**Executive Summary**
This document is the response from the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs to Unstarred Question No. 625 in the Lok Sabha, scheduled for February 3rd, 2026. The question concerns the status, funding, pending cases, staffing, and training programs related to cyber forensic laboratories across India. Key takeaways include state responsibilities for "Police" and "Public Order", central government support for state cyber forensics upgrades, and the establishment of National Cyber Forensic Laboratories.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **State vs. Central Responsibilities:**
* "Police" and "Public Order" are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India.
* Responsibilities for maintaining law and order, protecting citizens, investigating and prosecuting crimes, and related forensic science facilities are with the States.
* **Central Government Support:**
* The Central Government provides support to States/UTs for upgrading State Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs).
* Projects worth ₹244.89 crore have been approved for 30 States/UTs under the Nirbhaya scheme for Strengthening of DNA Analysis and Cyber Forensic Capacities in State/UT FSLs.
* **National Cyber Forensic Laboratories:**
* A National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (Evidentiary) (NCFL (E)) has been established at CFSL, Hyderabad with a total financial outlay of ₹37.34 crore.
* Funds of ₹126.84 crore have been approved for establishing 06 NCFLs(E) in Central Forensic Science Laboratories located at Delhi, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Kamrup, Bhopal, and Pune, with ₹22.51 crore utilized so far.
* **Pending Cases and Staffing (NCFL (E) Hyderabad):**
* The details regarding the total number of cases pending for investigation and total number of sanctioned posts and vacancies is not maintained centrally.
* 181 cases are pending examination at NCFL (E) Hyderabad.
* 4 in-house experts and 5 contractual manpower are working in NCFL (E) Hyderabad.
* **Training Programs:**
* Reskilling and upskilling cyber professionals is an inherent and ongoing process done primarily through on-the-job learning.
* The National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) conducts various cyber forensics training programs.
* NFSU has conducted 66 training programs with 1852 participants for Government Departments / Law Enforcement Agencies in the last 5 years.
* **Cyber Forensic Facility Status (State/UT FSLs):**
* Annexure lists the status of cyber forensic divisions available/under establishment in State/Union Territory FSLs.
* Most states have available facilities. Punjab, Nagaland, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands are listed as being under establishment. Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Goa are listed as not available.
* Remaining 04 Union Territories Chandigarh, Daman Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Lakshadweep, and Ladakh are utilizing forensic science facilities available in their neighboring States/Union Territories, as well as of the Central Forensic Science Laboratories.
**Impact Analysis**
**States / Union Territories**
* **Impact:** Responsible for maintaining law and order and utilizing cyber forensic facilities. They may also receive funding from the central government for upgrading their labs.
* **Action Required:** States/UTs should continue to maintain and upgrade their cyber forensic capabilities. States/UTs are responsible for the “Police” and “Public Order” under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India.
**Cyber Forensic Professionals**
* **Impact:** Subject to ongoing reskilling and upskilling processes.
* **Action Required:** Actively participate in training programs provided by the NFSU and engage in on-the-job learning.
**National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for providing training programs in cyber forensics.
* **Action Required:** Continue to develop and deliver training programs for government departments and law enforcement agencies.
**Central Government (Ministry of Home Affairs)**
* **Impact:** Oversees the establishment and funding of national cyber forensic laboratories and provides support for state-level upgrades.
* **Action Required:** Continue to support States/UTs in upgrading their cyber forensic capabilities and oversee the establishment and operation of NCFLs.
Key Entities Referenced
Cyber Forensic Laboratories: Laboratories across India handling cybercrime investigation and digital forensics. The question concerns their status, funding, and training programs for personnel.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Indian ministry responsible for internal security, including cyber forensics. The parliamentary question is addressed to the Minister of Home Affairs.
Nirbhaya Fund: A fund used to improve the safety and security of women in India. The response mentions its use for strengthening DNA Analysis and Cyber Forensic Capacities in State/UT FSLs.
National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (Evidentiary) (NCFL (E)): A cyber forensic laboratory established by the Government of India. There is one in Hyderabad and six more being established across India.
