Purpose of PAN Check Digit

1. Error Detection: Its primary purpose is to catch accidental errors that might occur when a PAN is typed or handwritten, such as transpositions, substitutions, or omissions of characters.

2. Data Integrity: It helps maintain the integrity of PAN data in various systems and databases.

3. Fraud Prevention: It can also help deter some forms of fraud that involve using invalid or manipulated PANs.

The PAN check digit is the last character of the PAN, which is an alphabetic character generated by applying a formula that takes into account the first nine digits of the PAN. Its purpose is to ensure the accuracy of the PAN and detect any errors that may have occurred while entering the PAN. The check digit is calculated using the Luhn algorithm, which is a mathematical calculation used for error detection on identification numbers.

The PAN check digit is the last character of a 10-digit Permanent Account Number (PAN) in India. It’s an alphabetic character that serves as a validation mechanism to ensure the accuracy of the PAN and detect any errors in its transcription.