8 new CFSLs approved, states handle forensic expansion

The question asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to state if there are proposals to expand Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) to align with new criminal laws, and to detail measures taken to enhance forensic capabilities and manage electronic data storage.

Asked and answered by: Asked by Shri Shankar Lalwani; Answered by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs (Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar).

What the government said

• Approval provided for setting up 8 new CFSLs in Jammu, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Kerala, in addition to the existing 7.
• Government schemes for strengthening the forensic ecosystem have a financial outlay of more than ₹4800 crore.
• A State-of-the-art DNA Analysis and R&D facility has been set up at the CFSL in Chandigarh.
• A National Cyber Forensic Laboratory has been set up at CFSL Hyderabad, and 6 additional ones are approved under the 'Safety of Women' scheme.
• The National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) has been established, with approval for 14 additional campuses and training academies in Imphal and Pune.
• Assistance provided to 30 States and UTs under the Nirbhaya funded scheme for DNA and Cyber Forensic capacities.
• 37,978 Investigating Officers, Prosecutors, and Medical Officers have been trained by BPR&D and LNJN National Institute.
• ₹420 crore approved for modernizing State/UT forensic labs and ₹496.66 crore approved for Mobile Forensic Vans.
• A central application 'e-Forensics' has been developed for digital repository of forensic data.
• Approval given for establishing a National Forensic Data Centre under the 'Safety of Women' scheme.

Also in the document

• The answer notes that 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Constitution, meaning responsibilities for law and order and forensic facilities primarily lie with the States.
• The answer does not explicitly mention the 'new criminal laws' in the detailed points, though the question specifically asked about alignment with them; the response focuses on general expansion and modernization schemes.