State Forensic Science Laboratories: Forensic science laboratories established by States and Union Territories. The response mentions the Central Government providing support to the States/UTs for upgradation of these laboratories.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 625
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3RD FEBRUARY, 2026/ MAGHA 14, 1947 (SAKA)
CYBER FORENSIC LABORATORIES
625. SHRI PUTTA MAHESH KUMAR:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details regarding the list of Cyber Forensic Laboratories that have
been proposed, sanctioned, under construction and presently functioning
across the country, State-wise;
(b) the details regarding the total amount of funding allocated, released
and utilised for construction, upgradation and functioning of national
cyber forensic laboratories across the country, during the last five years,
State-wise;
(c) the details regarding the total number of cases presently pending for
investigation before the existing cyber forensic laboratories across the
country, State-wise including Andhra Pradesh;
(d) the details regarding the total number of sanctioned posts, vacancies
and steps undertaken to address the same in each Cyber Forensic
Laboratory the country, State and year-wise; and
(e) whether the Government has undertaken any training programs to
reskill / upskill cyber professionals working at Cyber Forensic
Laboratories during the last five years and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR)
(a) and (b): The “Police” and “Public Order” are State subjects under the
Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and the responsibilities to-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 625 FOR 03.02.2026
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 concerned.
However, the Central Government provides continued support to the
States/UTs for upgradation of the State Forensic Science Laboratories.
Projects worth ₹244.89 crore have been approved for 30 States / Union
Territories under the Nirbhaya funded scheme for Strengthening of DNA
Analysis and Cyber Forensic Capacities in State/UT FSLs. As per the
available information, the State-wise list of Cyber forensic divisions
available / under establishment in the State / UT FSLs is at Annexure.
The Government of India has established a National Cyber Forensic
Laboratory (Evidentiary) (NCFL (E)) at the CFSL, Hyderabad with a total
financial outlay of ₹37.34 crore. Further, funds to the tune of Rs. 126.84
crore have been approved under the umbrella scheme “Safety of Women”
for establishment of 06 NCFLs(E) in Central Forensic Science Laboratories
located at Delhi, Chandigarh, Kolkata (West Bengal), Kamrup (Assam),
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), and Pune (Maharashtra). So far ₹22.51 crore has
been utilized.-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 625 FOR 03.02.2026
(c) and (d): The details regarding the total number of cases presently
pending for investigation before the existing cyber forensic laboratories
of States and Union Territories, total number of sanctioned posts and
vacancies is not maintained centrally. As on date, 181 number of cases
are pending for examination at NCFL (E) Hyderabad. Total 04 in-house
experts are working in NCFL (E) Hyderabad along with 05 number of
contractual manpower.
(e): Reskilling and upskilling of cyber professionals is an inherent and
ongoing process and is part of their functional responsibilities and is
carried out primarily through the on-the-job learning. The National
Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) also conducts various training
programs in the field of cyber forensics. In the last 05 years, total 66
training programs with 1852 participants have been conducted by the
NFSU for the officers of various Government Departments / Law
Enforcement Agencies.
******Annexure
L.S.US.Q.NO. 625 FOR 03.02.2026
State-wise list of Cyber forensic divisions available / under establishment in the
State / Union Territory FSLs.
S. No. State/UT Status of Cyber Forensic Facility
1. Himachal Pradesh Available
2. Mizoram Available
3. Rajasthan Available
4. Jharkhand Available
5. Kerala Available
6. Tripura Available
7. Uttar Pradesh Available
8. Karnataka Available
9. Chhattisgarh Available
10. Gujarat Available
11. Odisha Available
12. Puducherry Available
13. Telangana Available
14. Uttarakhand Available
15. Assam Available
16. Manipur Available
17. Delhi Available
18. Maharashtra Available
19. West Bengal Available
20. Haryana Available
21. Andhra Pradesh Available
22. Tamil Nadu Available
23. Bihar Available
24. Jammu & Kashmir Available
25. Sikkim Not available
26. Punjab Under Establishment
27. Meghalaya Available
28. Madhya Pradesh Not available
29. Goa Available
30. Nagaland Under Establishment
31. Andaman & Nicobar Islands Under Establishment
32. Arunachal Pradesh Available
* Remaining 04 Union Territories Chandigarh, Daman Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli,
Lakshadweep, and Ladakh are utilizing forensic science facilities available in their
neighbouring States/Union Territories, as well as of the Central Forensic Science
Laboratories.
(Source – Directorate of Forensic Science Services)