3-day International Forensic Science Summit to open today

Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will inaugurate the three-day International Forensic Science Summit at the Uttar Pradesh State Institute of Forensic Science (UPSIFS) on Monday.The conference, to mark the third foundation day of UPSIFS, will bring together over 100 experts from India and abroad to deliberate on issues such as cybercrime, international legal frameworks, forensic applications, and strategic countermeasures, said founder director GK Goswamy."The CM will also inaugurate the newly established Drone and DNA labs at UPSIFS, flag off forensic vans for 75 districts on the occasion,"said Goswamy.The event aims to promote international cooperation and highlight Uttar Pradesh's growing leadership in forensic science and cybercrime investigation, said an official.Officials said that the expansion of forensic infrastructure not only strengthened the fight against crime but also boosted public trust in the justice system. By integrating advanced technologies, enhancing lab capacity, and training youth in forensic sciences, the Yogi govt is paving the way for a safer, more secure, and technologically advanced Uttar Pradesh. |In the last 8 years, the state govt has significantly expanded forensic science facilities across Uttar Pradesh, linking policing with technology under its zero-tolerance policy against crime.The move not only accelerated criminal investigations and convictions but also created new opportunities for youth aspiring to build careers in forensic science, said the official.Over the past eight years, the state govt focused on strengthening crime prevention, enhancing criminal identification systems, and ensuring strict punishments through scientific evidence in courts.A major step in this direction was the establishment of the UPSIFS, which has become a premier centre for education, training, and research in forensic science.Trainee scientists, police officers, and students are being trained in cutting-edge techniques, while the institute is also conducting advanced research to position Uttar Pradesh as a national and international hub for forensic excellence.Before 2017, the state had only four forensic laboratories located in Lucknow, Varanasi, Agra, and Ghaziabad. Since then, the govt added eight new labs in Jhansi, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Bareilly, Gonda, Aligarh, and Moradabad, taking the total to 12 active laboratories. This expansion reduced delays in evidence analysis and ensured timely availability of reports to police and courts, the official said.Further, the work is underway to establish six new labs in Ayodhya, Basti, Banda, Azamgarh, Mirzapur, and Saharanpur. Once operational, these centres are expected to make evidence collection and criminal investigations even more effective.The state has also modernised its fingerprint identification systems under the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS). Hardware and software installations were completed at 98 locations, linking nine STF units, one ATS unit, and 12 GRP units. Nearly 4.14 lakh fingerprints have already been digitised, helping police identify criminals and match unidentified bodies swiftly. This achievement secured Uttar Pradesh the first rank in NCRB's national dashboard for fingerprint digitisation.With the introduction of new criminal laws – BNS, BNSS, and BSA (2023) – the state focused on recruiting trained forensic scientists across its units. These specialists are playing a vital role in evidence collection, laboratory analysis, and investigation, thereby strengthening the justice delivery system. Forensic inputs have been particularly critical in cybercrime cases, where scientific evidence led to stronger convictions.

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