Though five years' time has been allowed under the BNSS for modernizing the forensic facilities, ongoing investment is essential to upgrade the current forensic infrastructure in states.
The new criminal statutes have placed more stress on the application of scientific evidence in the investigation of criminal cases. It is now compulsory for a forensic expert to inspect the scene of crime in the case of crimes punishable with imprisonment for seven years or more, to gather forensic evidence and arrange videography of the process on mobile phone or any other electronic evidence.
It is also necessary to make photography and videography at the time of search and seizure during investigation mandatory. Any electronic evidence of secondary in nature, now also needs certification by a cyber expert. While five years' time has been allowed under the BNSS to enhance the forensic infrastructure, there is a need for continuous investment in upgrading the existing forensic facilities in the states.
Just recently, the Supreme Court (SC) suo moto took cognisance of a news report that brought to light some custodial deaths in the recent past, attributing the problem to non-functional CCTV cameras in police stations. SC in Paramvir Singh versus Baljit Singh (2020) had ordered all states to instal compulsorily and maintain CCTV cameras in police stations as a deterrent against custodial torture.
The verdict also directed to form oversight panels, at state and district levels to oversee installation, operation, budget requirements and maintenance of CCTV setups. The Court stated that CCTV recordings must be stored for at least six months, whereby a victim of violations of human rights could request access to such recordings.
The SC also issued some guidelines recently in Kattavellai @Devakar versus State of Tamil Nadu (2025) so that the DNA samples are collected and stored properly, and sent to the FSL within 48 hours of being collected while there is a good chain of custody. While the validity and reliability of a DNA profile are subject to quality control and procedure within the laboratory, the outside laboratory quality control and procedure are also critical, the Court reaffirmed. The MHA, in January 2019, under the pilot project, had distributed approximately 11,130 Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits (SAECKs) under the BPR&D for improved collection, storage and handling of DNA evidence. In fact, the states always need money to purchase such kits in order to collect scientific evidence in investigation.
The Need For Funds
These references have been provided in order to support the fact that the police modernisation funds are always needed for the capacity building of the police forces. Different police reform committees and commissions, Law Commission, and the Supreme Court have re-iterated the request to the police to utilize scientific evidence in investigation.
It would not be an overstatement to state that the cybercrime reporting portal was introduced by the MHA in 2019 at the behest of the directions given by the Supreme Court to prevent the online circulation of pornography and rape videos.
Subsequently, its ambit was broadened and it was integrated with the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) so that action taken by the states is expedited on the police station level.
What Is Modernisation of Police Force Scheme
The scheme for Modernisation of Police Force (MPF) was initiated in the current shape by the MHA during the year 1999-2000 for a tenure of 10 years i.e., till 2009-10. The Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) was then requested to evaluate the effect of the scheme and provide further suggestions.
The Bureau carried out an independent analysis and also engaged the services of M/S Ernst & Young Pvt. Ltd. to draw consolidated conclusions.
Although it was widely believed that 'the MPF scheme has benefited the police like nothing else in the past', the Bureau strongly suggested 'the continuation of the scheme with more funds for the LWE and terror infested states. It also suggested inclusion of special schemes for the border and coastal areas.
Why MPF Scheme Is Important For States
It cannot be held in dispute that the MPF scheme has served the states well by enhancing the mobility of the forces, upgrading telecommunication, enhancing weapons, computerisation (including CCTNS), training and security gadgets and enhancing FSLs.
Simultaneously, it is no less true that the police forces' strength has grown and issues proliferated over the years.
As 'Police' and 'Public order' are included in the Seventh Schedule State List of our Constitution, the major responsibility is with the states to make sure that the police can perform their functions effectively in accordance with the Constitutional mandate.
But the Union also has to see that the state government of each state is conducted in accordance with the Constitution provisions.
The Allocation Of Funds
Nowadays, the modernisation funds are released to union territories and states under the 'Assistance to States and UTs for Modernisation of Police' (ASUMP) scheme which is one of the schemes under the umbrella scheme of 'Modernisation of Police Forces' (MPF) run by the Central Government.
Although the Central Government continued the police modernisation programme without interruption, yearly allocations have nearly persistently fallen. Central share that stood at around Rs. 1,558 crores for 2012-13, fell to an all-time low of around 460 crores for 2023-24.
It is only after the implementation of new criminal legislations in July 2024 that Central share in the ASUMP for the year 2025-26 has been enhanced to Rs. 1,007 crores (with total annual plan size of Rs. 1603 crores).
Why Centre Needs To Help States
Though the Central Government has brought in the Public Fund Management System (PFMS) to harmoniously monitor the movement of funds from the Centre to states, it has not been proven to be very user-friendly.
The real expenditure of money has never been up to the allocation due to several obstacles inter-alia cancellation of tender on account of low participation, inability to provide equipment in time by the vendors, delay in sanctioning of proprietary materials and delay in the completion of building activities.
Although the functioning of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal has become better after some time, most of the times Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) and Startups end up being unserious bidders since they are exempted from filing Bid Security (in the form of earnest money deposit).
The affected LWE states are also given financial support under different schemes like Security Related Expenditure (SRE), Special Central Assistance (SCA) and Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS) like fortified police stations/outposts.
Though the states' expenditure relating to the anti-Maoist operations are being reimbursed in the ratio of 60:40, the grant provided by the Central Government under the SCA for plugging gaps in key security infrastructure is 100%.
Other programs under the MPF are Modernisation of Forensics and Modernisation of Prisons. While decrease in LWE violence and number of affected districts over time is an encouraging trend, the stream of funds for police modernisation has to pick up.
It is therefore argued that the bar of allocations under the police, forensics and prisons modernisation is increased by the Central Government to address a range of challenges including those due to new criminal laws and assist the states in discharging their Constitutional responsibilities.
