Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addresses the inaugural session of the 26th All India Fingerprint Conference 2026 in New Delhi as Chief Guest

1. At a Glance

• Annual conclave of State/UT Fingerprint Bureaux Directors convened under the aegis of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), MHA; the 26th edition (2026) was inaugurated in New Delhi by Union Home Minister Amit Shah as Chief Guest [1].
• Forum used to roll out flagship criminal-justice digital tools — NCRB-Abhigyan, CrPI, e-Prosecution 2.0 and e-Forensics 2.0 — operationalising the three new criminal laws (BNS, BNSS, BSA) [1].
• UPSC relevance: GS-II (governance, e-governance) and GS-III (internal security, forensics, criminal justice reforms).

2. Why in the News

• Amit Shah, on inaugural day of the 26th All India Fingerprint Conference 2026, New Delhi, launched four MHA/NCRB applications and reiterated the FIR-to-conviction-within-3-years target of the Modi government's criminal-justice reform [1].
• He announced an MHA–Supreme Court & High Courts collaboration for a blueprint on reducing case pendency [1].

3. Background & Evolution

• 1897: World's first dedicated Fingerprint Bureau set up at Calcutta under Edward Henry, assisted by Azizul Haque and Hem Chandra Bose (Henry Classification System) [3].
• 1955: Central Finger Print Bureau (CFPB) shifted to Delhi; later relocated to NCRB premises [3].
• 1986: CFPB merged into newly-created NCRB under MHA [3].
• 2020 (21st Conf., G. Kishan Reddy) and 2021 (22nd Conf., Ajay Kumar Mishra) — incremental digitisation push [4][5].
• 2022: NAFIS rolled out nationally — Indian-developed AFIS by NCRB [2].
• 2024 (Jul 1): BNS/BNSS/BSA come into force — forensic evidence becomes mandatory in serious offences [6].

4. Core Static Facts

• Implementing body: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under Ministry of Home Affairs [2][3].
• NAFIS: National Automated Fingerprint Identification System; searchable nationwide repository; ~1.06 crore criminal fingerprint records as of 31.10.2024; allots a unique 10-digit National Fingerprint Number (NFN) to every arrestee; integrates all State/UT bureaux; works 24×7 [2].
• Apps launched at 26th Conference (2026):
• NCRB-Abhigyan – knowledge/training platform
• CrPI (Criminal Profile India/Investigation tool)
• e-Prosecution 2.0

• e-Forensics 2.0 [1].

• Stated objective: FIR-to-conviction within 3 years [1].

• Three new criminal laws underpinning digital push: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (in force 1 July 2024) [6].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Scientific / Technological

• Integrates biometrics + AI + cloud into criminal-justice chain; chance-print matching against central database now real-time [2].
• e-Forensics 2.0 deepens NCRB ↔ State FSL data flow consistent with BNSS mandate on forensic visit for ≥7-year offences [6].

Legal / Constitutional

• Police & public order are State subjects (List II, 7th Schedule); NCRB platforms run on a cooperative-federal "national repository" model [3].
• Aligns with Article 21 access-to-speedy-justice jurisprudence (Hussainara Khatoon, 1979) [1].

Administrative

• Targets pendency reduction via MHA–SC/HC blueprint [1].
• Integration across State Fingerprint Bureaux, CFPB, CCTNS, ICJS stack reduces silos.

Ethical / Governance

• Raises data-protection, mass-biometric retention concerns post DPDP Act 2023; risks of function creep beyond convicted persons.
• BNSS Sec 349 permits measurement collection from arrested persons — civil-liberties debate.

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 2024-07-01: BNS, BNSS, BSA operational [6].
• 2024 (Oct-end): NAFIS database crosses 1.06 crore records [2].
• 2024-11: Golden Jubilee All India Police Science Congress, Gujarat, inaugurated by Shah [7].
• 2025-11: 60th All India DGP/IGP Conference (Chhattisgarh) chaired by PM Modi [8].
• 2026: 26th All India Fingerprint Conference, New Delhi — four apps launched [1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• NAFIS issues a 10-digit National Fingerprint Number (NFN) to each arrestee [2].
• NAFIS is implemented by NCRB, not by IB or CBI [2].
• NAFIS national repository ≈ 1.06 crore records (as of 31 Oct 2024) [2].
• World's first Fingerprint Bureau established 1897, Calcutta, under Edward Henry with Azizul Haque & Hem Chandra Bose [3].
• NCRB formed 1986; CFPB subsumed into it [3].
• NCRB-Abhigyan, CrPI, e-Prosecution 2.0, e-Forensics 2.0 launched at the 26th All India Fingerprint Conference 2026 [1].
• Modi government's stated target: conviction within 3 years of FIR [1].
• Three new criminal laws operational since 1 July 2024 — BNS, BNSS, BSA [6].
• BNSS makes forensic team visit mandatory for offences punishable with ≥7 years [6].
• Fingerprint conference is convened under MHA — 22nd edition (2021) and 21st edition (2020) preceded the digital wave [4][5].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: e-Governance, role of civil services in delivering justice.
• GS-III: Internal security; role of technology in policing; forensic science.
• Possible question stems: 1. "Discuss how integration of NAFIS, CCTNS and ICJS is transforming India's criminal-justice chain. What concerns remain?" (GS-III, 250w) 2. "The three new criminal laws make forensics central to investigation. Examine the institutional preparedness of NCRB and State FSLs." (GS-III) 3. "Mass biometric databases pose a tension between effective policing and citizens' right to privacy under Article 21. Critically analyse." (GS-II/GS-IV)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• CCTNS (Crime & Criminal Tracking Network & Systems) — backbone over which NAFIS rides.
• ICJS (Inter-operable Criminal Justice System) — links police, courts, prisons, forensics, prosecution.
• BNS/BNSS/BSA, 2023 — substantive driver of forensic mandate.
• DPDP Act 2023 & Puttaswamy (2017) — data-protection backdrop for biometric storage.
• National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Gandhinagar — capacity-building arm.
• Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022 — legal basis for collecting biometrics from arrestees.
• Interpol I-24/7 & AFIS — international comparator [S9 not used; static].
• Hussainara Khatoon (1979) & speedy-trial jurisprudence — links to 3-year target.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Wrong parent body: NAFIS is under NCRB/MHA, NOT under Intelligence Bureau, CBI, or NIA [2].
• Wrong NFN length: it is a 10-digit number, not 12-digit (don't confuse with Aadhaar) [2].
• Year confusion: New criminal laws enacted 2023, enforced 1 July 2024 [6].
• Henry System attribution: Often wrongly credited solely to Edward Henry; Haque and Bose are co-developers [3].
• Conference name: It is the All India Fingerprint Conference / Conference of Directors of Fingerprint Bureaux, distinct from the All India Police Science Congress and DGP/IGP Conference [4][7][8].