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In response to a spate of drug and child abuse cases, Kerala stands at the verge of a major upscaling of its forensic science labs (FSLs). State Director General of Police (DGP) formally requested the government to introduce 31 new scientific officer posts to address growing delays in forensic analysis for NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act and POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act cases. This was suggested in an integrated meeting held between the state government and the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC), following a high court directive for accelerating forensic reporting.

The government has approved 28 more posts in different divisions last year—12 in biology, six in chemistry, and ten in documentation. However, the volume of cases being processed by forensic labs has almost doubled over the past year, exerting enormous pressure on the existing workforce. The backlog of NDPS and POCSO cases has attained a critical phase, jeopardizing swift delivery of justice to survivors and accused both despite tireless efforts by scientific officers.

In order to counter this burden, the DGP has now recommended the appointment of eight biology officers, seven chemistry officers, and sixteen documentation officers, underlining that the increase should be carried out as quickly as possible in order to meet legal and social demands.

The Kerala High Court, understanding the seriousness of the situation, instructed that the DGP submit a fresh proposal to the state government within 15 days. The official process of creating such posts is multi-phased: post-filing, the state government scrutinizes and forwards the proposal to the finance department to sanction, after which Kerala PSC will go ahead with the recruitment.

The latest appeal for increased forensic staff came on the heels of a petition laid before the government by the Kerala Legal Services Authority, which highlighted how excessive delays in forensic reports stall trials and impede the administration of justice under NDPS and POCSO Acts. With Kerala also fighting the growing pattern of crimes committed as a result of drug abuse and child welfare, the government action to strengthen forensic laboratories aims at reducing this critical arrear and providing justice on time to all.

Forensic science is an expanding and dynamic discipline that applies scientific knowledge to help in solving crimes. If you enjoy investigating crimes and wish to work in a forensic laboratory, police department or a legal agency, pursuing forensic science is the best choice. By taking the AIFSET exam you can gain admission into top universities offering forensic science courses. 

Vivekananda Global University (VGU), Jaipur, is one of the top Universities in India to study forensic sciences. VGU also has well-organised forensic science coursework, providing hands-on experience and theory. Their programs include such significant areas as DNA profiling, forensic toxicology, cyber forensics, ballistics, and the analysis of fingerprints.

Forensic Science courses at VGU.

UNDERGRADUATE

B.Sc. (H) Forensic Science (As per NEP)

POSTGRADUATE

M.Sc. Forensic Science

M.Sc. Digital and Cyber Forensics

DOCTORAL PROGRAM

Ph.D. Forensic Science

The courses emphasise practical training, research, and exposure to real-life case studies,  ensuring students have the skills and knowledge to work in the professional roles.

Views of HOD

Dr. Umema Ahmed, Head of the Department of Forensic Science at Vivekananda Global University, states, “Our department is committed to promoting quality education and enhancing employability by equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary in the evolving field of forensic science. Our curriculum integrates experiential learning to prepare students to effectively support law enforcement and deliver justice. Alongside academic training, we nurture students’ physical, mental, and emotional development so they become responsible citizens contributing meaningfully to society and the nation’s progress.”

The Role of the AIFSET Exam

The national-level entrance examination to select top forensic science courses, including VGU, is the All India Forensic Science Entrance Test (AIFSET). AIFSET is a test of forensic basics, crime scene, forensic biology, toxicology and legal procedures.

A forensic career and quality courses can be available to a person willing to prepare for AIFSET with knowledge of its syllabus and pattern.

Why Choose Forensic Science?

Forensic science is essential in criminal justice with the advancement of technology. The fields include forensic scientist, crime scene investigator, forensic toxicologist, and cyber forensic analyst. In India, the demand in this area is increasing in government laboratories, in private investigation agencies, and research companies.

If you are passionate about forensic science, a good score in AIFSET for  VGU admission can help you create a rewarding career in the field of forensics with practical knowledge, research skills, and right mindset. 

Curti locals residing around the Animal Husbandry guest house on Thursday were taken by surprise with the sudden decision of National Forensic Science University Board to convert the guest house into a forensic science university, near Goa Dairy, at Curti-Ponda.

Sources have reported that the Animal Husbandry guest house is likely to be the temporarily shelter for holding classes of forensic science university.

It is learnt that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive in State on October 14, to lay the foundation stone for forensic science university at Dharbandora and on the same day he is likely to visit the premises of the Animal Husbandry.

It is given to understand that till the forensic science university project gets ready at Dharbandora, the government is preparing to conduct classes for providing training to the students at the guest house. 

