INTEGRATING CAMPUSES OF NFSU AND CFSL
INTEGRATING CAMPUSES OF NFSU AND CFSL
The Government has undertaken steps to strengthen the forensic ecosystem in the country in order to support scientific investigation and improve the quality and timeliness of the justice processes. In order to promote closer coordination between academic training, research and operational forensic science services to build capacity, enhance availability of skilled manpower and facilitate the adoption of modern forensic techniques, the Government of India has inter-alia approved setting up of campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in co-location with Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) in 06 States namely Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.
The NFSU has been providing State-of-the-art forensic technologies such as advanced DNA Analysis, Cyber forensics, Digital forensics, Forensic psychology, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, and Ballistic forensics. The NFSU offers more than 60 academic programmes in the field of forensic science and allied disciplines through its campuses. These include undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma and doctoral programmes such as B.Sc., M.Sc., B.Tech., M.Tech., MBA and Ph.D. in various specialised areas of forensic science, cyber security, digital forensics, behavioural science, forensic psychology, and related domains. Crime Scene Management forms an integral part of the forensic science curriculum in these academic programmes. In addition, the University also conducts Short Term Training Programmes on Crime Scene Management for capacity building of stakeholders. Apart from the NFSU, modern crime scene management practices including scientific evidence collection, preservation, and digital documentation are also supported by the CFSLs.
The CFSLs and the NFSU benefit multiple stakeholders involved in the justice system, inter-alia including State and Central law-enforcement agencies, Central Government Department , State Government Department, Judicial officers, intelligence personnel Courts, Banks, Corporate Sector, and Public Sector Undertakings.
In addition to the already established 07 (seven) Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) in the country located in Chandigarh, Delhi, Kamrup (Assam), Kolkata (West Bengal), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Pune (Maharashtra), and Hyderabad (Telangana), approval has been provided for setting up of 08 new CFSLs in the country in Jammu (UT of Jammu & Kashmir), Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Kerala. Out of these, land has been allocated in Samba (UT of Jammu & Kashmir), Chengalpattu (Tamil Nadu), Khordha (Odisha), and Raipur (Chhattisgarh).
Further, apart from the initial campuses of the NFSU in Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and Delhi, approval has been given for setting up of 14 additional campuses of the NFSU in Goa, Agartala (Tripura), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Dharwad (Karnataka), Guwahati (Assam), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Khordha (Odisha), Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Chengalpattu (Tamil Nadu), Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. Out of these approved campuses, land has been allocated in Goa, Agartala (Tripura), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Dharwad (Karnataka), Guwahati (Assam), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Khordha (Odisha), Raipur (Chhattisgarh), and Chengalpattu (Tamil Nadu). Campuses of the NFSU in these locations including Jaipur (Rajasthan) are currently operational from Transit Campuses.
Collaborations with national and international forensic research institutions are undertaken by both the Directorate of Forensic Science Services, and the National Forensic Sciences University within their respective mandates, and this is an ongoing process.
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.