Parliament Question: Vacant posts of forensic staff and problems affecting investigations

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4224 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 1ST APRIL, 2026/ CHAITRA 11, 1948 (SAKA) VACANT POSTS OF FORENSIC STAFF AND PROBLEMS AFFECTING INVESTI GATIONS 4224 # SHRI RAMJI LAL SUMAN: Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) the State-wise details of Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSL) and State Forensic Science Laboratories in the country; (b) whether it is a fact that due to a shortage of skilled scientists in Forensic Science Laboratories, the analysis of physical evidence collected for the investigation of criminal cases such as fingerprints, DNA, ballistics and documents is not being completed in a timely manner, thereby adversely affecting the investigations; and (c) the State-wise details of vacant posts for staff in forensic science laboratories across the country? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR) (a): At present there are 07 Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) in the country located at Chandigarh, Delhi, Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Kamrup (Assam), Kolkata (West Bengal), Hyderabad (Telangana), and Pune (Maharashtra). As per available information, there are 32 State Forensic Science Laboratories (State FSLs) in 32 States/UTs in the country except Chandigarh, Ladakh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu, and Lakshadweep which utilize the forensic science facilities of the neighboring States / UTs.-2- R.S.US.Q.NO. 4224 FOR 01.04.2026 (b): “Police” and “Public Order” are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibilities to 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/Union Territory concerned. Availability of forensic report facilitates investigation. However, disposal of a case depends on several factors such as category of the case (civil or criminal), complexity of the facts involved, nature of evidence and co- operation of the stakeholders. However, the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs has taken significant steps to strengthen the forensic eco-system in the country through various schemes, having financial outlay of more than ₹4800 crore, which inter-alia includes establishment of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) under the Act of the Parliament in the year 2020 for providing quality and trained forensic manpower across all parts of the country. Apart from the initial campuses of the NFSU in Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and Delhi, approval has been given for setting up of 14 additional campuses of the NFSU in Goa, Agartala (Tripura), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Dharwad (Karnataka), Guwahati (Assam), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Khordha-3- R.S.US.Q.NO. 4224 FOR 01.04.2026 (Odisha), Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Chengalpattu (Tamil Nadu), Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. The NFSU has also set up training academies in Imphal (Manipur) and Pune (Maharashtra). (c): Details of vacant scientific posts in the Central Forensic Science Laboratories in the country may be seen at Annexure. Data related to vacant posts in State Forensic Science Laboratories is not maintained centrally. *****-4- Annexure R.S.US.Q.NO. 4224 FOR 01.04.2026 Details of vacant scientific posts in the Central Forensic Science Laboratories in the country S. No. CFSL location Vacant scientific posts 1. Kamrup (Assam) 14 2. Chandigarh 10 3. Hyderabad (Telangana) 19 4. Kolkata (West Bengal) 17 5. Delhi 78 6. Pune (Maharashtra) 08 7. Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) 11 *****