New Criminal Laws: Forensic Infrastructure and Justice Delivery by 2029

Syllabus: Judiciary and Criminal Justice Reform

Ministry of Home Affairs

Why in news?

Home Minister chaired Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting on CFSL and NFSU, aiming for time-bound justice (FIR to Supreme Court within 3 years by 2029) through forensic modernization.

⚛️Static Concepts

Bharatiya Nyaya SanhitaBharatiya Nagarik Suraksha SanhitaNAFIS

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Prelims-Oriented Points

Target: Complete judicial process from FIR to Supreme Court within 3 years by 2029.
Mobile Forensic Labs: Increased from 0 in 2021 to 1,000 in 2025.
Investment: ₹30,000 crore over 5 years to establish network of forensic labs across India.
NFSU: 14 campuses established; 100% placement; target of 35,000 students by 2029; 46 patents registered (30 in 2024 alone).
Digital reforms: e-FIR, Zero FIR, e-Summons, e-Sakshya; all 5 pillars (police, courts, prisons, forensics, prosecution) modernized.

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Examiner's Trap: Under new laws, forensic labs send reports DIRECTLY to courts (and copy to police), reversing the previous flow where police submitted reports.

Quick Data Points

1,000 mobile forensic labs (from 0 in 2021)

₹30,000 crore investment planned

7 existing + 8 new CFSLs

1.21 crore fingerprints on NAFIS

2.2 crore prisoner records on e-Prisons

Mains Value Addition

GS-2: Judiciary; Criminal Justice Reform; E-Governance.

Evidence Integrity: Mandatory videography of seizures and direct lab-to-court reporting ensures Chain of Custody.
Reducing Grey Areas: Clear definitions of cybercrime, organized crime, terrorism, and digital fraud reduce judicial ambiguity.
Capacity Building: NFSU's 100% placement and patent generation indicates quality forensic workforce development.

Source

Press Information Bureau (PIB)