From Bloodstains to Odonatology: The Evolution of Forensic Science in India

Forensic science has revolutionized the criminal justice system by bringing scientific precision in the analysis of evidence. The field in India has developed primitive methods of bloodstain examination and fingerprinting to high-tech methods such as DNA profiling, forensic dentistry, and digital forensics. This paper has critically discussed the history of forensic science in India, technological developments, legal and institutional issues that shaped forensic science in India. The focus is especially on the new role of forensic odontology in human identification. The paper states that, although India has achieved significant gains, structural drawbacks, including infrastructural weaknesses, absence of standardization and insufficient legal control still hinder full potential of forensic science. It then ends with a recommendation of reforms to enhance the incorporation of science into the criminal justice system.