The top-level domain (TLD) : XN—RVC1E0AM3E is in Punycode representation. Punycode is a method used for encoding a string of Unicode characters into the ASCII extension, which is internationally recognized for transmitting data on the internet. This method is predominantly used for converting non-Latin character domains into ASCII character domains. By doing this, domain names in various languages and scripts can be supported on the internet (“Internationalizing Domain Names in Applications (IDNA),” ITU).
The conversion of this particular TLD into Unicode results in “.ഭാരതം”, which is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the Republic of India in the Malayalam script. Malayalam is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and by the Malayali diaspora around the world (“Malayalam,” Encyclopædia Britannica).
“.ഭാരതം” is classified as an Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) ccTLD (ccIDN) by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). As of 2021, the .ഭാരതം ccTLD is managed by the National Internet eXchange of India (NIXI) through the INRegistry.
NIXI started the .IN registry in 2005 to manage and operate the “.IN” ccTLD. Since then, due to the strong diversification policies of the Indian government, the ‘.IN’ registry has grown and maintained several internationalized versions of the ccTLD to promote regional languages, one of them being the .ഭാരതം TLD (“.IN Registry”, INRegistry).
While .COM or .NET domains are recognized globally and more universally, the .ഭാരതം TLD has a localized use for Malayalam language-based websites. It enables a wider reach to local communities and better emphasis on regional content. For example, if a site hosted by the Kerala government were to use this TLD, it would provide local people with easier access and navigation, recognizing it as a site that will likely deliver content in their native language.
Summarily, the domain XN—RVC1E0AM3E is an IDNA Punycode representation of the Malayalam ccTLD “.ഭാരതം”, managed by the Indian agency, NIXI. This type of domain supports websites that wish to cater their content close to the native language of the southern Indian state of Kerala.
Reference:
International Telecommunication Union (ITU). (n.d.). “Internationalizing Domain Names in Applications (IDNA).” ITU.
Encyclopædia Britannica. (n.d.). “Malayalam Language.” Britannica.
Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). (2021). “Root Zone Database.” IANA.
.IN Registry | National Internet Exchange Of India. (N.D.). INRegistry.
