Lok Sabha Question No. 589 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-06
Subject: Modernization of Forensic Capabilities
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: D.K. Suresh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 589

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH  FEBRUARY 2024/ MAGHA 17, 1945 (SAKA)

MODERNIZATION OF FORENSIC CAPABILITIES

589.        SHRI D.K. SURESH:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken adequate measures for modernization and strengthening of forensic capabilities in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has taken note that the extent of time taken for  completion  of  forensic  investigations  could  be  reduced  with  such modernization and strengthening and if so, the details thereof; and

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  allocated  adequate  funds  for  the  said purpose, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI AJAY KUMAR MISHRA)

(a)  to  (c):  Yes  sir.  The  Government  is  focused  on  strengthening  the capacities for investigation and prosecution, including the eco-system for forensic sciences in the country. The process of strengthening of forensic facilities  in  the  country  is  an  ongoing  and  continuous  process  which  is dependent  on  gap-analysis  and  demand  assessment.  'Police'  and  'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibilities to maintain law and order, protection of life and  property  of  the  citizens including investigation, prosecution of crime

and   criminals,   and   related   forensic   science   facilities,  are  with  the State/Union  Territory  concerned.  As  per  the  Data  on  Police  Organization report, 2022 published by the Bureau of Police Research & Development, there  are  32  State  Forensic  Science  Laboratories  (State  FSLs),  106 Regional Forensic Science Laboratories, and 552 Mobile Forensic Science Vehicles  with  States/  Union  Territories.  Apart  from  these,  there  are  7 Central  Forensic  Science  Laboratories  in  the  country  which,  inter-alia, supplement the task of forensic analysis of crime exhibits referred to them by States/ Central agencies, and also undertake Research and Development activities in forensics.

The following steps have been taken by the Government for modernization and strengthening of forensic capabilities in the country which would interalia  help  in  reducing  the  extent  of  time  taken  for  completion  of  forensic investigations:

- (i)  Modernization  of  Central  Forensic  Sciences  Laboratories  at  Bhopal, Guwahati, Pune and Kolkata.

(ii) Upgrading of machinery & equipment in the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratories,  including  in  the  new  disciplines  of  Forensics  in  Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances, Digital Forensics, DNA  Forensic analysis, Forensic Psychology.

(iii) Setting-up a State-of-the-art DNA Analysis and Research & Development   facility   at   the  Central  Forensic  Sciences  Laboratory  at Chandigarh. The new facility has commenced operations since December 2019.

(iv) Setting-up a National Cyber Forensic Science Laboratory at the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Hyderabad to investigate important cases of digital fraud / cyber forensics. The laboratory has started functioning.

- (v)  Operationalizing  an  e-Forensics  IT  platform,  which  connects  117 forensic science laboratories (Central and State) in the country.

(vi)  The  National  Forensic  Sciences  University  (NFSU)  has  been  set  up under the Act of the Parliament in the year 2020 for providing quality and trained forensic manpower across all parts of the country. The headquarter  of  the  NFSU  is  located  in  Gandhinagar,  Gujarat.  Apart  from this, campuses of the NFSU are situated at Delhi, Goa, Agartala (Tripura), Bhopal  (Madhya  Pradesh),  Dharwad  (Karnataka),  and  Guwahati  (Assam). The  NFSU  has  also  started  training  academies  in  Imphal  (Manipur)  and

Pune (Maharashtra).

(vii)  Assistance  to  States/  Union  Territories  for  strengthening  the  DNA analysis, Cyber-forensics and related facilities in their forensic laboratories  under  Nirbhaya  Fund  Scheme.  Projects  have  been  approved for 30 States/ Union Territories at a total cost of Rs.250.5954 Crore.

(viii)  A  Scheme  for  Modernization  of  Forensic  Capacities  with  a  total financial outlay of Rs. 2080.5 Crore has been approved. This will provide assistance  to  States/ Union  Territories  to  develop  high  quality forensic science   facilities   for  modernization  of  machinery  and  equipment,  and facilitating availability of trained manpower in these laboratories through expansion  of  educational  facilities for forensic science in the country. So far,  funds  to  the  tune  of  about  Rs.  155  Crore  have been  approved  for 13 States / Union Territories for the component of 'Modernization / Upgradation of Forensic Science Laboratories in States / Union Territories' and Rs. 69.5 Crore have been approved for 10 States / Union Territories for the component of 'Mobile Forensic Vans for all districts and State FSLs in the country' under the Scheme. Apart from this, funds to the tune of Rs. 300  Crore  have  been  released  under  the  Scheme  for  the  component  of establishment of off-campuses and Centres of Excellence of the National Forensic Sciences University.

(ix)  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.

L.S.US.Q.NO. 589 FOR 06.02.2024 -  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.

****