India Approves Rs. 2254.43 Crore Scheme for Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 20th June. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has greenlit the Ministry of Home Affairs’ proposal for the “National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme” (NFIES). This scheme entails a substantial financial outlay of Rs. 2254.43 crore spanning from 2024-25 to 2028-29, funded directly from the Ministry of Home Affairs’ budget.

Under this scheme, several key initiatives have received approval:

Establishment of Campuses: The National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) will establish campuses across the country.

Central Forensic Science Laboratories: New laboratories will be set up nationwide to bolster forensic capabilities.

Infrastructure Enhancement: Significant upgrades are planned for the Delhi campus of NFSU to improve its forensic facilities.

The scheme aims to strengthen India’s criminal justice system by promoting scientific and timely forensic examinations of evidence. It underscores the critical role of well-trained forensic professionals in adapting to technological advancements and evolving crime methods.

The implementation of new criminal laws necessitating forensic investigations for serious offences is expected to escalate the workload of forensic science laboratories. The NFIES seeks to address this challenge by augmenting trained forensic manpower and reducing case backlogs across the country’s Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs).

The approval aligns with the Government of India’s strategic goal of achieving a conviction rate exceeding 90% by enhancing forensic infrastructure and capacity.