition |
A Zip code may be made up entirely of numbers or it may include both numbers and alphabets. |
A Pin code is made up entirely of numbers. |
|
Used for |
Just to identify the place, a Zip code is utilized. |
Pin codes are useful for pinpointing locations and determining delivery routes. |
Zip code and Pin code both have the same function. They are used by two distinct nations and their makeup varies slightly. Other than India, other nations use Pin codes for different purposes.
Both codes have the same function, making it easier and more efficient for postal carriers to determine the precise location. Pin and Zip codes are used for more than just letters and mail.
Additionally, it helps in shipping and delivering online-ordered goods. Courier services and shipping companies utilize postal pin codes. Segregating and dividing parcels becomes easier due to Pin codes.
Two independent postal coding systems, Zip Codes and Pin Codes help specify where mail is expected to be delivered. In the US, Zip Codes are used, but in India, Pin Codes are used.
Pin code should be written after the city name.
The Pin code deployed by the Indian Post is 6 digits. The digits are devoted to the region, state postal circle, specific state district, and particular post offices.
India has 9 PIN regions with the first 8 being geographical ones and the 9 digits being solely reserved for the Army Postal Service.
Use the five-digit Zip code along with the four extra location-specific digits to increase the likelihood that the letter will arrive at its destination swiftly. Formatting requires writing the Zip code first, followed by a hyphen, and then the four extra numbers.
Here's how to locate your location's pin code:
Step 1: Conduct a Google search for 'find my pin code.'
Step 2: Next, locate pin code-India post is the first search result that has to be clicked (www.indiapost.gov.in )
Step 3: After the page has opened, complete the field. For instance, enter the state/union territory of West Bengal, the city/district of Kharagpur, or the name of the post office if you are unsure about the location. For instance, the railway market post office is the name of the post office.
Step 4: After completing the necessary forms, type the characters in the image and click 'search.'
Step 5: The matching results will be displayed below along with all of that location's pin codes.
In 1963, the zip code was first used.
The first digit represents the region of India. The sub-region is represented by the second number and the sorting district by the third. The final three digits identify the specific post office located inside the district.
Typically, a carrier or postmaster from the location where the box was sent will check the address to determine the Zip code and may even contact the appropriate post office to confirm that the parcel is delivered to the proper address.
Thank you. Your feedback is important to us.