Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Home Affairs addressed questions regarding Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) in India in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3819, answered on August 12, 2025. The response details the current number and locations of CFSLs, plans for expansion, and steps taken to upgrade forensic labs and infrastructure, including financial outlays for various schemes and initiatives. Approvals have been provided for additional CFSLs and NFSU campuses, as well as various schemes for modernization of facilities.
Key Points / Main Content:
Current Status of CFSLs:
* There are currently seven CFSLs in India, located in Chandigarh, Delhi, Kamrup, Kolkata, Bhopal, Pune, and Hyderabad.
* In-principle approval has been granted for an 8th CFSL in Jammu, with a financial outlay of ₹99.9 crore.
Expansion Plans:
* The National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme includes setting up seven additional CFSLs with a total financial outlay of ₹860.3 crore.
* In-principle approval has been provided for these seven CFSLs to be located in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Kerala.
Infrastructure Upgrades and Modernization:
* Projects in 30 States/UTs, with funding of ₹245.29 crore under the Nirbhaya fund, are approved for strengthening DNA analysis and cyber forensic capacities in State Forensic Science Laboratories.
* A state-of-the-art DNA Analysis and Research Development facility has been established at the CFSL in Chandigarh.
* CFSLs at Bhopal, Guwahati, Pune, and Kolkata have been modernized.
* Machinery and equipment have been upgraded in CFSLs, including new forensics disciplines.
* A National Cyber Forensic Laboratory has been set up at the CFSL in Hyderabad.
* The e-Forensics IT platform has been operationalized, connecting 117 forensic science laboratories.
National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU):
* NFSU was established in 2020 to provide trained forensic manpower.
* NFSU headquarters are in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, with campuses in multiple locations.
* In-principle approval has been provided for nine additional NFSU off-campuses with a total financial outlay of ₹1309.13 crore.
Modernization Schemes:
* A Scheme for Modernization of Forensic Capacities has been approved with a total financial outlay of ₹2080.5 crore.
* Approximately ₹215 crore has been approved for 24 States/UTs for upgrading forensic science laboratories.
* Approximately ₹344 crore has been approved for 28 States/UTs for Mobile Forensic Vans.
Cyber Forensics:
* The establishment of six additional National Cyber Forensic Laboratories has been approved with a financial outlay of ₹126.84 crore.
Quality and Standardization:
* The Directorate of Forensic Science Services has issued guidelines for quality manuals, working procedure manuals, evidence collection, and equipment standards.
National Forensic Data Centre:
* The establishment of a National Forensic Data Centre has been approved with a financial outlay of ₹200.16 crore.
Impact Analysis:
States/Union Territories:
* Impact: States/UTs benefit from financial assistance for upgrading and modernizing forensic science laboratories, strengthening DNA analysis and cyber forensic capacities, and acquiring mobile forensic vans.
* Action Required: Utilize the approved funds to implement the modernization and upgrade projects.
Forensic Science Laboratories (Central and State):
* Impact: Enhanced infrastructure, modernized equipment, and access to the e-Forensics IT platform improve the quality and efficiency of forensic analysis.
* Action Required: Implement the new technologies and adhere to the quality and standardization guidelines.
National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU):
* Impact: NFSU and its campuses benefit from expansion and increased training capacity, contributing to a larger pool of trained forensic manpower.
* Action Required: Establish and operationalize the new off-campuses as per the approval.
Directorate of Forensic Science Services:
* Impact: Responsible for ensuring quality and standardization in forensic examination through issued guidelines.
* Action Required: Monitor and enforce compliance with the issued guidelines.
Investigation Officers and Medical Officers:
* Impact: Benefit from guidelines for the proper collection, preservation, and transportation of forensic evidence in sexual assault cases, leading to more reliable evidence.
* Action Required: Adhere to the issued guidelines for evidence handling.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Forensic Science Laboratories: Network of central government forensic science laboratories in India, abbreviated as CFSL.
National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme: A government scheme for enhancing forensic infrastructure in India.
Rajasthan: A state in India where a new CFSL is planned.
