Union Cabinet approves NFIES scheme for Forensic Infra. Development

The government of India has approved a new central sector scheme to strengthen the criminal forensic infrastructure in the country to aid an efficient criminal justice system. The National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES) was approved by the Union Cabinet in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 19 June 2024.

Feature of the “National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme

The “National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES) scheme will be implemented by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. 

The “National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES) will consist of three components:

• Construction of Campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in the country.
• Establishment of Central Forensic Science Laboratories across the country and 
• Strengthening the existing infrastructure of the Delhi Campus of the NFSU.

Financial Outlay for the NFIES

The central government has allocated Rs 2254.43 crore for the National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme. The money for the scheme will come from the budgetary allocation for the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Duration of the NFIES

The duration of the National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme is five years, i.e from 2024-25 to 2028-29.

Aim of the NFIES 

The aim of the NFIES scheme is to strengthen the forensic science infrastructure in the country to aid the scientific investigation of crime. The three new criminal laws, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, will come into effect on 1 July 2024.

Under the new law, forensic investigation is mandatory for criminal cases, which provides for imprisonment of seven years or more. 

The enforcement of new criminal law is expected to increase the workload on the forensic establishment in the country.

The government has formulated the NFIES to meet the expected increase in demand for professional forensic experts and laboratories.

Thus, under the NFIES, new additional off-campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU)  and new Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) will be constructed.

The NFIES is expected to alleviate the shortage of trained forensic manpower, reduce the caseload/pendency of forensic laboratories, and help in achieving the government of India's goal of securing a high conviction rate of more than 90%.

National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) 

The National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) is the world’s first and only forensics university in the world.

 It was set up to train professionals in forensic science and meet the demand in the country

The NFSu was established as Gujarat Forensic Sciences University in 2009 by the then-Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

In 2020, the National Forensic Science University Act changed its name to the present name and made it a national university and an institution of national importance.

The NFSU is under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Main Campus: Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

What is Forensic Science? 

• The word forensic has been derived from the Latin word forensis, which means a public debate or discussion.
• In modern terms, forensic science is the use of natural and physical science methods in matters of civil and criminal law. 
• The Forensic science method is not only used in the investigation of heinous crimes like murder, rape etc, but also for simpler crimes like theft, burglary and civil cases like deliberately causing air, water or other pollution or causing industrial injuries.

Forensic scientists use scientific techniques to examine and interpret evidence in connection with civil and criminal proceedings.