Government will invest Rs 30 thousand crore to create forensic labs network across the country (Photo-X)
ANI, New Delhi. The Central Government has decided to invest Rs 30,000 crore for setting up a network of forensic labs across the country in the next five years. At least one forensic university or central forensic lab will be established in every state by 2029.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah made this announcement while chairing the meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Home Ministry in Sri Vijayapuram in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Saturday. Issues related to national security, disaster management, cyber security and regional infrastructure were discussed in the meeting.
The need for state-of-the-art centers like Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) and National Forensic Science University (NFSU) to use latest technologies to fight crime was also emphasised.
Presently there are seven CFSLs in the country
The Home Minister said, the Government of India and the State Governments are going to invest Rs 30 thousand crore in the next five years to build a network of forensic laboratories across the country. At present there are seven CFSLs in the country, while eight new CFSLs are being set up. A grant of about one thousand crore rupees has been given to strengthen the forensic science laboratories, forensic vans and regional laboratories of the states.
More than 16 thousand officers have been trained in the last four years
Shah said that guidelines have been issued for standardization of forensic science departments. By 2029, 35 thousand students will study forensics in NFSU. NFSU has 100% placement. The Home Minister said that till now 14 campuses of NFSU have been established. This university is running more than 100 training programmes.
More than 16 thousand officers have been trained in the last four years and the target is to almost triple this number in the next four years. The Home Minister said that NFSU has registered 46 patents so far, of which 30 were registered in 2024 alone. 96 countries have signed 103 MoUs with NFSU. 117 organizations have also signed agreements with NFSU.
Shah also said that the Home Ministry has organized 12 meetings of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee since 2019, which have yielded good results. Shah said, we will create such a system by 2029 in which the entire judicial process—from FIR to the Supreme Court—can be completed within three years.
Inauguration and foundation stone of development schemes worth Rs 373 crore
Home Minister Shah on Saturday inaugurated nine schemes for Andaman and Nicobar Islands and laid the foundation stone of two schemes. This includes an integrated command and control center worth Rs 229 crore. The total cost of these development schemes is Rs 373 crore. Shah also inaugurated an exhibition on the new judicial code.
Recalling the contribution of the citizens of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the freedom struggle, Shah said, many freedom fighters spent a long time of their lives here. Many heroes were hanged here. When repression was at its peak, their voices were not reaching the country and the world, but today, the memorial of Veer Savarkar built in the Cellular Jail has told the entire country and the world that thousands of martyrs sacrificed their lives here.
Shah said the government sees potential in the tourism sector in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
He said that Subhash Chandra Bose hoisted the Indian national flag at Port Blair on 30 December 1941, which is an important moment in the history of India. Shah said that the government sees potential in the tourism sector in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.