Lok Sabha Question No. 327 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-04
Subject: Advanced Forensic DNA Lab
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dhanush M Kumar, Gautham Sigamani Pon, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 327

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 04 TH  FEBRUARY, 2020/MAGHA 15, 1941 (SAKA)

ADVANCED FORENSIC DNA LAB

327. SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR: SHRI GAUTAM SIGAMAANI PON: DR. HEENA GAVIT:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  established  a  new  Advanced  Forensic  DNA Analysis Lab under Nirbhaya Fund Scheme;

(b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along with  the  fund  allocation  and  its  capacity  of examining cases per year;

(c)  the  nature  of  cases  to  be  handled  by  this  new  Advanced  Forensic  DNA Analysis Lab;

(d)  whether  the  Government  has  made  provisions  for  all  States/UTs  to  utilize this Lab and if so, the details thereof;

(e)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  steps  to  set  up  similar  facilities  in respective  States  for  quick  disposal  of  forensic  cases  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;

(f)  whether  the  Directorate  of  Forensic  Science  has  set  up  Central  Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSL) across the country; and

(g)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  research  and  development  activities undertaken by the CFSL during each of the last three years?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a)  to  (c):    A  State-of-the-art  DNA  Analysis  Centre  has  been  set  up  in  Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Chandigarh under the Nirbhaya Fund scheme with an allocation of Rs.99.76 crores. This facility has an annual capacity to examine

## LS.US.Q.NO.327 FOR 04.02.2020

2000  forensic  cases  relating  to  sexual  assault,  homicide,  paternity,  human identification and Mitochondrial DNA.

- (d) Yes,  sir.    Central  Forensic  Science  Laboratories,  including  the  new  DNA Analysis  Centre,  have  been  mandated  to  receive  cases/exhibits  referred  by Central Government Agencies, Higher/Lower Courts, Autonomous bodies, Public Sector Undertakings, Banks and from States/Union Territories.
- (e) Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has  approved  setting-up  and  upgrading  of  DNA analysis and cyber forensic units in State Forensic Science Laboratories in 13 States/ Union Territories under the Nirbhaya Fund scheme.  Apart from this, 25 States  have  been  given  an  allocation  of  Rs.108.40  crore  for  strengthening Forensic Science facilities, including DNA analysis facilities, as part of annual State Action plan under the scheme for Modernization of Police Forces in the year 2019-20.
- (f)  and  (g):  The  Directorate  of  Forensic  Science  Services  has  six  Central Forensic  Science  Laboratories  (CFSLs)  situated  at  Bhopal  (Madhya  Pradesh), Chandigarh, Guwahati (Assam), Hyderabad (Telangana), Pune (Maharashtra) and Kolkata (West Bengal). Details of Research & Development activities taken in the last three years are as below:

|   Year |   Research papers published |   Research & Development projects | Need based research on emerging fields   |
|--------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
|     21 |                           2 |                                 2 | 2016-17                                  |
|     15 |                           2 |                                 1 | 2017-18                                  |
|     34 |                           2 |                                 2 | 2018-19                                  |

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