Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) addresses questions regarding the notification of State and Central Forensic Science Laboratories as Examiners of Electronic Evidence under Section 79A of the IT Act, 2000. As per Section 79A, the Central Government can designate government departments, bodies, or agencies as Examiners of Electronic Evidence. Currently, 18 laboratories have been notified, with the criteria for notification detailed in a MeitY scheme involving adherence to international standards and the availability of skilled manpower and equipment.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Notification of Examiners of Electronic Evidence:**
* Section 79A of the IT Act, 2000 allows the Central Government to notify departments, bodies, or agencies as Examiners of Electronic Evidence.
* 18 laboratories from Central and State Governments have been notified as Examiners of Electronic Evidence.
* **Criteria and Standards for Notification:**
* A scheme formulated by MeitY outlines the criteria and standards for notification.
* Laboratories must have a quality management system based on ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
* Practices should align with ISO/IEC 27037 standards for digital evidence handling.
* Availability of skilled manpower, licensed tools, and a suitable environment for evaluation are required.
* **Application Process:**
* MeitY has developed a scheme for notification, including application submission and lab assessment.
* The application form is available on the MeitY website.
* Any department, body, or agency of the Central or State Government can apply if they meet the criteria.
* **List of Notified Laboratories:**
* A list of 18 notified laboratories is provided. (See Annexure I for the complete list)
Impact Analysis:
Central Government (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology):
* Impact: Responsible for the overall implementation and administration of the notification scheme.
* Action Required: Maintain and update the scheme, assess applications from potential examiners, and update the list of notified laboratories.
State Governments and Central Government Departments/Agencies:
* Impact: Eligible to apply for notification as Examiners of Electronic Evidence.
* Action Required: Review the criteria and standards, prepare and submit applications with supporting documentation, and comply with ongoing assessment requirements.
Courts and Other Authorities:
* Impact: Can rely on expert opinions from notified Examiners of Electronic Evidence.
* Action Required: Refer to the official list of notified examiners when seeking expert opinions on electronic evidence.
Forensic Science Laboratories (Both Notified and Non-Notified):
* Impact: Notified labs are recognized under Section 79A; non-notified labs may seek notification.
* Action Required: (For Notified Labs) Maintain compliance with standards. (For Non-Notified Labs) Assess capabilities against MeitY criteria and apply for notification if eligible.
Key Entities Referenced
Information Technology Act, 2000: A law related to electronic transactions and cybercrime in India, frequently referenced in the document.
Section 79A of the IT Act, 2000: A specific section within the Information Technology Act, 2000 related to Examiners of Electronic Evidence.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology: The Indian government ministry responsible for electronics and information technology policy and implementation.
Examiner of Electronic Evidence: A designated department, body, or agency that provides expert opinions on electronic evidence in legal proceedings.
Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Hyderabad, Telangana: A central government forensic laboratory located in Hyderabad, Telangana, notified as an Examiner of Electronic Evidence.
Telangana State Forensic Science Laboratory TSFSL, Hyderabad, Telangana: A state government forensic laboratory located in Hyderabad, Telangana, notified as an Examiner of Electronic Evidence.
International Organization for Standardization International Electrotechnical Commission ISOIEC 17025 Standard: An international standard on general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, used as a criterion for notification.
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team CERT In, New Delhi: A cyber forensic laboratory located in New Delhi, notified as an Examiner of Electronic Evidence.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4485
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 20.08.2025
NOTIFICATION OF STATE AND CENTRAL FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORIES
4485. SHRI SHAHU SHAHAJI CHHATRAPATI:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has notified all State and Central Forensic Science Laboratories as
‘Examiners of Electronic Evidence’ under Section 79A of the IT Act, 2000 and if so, the details of the
notified laboratories;
(b) whether all forensic labs have not been notified under Section 79A and if so, the reasons for the delay
in their notification;
(c) the details of criteria or standards used by the Government to notify a lab as an ‘Examiner of Electronic
Evidence’ under Section 79A of the IT Act;
(d) whether the Government is considering amending the IT Act, 2000 to include or recognize private
forensic laboratories as Examiners of Electronic Evidence; and
(e) the details of measures being taken to ensure adequate geographical and institutional coverage of
notified Examiners of Electronic Evidence across the country?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (e): As per the section 79A of Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act, 2000), the Central
Government may, for the purposes of providing expert opinion on electronic form evidence before any court
or other authority specify, by notification in the Official Gazette, any Department, body or agency of the
Central Government or a State Government as an Examiner of Electronic Evidence. So far, 18 laboratories
from the Central and State Governments have been notified as examiner of electronic evidence. The complete
list of notified labs as Examiner of Electronic Evidence is provided at Annexure-I
The criteria and standards for notification are laid down in the scheme formulated by Ministry of Electronics
and Information Technology (MeitY), which inter-alia, includes:
(i.) Availability of a proper laboratory quality management system based on international standards of the
International Organization for Standardization/ International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC
17025) (Standard on general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories)
and reasonable experience to demonstrate their overall competency and expert opinion on digital
evidence.
(ii.) Practices as defined in ISO/IEC 27037 (A Standard on Information technology - Security techniques -
Guidelines for identification, collection, acquisition and preservation of digital evidence).(iii.) Availability of technical, skilled professional manpower in digital forensics, licensed tools and
equipment, availability of suitable environment to carry out such evaluation.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has developed a scheme for notification of
Examiner of Electronic Evidence which includes submission of application followed by assessment of lab.
The application form for the purpose is available on MeitY website. Any applicant department, body or
agency of the Central Government or a State Government complying with the criteria laid down in the scheme
may submit the requisite application.
******
Annexure-I
List of forensic science laboratories notified as Examiner of Electronic Evidence under
Section 79A of IT Act 2000
1. Computer Forensic Division, Goa Forensic Science Laboratory, Goa Police
Department, Goa
2. Cyber Forensics & Digital Evidence Examiners Laboratory (CF&DEEL), Kolkata
– West Bengal
3. Cyber Forensic Division, State Forensics Science Laboratory (SFSL),
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
4. Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh
5. Digital Forensic Laboratory, Cyber Defence Center, National Forensic Sciences
University (NFSU), Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat
6. Directorate of Forensic Science, Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat
7. Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Surat, Gujarat
8. Cyber Forensic Laboratory, Air Force Cyber Group, New Delhi
9. Cyber Forensic Laboratory, Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-
In), New Delhi
10. Cyber Forensics Laboratory, Navy Cyber Group, New Delhi
11. Cyber Forensic Laboratory, Army Cyber Group, New Delhi
12. Computer Forensic and Data Mining Laboratory, Serious Fraud Investigation
Office, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, New Delhi
13. Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Government of National Capital Territory of
Delhi, Rohini, New Delhi
14. Forensic Wing Lab, Defence Cyber Agency (DCyA), New Delhi
15. State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL), Directorate of Forensic Sciences, Police
Department, Bangalore, Karnataka
16. Forensics Science Department, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
17. Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Hyderabad, Telangana
18. Telangana State Forensic Science Laboratory (TSFSL), Hyderabad, Telangana
*******