CivilsKash
DHRUVA: India's UPI-like Digital Address Service (AaaS)
The Department of Posts, under the Ministry of Communications , has proposed DHRUVA (Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address) to create a standardized Digital Public Infrastructure for addressing. The core objective is to enable "Address as a Service" (AaaS) , converting traditional physical addresses into secure, validated digital identifiers for seamless service delivery. The necessary legal framework is being sought through draft amendments to the Post Office Act, 2023 to provide statutory support for the digital address system. The system's foundational layer relies on a high-precision alphanumeric geocode, intended to function much like a UPI-like virtual label (e.g., name@entity) for address sharing.
DHRUVA is designed to revolutionize sectors like logistics, e-commerce, and financial inclusion by ensuring address accuracy and simplifying verification. A critical feature of the system is the consent-based mechanism for address sharing, ensuring strong user autonomy and privacy protection. The governance of this ecosystem is proposed to be overseen by a Section 8 not-for-profit entity, conceptually modeled after NPCI.
DHRUVA is designed to revolutionize sectors like logistics, e-commerce, and financial inclusion by ensuring address accuracy and simplifying verification. A critical feature of the system is the consent-based mechanism for address sharing, ensuring strong user autonomy and privacy protection. The governance of this ecosystem is proposed to be overseen by a Section 8 not-for-profit entity, conceptually modeled after NPCI.