Centre Expands Forensic Infrastructure, Approves New Labs and NFSU Campuses Across India

The Central Government has announced a series of measures to strengthen India’s forensic science ecosystem, including the establishment of new forensic laboratories, expansion of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), and modernization of forensic infrastructure across the country.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar said that while “Police” and “Public Order” are State subjects under the Constitution, the Ministry of Home Affairs has undertaken several initiatives to enhance forensic capabilities nationwide through various schemes, including the Nirbhaya Fund, which has a consolidated financial outlay of more than ₹4,800 crore.

Among the key initiatives, the Centre has established a state-of-the-art DNA Analysis and Research & Development facility at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Chandigarh. Existing CFSLs have also been upgraded with advanced equipment in emerging disciplines such as digital forensics, forensic psychology, DNA analysis, and forensic investigation of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

To strengthen cybercrime investigations, the government has set up a National Cyber Forensic Laboratory at the CFSL in Hyderabad. Additionally, six more National Cyber Forensic Laboratories have been approved under the umbrella scheme “Safety of Women.”

The government has also approved the establishment of eight new Central Forensic Science Laboratories in Jammu, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Kerala. These will add to the existing seven CFSLs located in Chandigarh, Delhi, Kamrup (Assam), Kolkata, Bhopal, Pune, and Hyderabad.

To address the growing demand for trained forensic professionals, the Centre has expanded the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU). Established through an Act of Parliament in 2020, the university currently operates campuses in Gandhinagar and Delhi. Fourteen additional campuses have been approved in Goa, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. Training academies have also been established in Imphal and Pune.

The Ministry further stated that assistance has been provided to 30 States and Union Territories under the Nirbhaya-funded scheme to strengthen DNA analysis and cyber forensic capabilities in State Forensic Science Laboratories.

Capacity-building efforts have also been intensified. The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), along with the Delhi campus of NFSU, has trained 37,978 investigating officers, prosecutors, and medical officers in the collection, storage, and handling of DNA evidence and the use of Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits.

Under the Scheme for Modernization of Forensic Capacities, the government has approved ₹420 crore for upgrading State and Union Territory forensic science laboratories. An additional ₹496.66 crore has been sanctioned to provide Mobile Forensic Vans to all districts and State forensic laboratories across the country.

The government has also approved the establishment of a National Forensic Data Centre under the “Safety of Women” scheme. The facility is intended to create a centralized repository of forensic data received from laboratories nationwide, enabling more efficient evidence management and supporting criminal investigations.

The government said these initiatives are aimed at enhancing scientific investigation capabilities, improving the quality of forensic evidence, and strengthening the criminal justice system across the country.

Source: PIB