Police to get app for instant scan of fingerprints, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched Abhigyan, a new mobile application for police and investigating agencies.
• The app enables instant fingerprint-based verification of criminal records using portable scanners.
• It connects to a national database containing over 1.3 crore (13 million) records of suspects and convicts.
• Developed by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Abhigyan aims to enhance ground-level policing efficiency.
• The application facilitates real-time identification of individuals in the field, eliminating the need to transport them to police stations for verification.

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Detailed Insights:

• Abhigyan functions as a portable version of the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), providing direct access to its vast database.
• The app is secured with two-step authentication to ensure high levels of data security for sensitive criminal information.
• Its introduction is part of the government's broader efforts to modernize India's criminal justice system through technology.
• NAFIS assigns a unique 10-digit National Fingerprint Number (NFN) to each arrested person, linking all their criminal records under one identifier.
• This technological integration aims to make law enforcement faster, smarter, and more effective, supporting the goal of ensuring justice within three years of an FIR being registered.
• The app's functionality allows police personnel to quickly identify individuals during routine checks, enhancing safety and operational effectiveness.
• Abhigyan complements existing digital initiatives like the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), which integrates police stations nationwide.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Abhigyan: A mobile application launched for instant, on-the-spot fingerprint verification of criminal records by police.
• National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS): A centralized, web-based database of fingerprints of criminals and arrested persons across India.
• National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB): The Indian government agency responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data, and implementing national policing technology projects.
• Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS): A nationwide e-governance project connecting all police stations to create a comprehensive database of crime and criminals.