18 May,2026 10:25 PM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar Menon
Representational image. File pic
To strengthen forensic-based justice delivery, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed universities and colleges offering law programmes to examine the transformative impact of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and integrate forensic-focused reforms into legal education.
In a letter dated May 12, the UGC secretary called for systematic academic engagement with India's new criminal justice framework and its scientific investigation components, urging all law-teaching institutions to initiate academic studies, incorporate findings into programmes, and submit compliance reports on implementation measures.
The directive follows recommendations made at the Director Generals of Police/Inspector Generals of Police (DGsP/IGsP) Conference held in November 2025, which called for a paradigm shift towards greater reliance on scientific evidence, forensic investigation, and structured case-study documentation for academic use.
Forensic science is increasingly being recognised as a core pillar of modern justice systems, enabling objective and science-based investigation through disciplines such as DNA analysis, toxicology, and digital forensics. The BNS, along with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), collectively reshape India's criminal justice ecosystem by embedding scientific investigation at its core.
Mandatory crime scene investigation:
Under Section 176(3) of the BNSS, forensic experts must visit crime scenes in serious offences (punishable with over seven years imprisonment) to collect and document evidence
Stronger digital evidence framework:
The BSA enhances the admissibility of electronic evidence and aligns forensic protocols with global standards for cybercrime and digital investigations
Expanded scientific sampling powers:
Section 349 of the BNSS allows authorities to collect voice samples, fingerprints, and handwriting samples even prior to arrest in certain cases.
Prof. P Madhava Soma Sundaram, chairperson of the Indian Society of Criminology, said India currently has only about 3000 to 4000 active forensic scientists against a projected requirement of nearly 90,000 professionals.
"This gap can only be addressed if universities adopt structured, internship-oriented forensic education backed by qualified faculty and well-equipped laboratories," Prof. Sundaram said.
He further cautioned that "some institutions risk turning forensic education into a job-capturing exercise, which may produce ill-informed pseudo-experts, ultimately weakening the justice system."
Emphasising the foundational role of science in criminal justice, Amol Deshmukh, professor and head, Institute of Forensic Science, Mumbai, said the reform marks a positive shift towards evidence-based justice. "Forensic science and forensic medicine are two sides of the same coin, and India's forensic infrastructure must be strengthened. Universities must train professionals who understand both law and scientific crime detection," he added.
According to Dr Aditi Suresh Mane, assistant professor, Symbiosis Law School, Pune, the UGC directive reflects a broader constitutional and structural transformation in India's justice system. "Law schools must now train students in cyber forensics, DNA jurisprudence, chain of custody standards, and medico-legal documentation to improve investigative accuracy and conviction outcomes," she said.
Welcoming the reform, Dr Sonali Kusum, assistant professor, School of Law, TISS Mumbai, pointed to key challenges in implementation. "Though the UGC guidelines are a progressive step, India still faces a shortage of forensic science laboratories and trained infrastructure," she said.
She highlighted that rising caseloads, including under the POCSO Act, are increasing demand for forensic examinations, while BNSS provisions have made forensic involvement more critical than ever. "Forensic education must go beyond criminal law and integrate disciplines such as gender studies, cybercrime, and organised crime, supported by experiential pedagogy as envisioned in the National Education Policy 2020," she added.