However, the government has not yet officially announced about this. Ponda MLA Ravi Naik was not available for comment when Herald tried to contact him.

It may be recalled that Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant had inaugurated the guest house on January 31, this year in presence of PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar, Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude and Ponda MLA Ravi Naik, which was constructed at a cost of Rs 4.70 crore.

Sources said the center might hold classes and training programs until the university's permanent campus at Dharbandora comes up. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who will grace Goa on October 14 to lay the foundation stone of the Dharbandora campus, is also scheduled to conduct a visit to the Curti premises. Though no official confirmation has been announced, reported preparations are in progress to support the academic transition. The guest house constructed at a price of ₹4.70 crore and opened on January 31 this year by Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant in the presence of PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar, Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude, and MLA Ravi Naik could soon be repurposed—a decision that has left residents agog and clamoring for clarity from the government.

India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma addressed at length on Saturday about his life during the event, sharing memories of his troubled times and sharing the scenario of success behind the hit Indian TV show Aap Ki Adalat.

India TV Editor-in-Chief and Chairman Rajat Sharma gave special address on 'My Life: My Story' as chief guest on Saturday at a function at Gujarat's Gandhinagar-based National Forensic Science University. The show was also screened in video form during the function.

Recalling the hardships of the early days

Addressing the public, he said that life in television is very different from real life, which is not so glamorous. Recalling his childhood, he said, "When my life began, it was a life of scarcity. There were ten members in my family and all of them shared a 10x10 room in Delhi's Sabji Mandi area. We used to sleep on stacked charpoys, and the roof would leak.".

There were no schools, of a sort. We would attend school in tat-patti houses. At night, there was no electricity, and I would study at the local railway station."

"Once there was a film on Doordarshan on Saturday. I went to watch the second half on Sunday, but neighbors have closed the door. I got sad and returned. My father inquired from me what happened. I informed him that I went to watch a Bhagat Singh film, but they did not open the door. He told me, "You go to someone's house to watch someone else, do something for yourself, so that people watch you on TV".".

On meeting Arun Jaitley

Sharma also spoke about his college life and meeting the then finance minister Arun Jaitley. He said, "I scored well and got admission in Shri Ram College.  His hand stayed on my shoulder till he went away."

Rajat Sharma on hard work and determination

Sharma emphasized the point that nothing comes easy in life. "Challenges will come in your life, but you will have to face them with courage," he further added.

He narrated the whole story of making his popular TV show Aap Ki Adalat, elaborating on when the planning began, when the pilot episode was shot, and how the show evolved from a concept to being a brand name.

Himachal Pradesh is taking it to the next level—literally on wheels—when it comes to combating crime. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday flagged off six cutting-edge mobile forensic vans from his official residence, Oak Over, describing it as game-changer in making investigation evidence-based.

Run in the first phase at Baddi, Nurpur, Bilaspur, State Forensic Laboratory at Junga and Regional Forensic Science Laboratories at Dharamshala and Mandi, these vans shall bring cutting-edge forensic technology to the crime scene.

Unveiling the program, Sukhu also unveiled a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) handbook—Forensic Evidence Collection, Preservation & Storage—with an agenda to ensure police and medical teams uphold standards while handling evidence. With this, forensic jackets for experts were also unveiled, uniquely designed to recognize as well as safeguard them while working in the field.

"These advanced cars will offer quick, scientific and safe on-site evidence collection," Sukhu said. "With the revolution in forensic investigation, we wish to enhance conviction rates and strengthen the justice delivery system."

Every van, costing ₹65 lakh, is essentially a traveling crime lab. Having drug and explosive detection systems, DNA sample kits, fingerprint and footprint development kits, arson detection equipment, refrigeration kits, cyber-forensic software, microscopes, high-definition video equipment, GPS-linked body cameras, and so on—it outfits investigators with gear previously limited to static labs.

Authorities explained that the mobile vans will be a savior by cutting out transport of evidence over long distances, minimizing risks of contamination and tampering. Forensic experts can now conduct preliminary tests at the very point where the crime is committed, significantly enhancing accuracy and efficiency.

The specialists believe that the initiative puts Himachal Pradesh at the forefront of forensic upgradation in a time when conviction ratios across India are more likely to be compromised by poor quality evidence. With "crime scene on wheels" mobiles, the state believes that no key clue will go through the cracks in investigation.