National Forensic Sciences University: A university established by an Act of Parliament in 2020 to provide quality and trained forensic manpower. Abbreviated as NFSU.
Gandhinagar, Gujarat: The location of the headquarters of the National Forensic Sciences University.
Nirbhaya: A fund used for strengthening of DNA Analysis and Cyber Forensic Capacities in State Forensic Science Laboratories.
Safety of Women: Umbrella scheme under which establishment of National Cyber Forensic Laboratories and National Forensic Data Centre have been approved
Directorate of Forensic Science Services: A directorate under the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) that has issued guidelines for quality and standardization in forensic examination.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3819
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12TH AUGUST, 2025/ SRAVANA 21, 1947 (SAKA)
CENTRAL FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORIES
3819. SHRI RAO RAJENDRA SINGH:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has any data on the number of Central
Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSL) in India;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether in view of newly formulated criminal laws and the steps taken
by the Ministry to upgrade forensic labs and related infrastructure in the
country;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether there is a proposal to set up more CFSLs in the country; and
(f) if so, the details thereof, State-wise, including Rajasthan?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR)
(a) to (f) At present, there are 07 Central Forensic Science Laboratories
(CFSLs) in the country located in Chandigarh, Delhi, Kamrup, Kolkata,
Bhopal, Pune, and Hyderabad. In-principle approval has been provided for
setting up of 8th CFSL in Jammu with a total financial outlay of ₹99.9
crore. Further, the Government has approved the National Forensic
Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme which inter-alia includes the-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 3819 FOR 12.08.2025
component for setting up of 07 additional CFSLs in the country with a total
financial outlay of ₹860.3 crore. In-principle approval has been provided for
setting up of these 07 CFSLs in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar
Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Kerala.
Following steps have been taken by the Government to upgrade forensic
labs and related infrastructure in the country:
(i) Projects of 30 States/UTs to the tune of ₹245.29 crore have been
approved under the Nirbhaya funded scheme for Strengthening of DNA
Analysis and Cyber Forensic Capacities in State Forensic Science
Laboratories.
(ii) A State-of-the-art DNA Analysis and Research & Development facility
has been set up at the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory at
Chandigarh.
(iii) Central Forensic Sciences Laboratories at Bhopal, Guwahati, Pune and
Kolkata have been modernised.
(iv) Machinery & equipment have 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.-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 3819 FOR 12.08.2025
(v) A National Cyber Forensic Laboratory at the Central Forensic Sciences
Laboratory, Hyderabad has been set up to investigate important cases of
digital fraud / cyber forensics.
(vi) e-Forensics IT platform has been operationalized, which connects 117
forensic science laboratories (Central and State) in the country.
(vii) 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). Further, in-principle approval has been provided for
setting up of 09 additional off-campuses of the NFSU in Maharashtra,
Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, West
Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh under the National Forensic
Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme with a total financial outlay of
₹1309.13 crore.
(viii) A Scheme for Modernization of Forensic Capacities with a total
financial outlay of ₹2080.5 Crore has been approved. This provides
assistance to States/ Union Territories to develop high quality forensic-4-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 3819 FOR 12.08.2025
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 ₹215 crore have been approved for 24
States / Union Territories for the component of “Modernization /
Upgradation of Forensic Science Laboratories in States / Union Territories”
and about ₹344 crore have been approved for 28 States / Union Territories
for the component of “Mobile Forensic Vans for all districts and State FSLs
in the country” under the Scheme.
(ix) Setting up of 06 additional National Cyber Forensic Laboratories with a
financial outlay of ₹126.84 crore has been approved under the umbrella
scheme “Safety of Women”.
(x) 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.
- Guidelines for collection, preservation & transportation of forensic
evidence in sexual assault cases for Investigation Officers and
medical Officers.-5-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 3819 FOR 12.08.2025
- Standard list of Equipment for establishing/upgrading of Forensic
Sciences Laboratories.
(xi) The Government has approved establishment of National Forensic Data
Centre under the umbrella scheme “Safety of Women” with a total financial
outlay of ₹200.16 crore to systematically store and manage forensic data
electronically.
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