Lok Sabha Question No. 4556 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-23
Subject: Use of Forensic Science
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ramesh Bidhuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4556

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 23 RD      MARCH, 2021/ CHAITRA 2, 1943 (SAKA)

USE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

4556.  SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) the status of India in the world in the field of Forensic Science; and

(b) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  enhance  the  use  of  forensic science in the country?

## ANSWER

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

(a) and (b): Such a ranking is not maintained by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).  However,  in  order  to  enhance  the  use  of  forensic  sciences  in  the country, some of the recent initiatives taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) are as follows: (i)  Projects  have  been  sanctioned  for  strengthening  DNA  analysis,  Cyberforensics and related facilities in 20 States/Union Territories at a total cost of Rs.189.45 crore under Nirbhaya Fund scheme. A total of Rs.195.97 crore has been approved by the MHA for States/ Union  Territories  to  strengthen  their  forensic  facilities  in  financial  years

(ii) 2019-20 and 2020-21under the scheme for Modernization of Police Forces.

## L.S.US.Q NO. 4556 FOR 23.03.2021

(iii) To  ensure  quality  and  standardization  in  forensic  examination,  the Directorate  of  Forensic  Science  Services,  MHA,  has  issued  the  following guidelines:

- -Quality  Manuals  for  accreditation  of  laboratories  as  per  NABL standards  (ISO  17025)  and  Working  Procedure  Manuals  in  nine disciplines of Forensic Sciences.
- -Quality  Manuals  and  Working  Procedure  Manuals  for  Biology  and DNA Division.
- -Guidelines  for  collection,  preservation  &  transportation  of  forensic evidence  in  sexual  assault  cases  for  Investigation  Officers  and Medical Officers.
- -Standard  list  of  Equipment  for  establishing/upgrading  of  Forensic Sciences Laboratories.
- (iv) A  National  Forensic  Sciences  University  has  been  established  as  an institute of national importance to provide quality manpower to the forensic sciences sector. This is the first national university in the world which has been exclusively set up for Forensic Sciences.
- (v) Central  Forensic  Sciences  Laboratories  (CFSLs)  at  Bhopal,  Guwahati, Pune  and  Kolkata,  have  been  modernized,  including  capacity  building  in terms of forensic equipment and availability of trained manpower.
- (vi) A  State-of-the-Art  DNA  Analysis  Unit  has  been  set-up  in  the  Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Chandigarh, in December 2019.

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## L.S.US.Q NO. 4556 FOR 23.03.2021

(vii) As a measure to enhance capacities of Investigation Officers/ Prosecutors  and  Medical  Officers  in  collection,  handling  and  storage  of forensic evidence in sexual assault cases, the Bureau of Police Research & Development, Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science have trained (till 16 March 2021) a total of 14558 officers from various States/Union Territories since 2018-19. (viii)  Bureau  of  Police  Research  &  Development  has  distributed  14,950 Sexual  Assault  Evidence  Collection  Kits  to  States/  Union  Territories  for scientific evidence collection.