DNA profiling has apparently transformed forensic science by making it possible to reliably identify individuals from crime scene evidence. In cases where a sample of evidence holds DNA belonging to either one or two individuals, forensic scientists are usually able to produce a clear genetic fingerprint with great precision. But with technological innovations such as the capability to study trace and mixed DNA, the field has been both more powerful and  more complicated.

What Are DNA Mixtures? Why Do They Matter?

A DNA mixture is a situation where the evidence contains genetic material of more than one individual. Nowadays this is a common practice at the scenes of a crime, courtesy of modern sensitive methodologies in the field of DNA, which can detect the tiniest of traces even when the persons were not in close contact with each other (just by using the same item). It is the key to interpreting such mixtures and solving many crimes in the contemporary world; however, it is scientifically difficult and misconstrued both within and without the court.

Modern DNA Forensics: The Science

First-generation forensic DNA analysis demanded an observable stain or a fairly large sample. Modern techniques such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction) enable scientists with only a few cells to extract DNA. Technologies such as Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and microchip-based analysis allow forensic labs to decode genetic information at unprecedented speed and resolution, even from old, degraded, or highly mixed samples. This enables investigators to revisit cold cases, analyse touched objects (known as “touch DNA”), and identify contributors to mixtures where the DNA is present in minute quantities.

Why are DNA Mixtures so Difficult? 

As simple  as a single-sourced DNA is, that difficult is the mixed DNA. Here is why they are complex: 

1. Signal Overlap: Multiple contributors give rise to a confound of signals, which can at times be too knotted together to distinguish. 
2. Trace Amounts (“Touch DNA”): Small amounts of DNA can drop in or out (“drop-in” and “drop-out” effects), making it hard to be sure who really contributed genetic material to the evidence.
3. Secondary Transfer: DNA can move from person to person or object to object indirectly, for example, by shaking hands or brushing against a surface.

Such complications may result in a scenario where the existence of a DNA profile of a suspect is uncertain or statistical as opposed to definite- a significant problem in law situations which survive on certainty.

Issues that Determine Mixture Complexity

There are three key considerations that influence the reliability of a mixture being interpreted:

• The number of contributors (the more people, the more complexity).
• The amount of DNA that each individual donated (minor contributors may be difficult to identify)
• The total quantity of DNA at hand.

Any of these conditions can render a sample too complicated to be interpreted with validity, and there is an existing lack of international norms to gauge what that level would be- different laboratories can conclude different things.

Innovations: Probabilistic Genotyping and AI

To address these challenges, forensic science is doubling down on mathematical and statistical tools. One of the most important is probabilistic genotyping software (PGS), which uses advanced algorithms and Bayesian statistics to estimate the probability of a given person contributing to a DNA mixture. PGS has the ability to simulate drop-in/drop-out, consider population genetics, and offer the likelihood ratio but not the yes/no answers.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are also being deployed to shortlist suspects and automate mixture interpretation, making analysis faster, scalable, and potentially more robust, though reproducibility and bias remain concerns.

Current Trends and Global Market Growth

The global DNA forensic market is booming, projected to double from USD 2.79 billion in 2023 to over USD 5.5 billion by 2030, driven by a surge in DNA sequencing advancements, wider adoption of rapid DNA testing, and the creation of large-scale DNA databases. Newer approaches, such as DNA phenotyping (predicting eye, hair, and skin colour) and analysis of epigenetic markers, are being used to generate investigative leads even when criminal records do not yield a match.

Challenges Yet to Be Solved

There are still problems that have not been solved: 

• Highly complex or degraded mixtures are still not interpreted consistently. 
• Risk of misattribution through secondary transfer or statistical overlap. 
• Absence of internationally available criteria in deciding whether a sample is too complicated to be interpreted with reasonable certainty. 
• Genetic privacy, ethical, and legal issues surrounding the storage and use of genetic data.
• Many experts suggest that DNA evidence—especially from mixtures—should always be weighed alongside other case evidence for more reliable verdicts.

The Scientific Review role

Authoritative bodies like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have started publishing rigorous reviews evaluating the foundation and reliability of DNA mixture interpretation methods. These reviews are instrumental in giving important advice to the forensic labs, courts and policy makers highlighting transparency, appropriate validation and limitations of the science depending on the context.

What  is the Future of DNA Mixture Forensics?

DNA mixture analysis is advanced forensic science, offering remarkable power to implicate or exonerate suspects in complex crimes, but only if applied carefully and critically. With the adoption of AI and statistical modelling in laboratories, legal professionals, scientists and the public need to be aware of the potential and the traps of mixed evidence. This will require ongoing research, cross-border cooperation and high standards so that forensic DNA continues to serve the cause of justice worldwide.