Forensic science at the heart of India’s new justice framework: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Monday underscored the revolutionary role forensic science would serve in India’s revamped criminal justice system.

Addressing the All India Forensic Science Summit 2025 in New Delhi, organized by the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Shah expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for transforming the justice system in India with a focus on scientific and technology-based investigations. He went on to add that contemporary crimes are likely to go beyond borders, as is enabled with advances in communications and information technologies, so strong forensic capability is more than ever essential.

The home minister emphasized that these laws replace colonial codes, which are antiquated, and bring in contemporary tools like e-documents, digital summons, and forensic evidence into the legal system. Forensic analysis is now being made compulsory for offenses punishable by over seven years in prison—a very important step towards enhancing the existing conviction rate at 54 percent.

Shah referred to recent instances wherein trials of rape and murder cases were concluded and convictions were obtained within weeks. He emphasized the police’s digitization of infrastructure: 100% of police stations are networked with Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) now, with over 14 crore First Information Reports (FIRs) and connected information online. These types of systems such as electronic Forensics (e-Forensics), National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), and electronic Prison Management System (e-Prison) are constructing a humongous national database, which will shortly be augmented by Artificial Intelligence (AI) for predictive policing and crime prevention.

Seven campuses are already functioning, nine more are opening shortly and ten more will be set up, which will give it a pan-India presence, claimed the home minister.

All the campuses would focus on a specific niche—like drone, marine, or corporate forensics—and the university would be producing about 36,000 forensic professionals every year, he said.

The home minister promoted the creation of a more humanized judiciary and suggested psychological counseling and criminal classification according to the nature and intent of the offense. A prisoner rehabilitation system with a forensic-oriented perspective would be established in the upcoming two years, he stated.

Shah also discussed the creation of the Modus Operandi Bureau, which would have a study on criminal behavior to further the crime prevention strategy. He demanded greater coordination between NFSU and the Ministry of Home Affairs, and praised young entrepreneurs for their performance during the hackathon of the summit and for popularizing the application of Hindi in forensic science.

Shah again emphasized that India is firmly on a mission to create a crime-free, fair, and technologically advanced society.