Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the 26th All India Fingerprint Conference in Delhi on Friday [1].
The event aims to modernize India's internal security framework by advancing biometric identification and forensic technology. Strengthening these tools is critical for improving criminal investigations and increasing the accuracy of suspect identification across different states.
Shah said to an audience of senior police officers, forensic experts, and delegates from the National Crime Records Bureau [1]. The two-day conference focuses on the integration of fingerprint science and forensic technology into broader security operations [2].
A primary focus of the gathering is the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System, known as NAFIS [1]. Shah said that the system is not yet operating at full capacity to assist law enforcement.
"NAFIS is currently being used only about 10 per cent of its potential," Shah said [1].
The minister said that controlling crime requires the adoption of various digital tools to ensure that forensic evidence is processed efficiently [1]. By increasing the utilization of NAFIS, the government intends to create a more robust network for identifying offenders, and securing evidence in judicial proceedings [2].
Delegates at the conference are reviewing current biometric protocols and exploring new ways to integrate forensic data into real-time policing [2]. The event serves as a coordination hub for the National Crime Records Bureau to align its technical goals with the operational needs of police departments nationwide [1].
“"NAFIS is currently being used only about 10 per cent of its potential."”
The admission that NAFIS is operating at only 10 percent of its potential suggests a significant gap between the availability of advanced forensic technology and its practical application by local police. This conference signals a push to move from the procurement of technology to the actual operationalization of biometric data, which could lead to higher conviction rates and faster identification of fugitives across state lines.
