The Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a **ten-digit alphanumeric** code issued by the Income Tax Department of India. This unique identifier is essential for tracking financial transactions and tax-related activities for individuals and entities in the country.
The 10 characters follow a specific, non-random structure:
- The first five characters are alphabets.
- The next four characters are numerical digits.
- The final, tenth character is an alphabet, serving as a check digit for validation.
This structured format ensures that the PAN is unique and helps in efficiently categorizing the PAN holder.