Rules, Rights & Rites -96
I usually post all important items related to official rulings, union news, and other general matters on my YouTube channels: Yourskayveeyes (English) and Anbudan Kayveeyes (Tamil).
However, due to the recent spate of orders and the high volume of information being received, I have not been able to convert every item into a video. Therefore, I am introducing these new slots to post current matters and updates that have not yet been published on YouTube. This ensures you stay informed on every detail, even if a video hasn't been made yet …………….Kayveeyes
Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address (DHRUVA).
1. Establishment of DHRUVA
• To operationalize a modern, secure, interoperable, and user-centric digital addressing ecosystem for India, titled the Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address (DHRUVA).
• To enable simplified and seamless service delivery and efficient governance, creating "Address as a Service" (AaaS) in India.
2. Key Elements of the Digital Addressing Ecosystem
The amendments provide the legal basis for the following components:
• The generation and use of unique Digital Address Identifiers.
• Rules for addresses and postcodes within the new system.
• Mechanism for the validation of address information associated with a DAI.
• The generation, exchange, validation, access, and use of address identifiers and information must be based on a consent-based mechanism from the user.
3. Regulatory and Governance Framework
• Creation of a national Network Administrator responsible for:
o Registering and supervising Address Service Providers (ASPs).
o Issuing technical and operational standards for the ecosystem.
• Service Providers and Agencies:
o Mandatory Registration for any person operating as an Address Service Provider (ASP) with the Network Administrator.
o Mandatory Authorization for Address Validation Agencies (AVAs).
4. Penalties for Non-Compliance
The draft introduces a punitive framework to enforce compliance:
• A penalty of up to ₹10 Lakhs for any person who:
o Fails to furnish required reports or information.
o Submits false information.
• A penalty of up to ₹10 Lakhs for any person who generates an address identifier, uses, accesses, or validates address information without the required registration as an ASP or authorization as an AVA.
• For a failure to comply that is a continuing one, a further penalty of up to ₹25,000 for every day the failure continues.
5. Adjudication and Appellate Mechanism
• Provisions for the appointment of an Adjudicating Officer to handle regulatory issues and impose monetary penalties.
• Establishes an Appellate Authority to which any person aggrieved by an order of the Adjudicating Officer may appeal.
6. Miscellaneous Provisions
• The provisions of the Post Office Act, 2023, regarding DHRUVA will be in addition to, and not in derogation of, other existing laws, such as the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA).
• Extends protection to the Central Government and its officers for actions taken in good faith under the Act or rules
• No person can operate as an ASP unless they are registered with the Network Administrator subject to "technical, governance, procedural, financial and other standards and conditions, as may be prescribed."
• The Network Administrator must specifically consider the "adequacy of the technical and security infrastructure" of the ASP when granting registration.
• The validation of address information "shall not be construed as a proof of identity or as proof of ownership, or lawful possession of the address by the user," except as specified in the Act or any other law.
• The Adjudicating Officer must determine the penalty amount based on factors including "the nature, gravity and duration of contravention," and the "repetitive nature of the contravention."
• The Department of Posts is inviting comments/feedback from the public and industry on the proposed draft amendments (released on December 1, 2025).
• The deadline for submitting comments via email is December 31, 2025.
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