In which year was the Postal Index Number PIN code system first introduced in India for mail sorting and delivery?

Introduction / Context:
This question relates to the history of the Indian postal system and the introduction of the Postal Index Number code, commonly known as the PIN code. The PIN code system helps to organise and speed up the sorting and delivery of letters and parcels across the country. Many competitive exams ask when this system was first introduced in India as a basic static general knowledge fact. Remembering the correct year shows awareness of institutional reforms in public services.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks for the year in which the PIN code system was introduced in India.
• Four consecutive years in the early nineteen seventies are provided as options.
• We assume that the question refers to the official nationwide introduction of the PIN system by the postal department.
• The candidate is expected to know this as a static historical fact.

Concept / Approach:
The PIN code system divides India into postal zones, simplifying and standardising address formats. It was introduced to eliminate confusion arising from similar place names, wrong addresses and language problems. The correct year to remember is nineteen seventy two. The approach is therefore simple recall of the fact that the Indian PIN system was launched in nineteen seventy two by the postal authorities under the initiative of a senior postal officer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the PIN system in India is a six digit code used in all standard postal addresses.Step 2: Remember that this system was introduced in the early nineteen seventies.Step 3: From examination notes or common general knowledge, identify nineteen seventy two as the correct year for the launch of the PIN code scheme.Step 4: Compare the options nineteen seventy one, nineteen seventy two, nineteen seventy three and nineteen seventy four.Step 5: Select nineteen seventy two as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, one can recall that many standard general knowledge books mention that India introduced the six digit PIN code on first August nineteen seventy two. These resources consistently associate the early nineteen seventies and specifically the year nineteen seventy two with the beginning of the PIN code scheme. This makes nineteen seventy two stand out among the options as the recognised correct year.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Nineteen seventy one is too early and does not match the historical launch date of the PIN code system. Nineteen seventy three and nineteen seventy four are later years and may be chosen by candidates who only have a vague idea that the system started in the seventies. However, there is no evidence that the nationwide introduction happened in those years. Therefore, while these surrounding years may look plausible, they are not correct for the official start of the postal PIN system.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often remember only the decade and not the specific year, which can lead them to pick any of the seventies options at random. Another pitfall is confusing the introduction of PIN codes with other postal reforms or changes in stamp designs. Some learners also misread the question and think it refers to a different numbering system. Careful reading and memorisation of the exact year nineteen seventy two help to avoid these errors.

Final Answer:
The Postal Index Number PIN code system in India was first introduced in the year 1972.