Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the new Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) building in Kolkata on Sunday, constructed at a cost of Rs 880 million. The state-of-the-art facility is expected to enhance forensic capabilities across eastern and northeastern states, including West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, and Sikkim.

Addressing the gathering, Shah underscored the government's commitment to a secure, transparent, and evidence-led criminal justice system under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stated that the new CFSL would play a key role in implementing India's newly framed criminal laws and delivering timely justice.

The Minister highlighted that forensic science is critical in ensuring convictions and announced that a national network of forensic laboratories is being built under a cluster model, enabling 3–4 states to share resources. From January 2026, a national campaign will begin to introduce forensic practices at the police station level, transitioning from argument-based to evidence-based policing.

Shah also launched digital forensic tools—Narcotics Version 2.0 and Explosives Version 2.0—intended to streamline investigations. He noted the increasing complexity of crime in the digital era and stressed the need for law enforcement to adopt cutting-edge technologies.

He cited the rollout of three new criminal laws—the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)—which replace colonial statutes. These laws make forensic evidence mandatory in crimes with punishments exceeding seven years and empower investigators with stronger legal backing.

Shah reported improvements in judicial efficiency, including 60 per cent of chargesheets now being filed within 60 days. He also mentioned new legal provisions enabling trial in absentia to bring fugitives to justice through global coordination.

To support the expanding forensic framework, the government has approved 16 campuses for the National Forensic Science University (NFSU), of which seven are operational. These institutes aim to train 36,000 forensic professionals annually, surpassing the current national demand of 30,000.

In addition, nine more NFSU campuses and seven new CFSLs are being established across India, including in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Bihar, with a combined investment of over Rs 21 billion. A National Forensic Data Centre will also be developed with a dedicated outlay of Rs 2 billion.

Shah concluded by affirming the government’s goal of delivering fast, evidence-backed justice accessible to every citizen, especially the marginalised.