Parliament Question: DHRUVA Policy

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 532 ANSWERED ON 23RD JULY, 2025 DHRUVA POLICY

532. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

DR. HEMANT VISHNU SAVARA:

SHRI VISHWESHWAR HEGDE KAGERI:

SHRI GODAM NAGESH:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the key objectives and components of Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address (DHRUVA) and the manner in which it aims to strengthen India's digital communication infrastructure in rural and urban areas;

(b) the manner in which Project DHRUVA will support the deployment of indigenous technology and contribute to the goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the telecom and digital sectors;

(c) the expected outcomes and timelines for the implementation of DHRUVA, and the manner in which its rollout will impact broadband connectivity and digital services in underserved regions; and

(d) the details of the Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address implemented and to be implemented in rural areas of Palghar District and rural and urban areas of Maharashtra State? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) The initiative aims to enhance the way addresses are structured and managed in India. It works by assigning unique codes to locations using a geo-coded grid system of around 4 metres by 4 metres, known as a DIGIPIN. This significantly improves location accuracy and enables precise identification of places.

In addition, the ‘Digital Address’ layer enables users to generate personalized address labels by combining the DIGIPIN with descriptive information such as house numbers, street names, etc. This approach simplifies address usage, enhances accuracy, and facilitates easy sharing, and ultimately aims to establish a robust digital address management system.

Conceptualized with a federated and interoperable design, the initiative enables every location to be digitally addressable, strengthening service delivery and planning across sectors such as postal, telecom, and broadband—particularly in remote and underserved areas.

(b) The initiative promotes indigenous technology through a fully India-developed geo-coded addressing system. As an open-source solution, it encourages domestic innovation in address-based solutions and aligns with the vision of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.

(c) The identified outcomes include enhanced digital inclusion, improved resource planning, reduced delivery costs, and more responsive public services across sectors such as postal, telecom, and broadband— particularly benefiting underserved regions.

(d) A draft policy document has been circulated for stakeholder consultation. The project is at the proof- of-concept (PoC) stage. ***** 1