FORENSIC SCIENCE AND NEW CRIMINAL LAWS

• India's three new criminal laws — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023 — operationalise a forensics-led, technology-driven criminal justice model, replacing IPC/CrPC/Evidence Act.
• BNSS makes forensic team visits to crime scenes mandatory for offences punishable with ≥7 years imprisonment, with videography of evidence collection.
• Capacity is being built via the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) under MHA and the NAFIS fingerprint database under NCRB; both are now central to ICJS 2.0 integration.