Centre Approves 8 New CFSLs to Boost Forensic Capacity
Government strengthens forensic ecosystem with ₹4,800 crore investment, new DNA labs and cyber forensic facilities
- Centre expands forensic infrastructure with eight new Central Forensic Science Laboratories.
- Over ₹4,800 crore allocated for strengthening forensic capabilities nationwide.
- Fourteen new National Forensic Sciences University campuses approved.
- Mobile forensic vans and National Forensic Data Centre to enhance evidence management.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 30th July: The Centre on Tuesday informed the Rajya Sabha that it has significantly strengthened the country’s forensic infrastructure through a series of initiatives worth over ₹4,800 crore, including new forensic laboratories, DNA analysis facilities, cyber forensic units and expansion of forensic education.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in a written reply, said that while policing and public order are State subjects, the Ministry of Home Affairs has undertaken several measures to strengthen the forensic ecosystem across the country.
The government said a state-of-the-art DNA Analysis and Research & Development facility has been established at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Chandigarh, while equipment at existing Central Forensic Science Laboratories has been upgraded to support specialised disciplines such as digital forensics, DNA analysis, forensic psychology and narcotics forensics.
To tackle cybercrime, the Centre has established a National Cyber Forensic Laboratory at CFSL Hyderabad and approved six additional National Cyber Forensic Laboratories under the Safety of Women scheme.
The Ministry said that, besides the existing seven Central Forensic Science Laboratories, approval has been granted for setting up eight new CFSLs in Jammu, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Kerala, substantially expanding forensic infrastructure across the country.
To address the growing demand for trained forensic professionals, the government has expanded the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), established under an Act of Parliament in 2020. In addition to campuses at Gandhinagar and Delhi, approval has been given for 14 new campuses across states including Goa, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The university has also established training academies in Imphal and Pune.
The Centre said 30 States and Union Territories have received assistance under the Nirbhaya Fund for strengthening DNA analysis and cyber forensic capacities in State Forensic Science Laboratories.
To improve investigation quality, the government has trained 37,978 investigating officers, prosecutors and medical officers in scientific collection, preservation and handling of DNA evidence and the use of Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits through the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) and the National Forensic Sciences University.
The Ministry further informed Parliament that ₹420 crore has been approved under the Scheme for Modernization of Forensic Capacities for upgrading State and Union Territory forensic laboratories, while ₹496.66 crore has been sanctioned for providing mobile forensic vans to every district and State Forensic Science Laboratory in the country.
The government has also approved the establishment of a National Forensic Data Centre under the Safety of Women scheme to create a central repository of forensic data from laboratories across India, enabling efficient evidence management and strengthening scientific investigation.
The Ministry said these initiatives are aimed at modernising forensic infrastructure, improving scientific investigation and ensuring faster, technology-driven criminal justice delivery across the country.
