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The National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) is soon to open a new campus in Khordha, Odisha, as confirmed by a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), official sources said on Wednesday.
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This development is in accordance with the National Forensic Sciences University Act, of 2020.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (4) of section 4 of the National Forensic Sciences University Act, 2020 (32 of 2020), the Central Government hereby notifies that the campuses established at Nagpur (Maharashtra), Raipur (Chhattisgarh), and Khordha (Odisha) shall include as the campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University,” the notification issued yesterday by the Ministry of Home Affairs (Women Safety Division), Government of India in this regard mentioned.
Irasis Acharya, BJP MLA from Bhatli, expressed his heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, for their support in making this new campus in Odisha a reality.
The Government of India has announced plans to establish the NFSU campus in Khordha, marking a significant development for the State's educational infrastructure. After completion, the new campus will provide a substantial boost to the region, enhancing educational opportunities and fostering advanced scientific research capabilities in Odisha.
Academic programmes of NFSU
NFSU offers specialised courses across forensic chemistry, digital forensics, and investigative psychology, with curricula emphasising hands-on crime scene analysis techniques like fingerprint recovery and digital evidence authentication. The university operates Centres of Excellence in DNA profiling, cybersecurity, and forensic psychology - facilities that train students in advanced methodologies like fluorescence spectroscopy and behavioural crime pattern analysis. Interdisciplinary programs bridge forensic science with pharmaceutical research and business intelligence, reflecting the institution's holistic approach to security challenges.
Challenges and future directions
Despite processing over 300,000 annual casework analyses, India's forensic system faces 15% evidence contamination rates and 318 documented wrongful convictions due to procedural errors. NFSU's 2025-2030 roadmap prioritises national forensic infrastructure standardisation, with plans to deploy mobile forensic labs across 750 districts and implement mandatory certification programs for evidence technicians. The university advocates for mandatory forensic training modules in police academies and the adoption of blockchain technology for chain-of-custody documentation.
NFSU: An introduction
The National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) stands as the world's first and only university exclusively dedicated to forensic science, cybersecurity, and allied disciplines. Designated an Institution of National Importance under India's Ministry of Home Affairs, it operates 10 campuses globally, including nine in India and Africa's first forensic university in Uganda. Established in 2020 to address critical shortages in forensic expertise, NFSU plays a pivotal role in modernizing criminal justice systems through its educational programs, applied research, and strategic collaborations with law enforcement agencies.
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Research contributions
NFSU's 2025 research initiatives include studies on europium-doped zinc oxide for electron emission analysis and voice biometric authentication systems. The institution partners with 4,750+ tech startups through SAMRIDHI scheme collaborations, developing portable DNA analysis kits and AI-based evidence correlation systems. Recent publications demonstrate advancements in luminescence spectroscopy applications for toxicology reports and statistical models for evidence reliability assessment.
