What is National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES)?

About National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES):

• It is a Central Sector Scheme with a financial outlay of Rs 2,254.43 crore during the period from 2024-25 to 2028-29.
• It aims to enhance forensic infrastructure in the country.
• Components under this Scheme:
  • Establishment of campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in the country.
  • Establishment of Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) in the country.
  • Enhancement of existing infrastructure of the Delhi Campus of the NFSU.
• The financial outlay of the NFIES will be provisioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs from its own budget.
• Need for NFIES:
  • With the enactment of the New Criminal Laws, which mandates forensic investigation for offences involving punishment of 7 years or more, a significant increase in the workload of forensic science laboratories is expected.
  • Further, there is a significant shortage of trained forensic manpower in the Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL) in the country.
  • The establishment of additional off-campuses of the NFSU and new CFSLs would address the shortage of trained forensic manpower, alleviate the case load / pendency of forensic laboratories, and align with the Government of India's goal of securing a high conviction rate of more than 90%.