Lok Sabha Question No. 201 (STARRED), answered on 2024-12-10
Subject: Strengthening DNA Analysis and Cyber Forensic Capabilities
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Dilip Saikia

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *201

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  DECEMBER, 2024/ AGRAHAYANA 19, 1946 (SAKA)

STRENGTHENING DNA ANALYSIS AND CYBER FORENSIC CAPABILITIES

†*201. SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has any proposal to formulate any scheme to strengthen DNA analysis and cyber forensic capabilities in the country, if so, the details thereof; and

(b) whether the Government also proposes to set up an Institute of National Importance in the field of forensic science and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR)

(a) and (b)   A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  THE  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION  NO.  *201  DUE  FOR  ANSWER  ON  10.12.2024  REGARDING 'STRENGTHENING OF DNA ANALYSIS AND CYBER FORENSIC CAPABILITIES'

(a): '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.

The Government has taken following steps to strengthen DNA analysis and cyber forensic capabilities in the country:

(i) There are 7 Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSL) in the country under Directorate of Forensic Science Services consisting of 11 scientific disciplines, including DNA and Cyber Forensics. These CFSLs are located at  Bhopal  (Madhya  Pradesh),  Chandigarh,  Kamrup  (Assam),  Hyderabad (Telangana), Pune (Maharashtra), Delhi and Kolkata (West Bengal). Further, the Government of India has approved setting up of eighth CFSL in Samba, Jammu. Apart from this, setting up of 07 additional CFSLs in the country with a total outlay of ₹860.3 crore has been approved under the National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme.

## L.S.S.Q.NO. *201 FOR 10.12.2024

Further,  as  per  the  available  information,  there  are  32  State  Forensic Science Laboratories and 97 Regional Forensic Science Laboratories in the country.

- (ii) Three new  Central Forensic Sciences Laboratories have been established  at  Bhopal,  Guwahati,  and  Pune  and  the  existing  CFSL  at Kolkata has been modernized.
- (iii) A State-of-the-art DNA Analysis and Research & Development facility has been  set up at the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory at Chandigarh.
- (iv) A National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (NCFL) at the Central Forensic Sciences  Laboratory,  Hyderabad  has  been  established  to  investigate important cases of digital fraud / cyber forensics. Further, the Government of India has approved for setting up of 06 additional NCFLs in the country at the CFSL Chandigarh, Delhi, Kolkata, Kamroop, Bhopal, and Pune with a total outlay of ₹126.84 crore.
- (v)  Machinery  &  Equipment  has  been  upgraded  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.

(vi) In order to strengthen DNA Analysis and Cyber Forensic Capacities in State  Forensic  Science  Laboratories  (State  FSLs),  all  projects  (30) received from States/UTs have been approved to the tune of ₹245.29 crore. ₹185.28 crore have been released so far.

(vii) Under  the Central Sector Scheme  'Modernization of Forensic Capacities"  (MOFC)',  Rs  496.66  crore  has  been  approved  for  providing Mobile Forensic Vans to all the districts and State FSLs in the country. So far, projects from 22 States/UTs have been approved for procurement of 400 mobile forensic vans.

(viii) In order to address the necessity for capacity building of manpower in forensic sciences, MHA is undertaking training for Investigating Officers, Prosecutors, and Medical Officers from States/UTs in collection, storage and  handling  of  DNA  evidence  and  use  of  Sexual  Assault  Evidence Collection  Kits.  So  far  32,524  Investigating  Officers,  Prosecutors  and Medical Officers have been trained. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also distributed 18020 Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits to the States/UTs as part of this training.

- (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) including in DNA and Cyber divisions.
- Guidelines for collection, preservation & transportation of forensic evidence  in  sexual  assault  cases  for  Investigation  Officers  and medical Officers.
- (b):    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. Apart from the initial  campuses  of  the  NFSU  in  Gandhinagar  (Gujarat)  and  Delhi,  inprinciple approval has been provided for setting up of 05 additional offcampuses  of  the  NFSU  in  Goa,  Agartala  (Tripura),  Bhopal  (Madhya Pradesh), Dharwad (Karnataka), and Guwahati (Assam). These additional campuses  are  currently  operational  from  transit campuses  till the construction of permanent campuses. Apart from this, the NFSU has also

## L.S.S.Q.NO. *201 FOR 10.12.2024

set up training/skilling academies in Imphal (Manipur) and Pune (Maharashtra). Further, the Cabinet on 19.06.2024 has approved 'National Forensic  Infrastructure  Enhancement Scheme' which inter-alia includes the component for setting up of 09 additional campuses of the NFSU in the country with a total financial outlay of ₹1309.13 crore from financial year 2024-2025 to 2028-2029.

********