Centre to introduce DNA, face matching systems at police stations across country

Key Highlights

1. Introduction of the Criminal Procedure Identification Act

• More than a year after the passage of the Criminal Procedure Identification Act in Parliament, India is preparing to roll out "DNA and face-matching" systems in 1,300 police stations nationwide.
• However, the Act's provisions have not been fully implemented on the ground, with logistical and connectivity issues hindering progress.

2. Empowering Law Enforcement with New Capabilities

• The Act empowers police and Central investigative agencies to :
  • collect, store,
  • analyze physical and biological samples, including retina and iris scans, of arrested individuals.

3. National Crime Records Bureau's Role

• The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), responsible for overseeing the Act, is tasked with finalizing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for police officials.
• While the Act and rules do not explicitly mention DNA samples and face-matching,
• The NCRB has informed state police officials that these measures will be implemented in approximately 1,300 locations across police districts and special investigation units.

4. Establishment of Domain Committee and Technical Sub-Committee

• To ensure the successful implementation of the Act, the Union Home Ministry has formed a Domain Committee,
  • comprising representatives from state police, Central law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders.
• A technical sub-committee has also been established to develop SOPs for capturing DNA as a measurement.
• States are tasked with identifying locations for measurement collection units (MCUs), with the NCRB serving as the national-level database repository.

Transition from Old Practices

• Some police stations are still using older methods, such as:
  • recording thumb and finger impressions and photographs
  • the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS).
• NAFIS, managed by the NCRB, has been set up at around 1,300 police stations and contains fingerprint details of over one crore people, including accused and convicts.
• This database is being integrated with the Criminal Procedure Identification Act.

Safeguarding Against Misuse

• The NCRB emphasizes the importance of safeguarding against the misuse of databases, allowing access only to designated officials in real time.

Challenges and Funding

• Challenges faced during implementation include training and resource allocation, with some police departments lacking funds.
• While the Home Ministry covers the cost of hardware, states are responsible for the cost of secure internet lines and other operational expenses.

Controversial Beginnings

• The Act faced opposition when introduced in Parliament in March 2022, with critics labeling it "unconstitutional" and a violation of privacy.
• However, the government has moved forward with its implementation.

Prelims Takeaway

• National Crime Records Bureau