How an Indian PIN code is built
India Post introduced the six-digit Postal Index Number on 15 August 1972. It works left to right, from broad to precise:
| Digit(s) | Meaning | Example: 226001 |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Zone — 1–8 are geographic regions, 9 is the Army Postal Service | 2 = North (UP, Uttarakhand) |
| 1st–2nd | Sub-zone / postal circle | 22 = Uttar Pradesh |
| 1st–3rd | Sorting district | 226 = Lucknow |
| 4th–6th | Delivery post office | 001 = the head office |
Zones at a glance
1 Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal, J&K · 2 Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand · 3 Rajasthan, Gujarat · 4 Maharashtra, Goa, MP, Chhattisgarh · 5 Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka · 6 Tamil Nadu, Kerala · 7 West Bengal, Odisha, North-East · 8 Bihar, Jharkhand · 9 Army Postal Service.
How a US ZIP code is built
The first digit is one of ten national areas running roughly from the north-east (0) to the west coast (9). The first three digits identify the sectional centre facility that sorts the mail, and the last two the delivery area. Example: 15222 — 1 (NY, PA, DE), 152 (Pittsburgh area), 22 (downtown and the Strip District).
Is 152222 a PIN code?
Structurally, 152222 decodes to zone 1 and the 15 range, which India Post uses for Punjab. Whether a delivery office uses exactly that number changes over time, so always confirm on India Post. Read our profile of 152222 for every other reading of the number.