What is the scope for Forensic Science in India?

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Updated on Feb 5, 2025 15:27 IST

Forensic Science professionals play a crucial role in crime investigations by collecting, analyzing, and presenting evidence to law enforcement agencies. If this field intrigues you and you find it interesting, think about pursuing further studies in Forensic Science to make a professional career in this field.

If you are someone who is interested in making an intriguing career path after 12th Science, consider Forensic Science. This field fills in the gap between science and criminal investigations, applying principles from physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, psychology, and even social sciences to decode extremely difficult crimes. Forensic experts play an important role in various investigations to provide critical evidence that helps bring criminals to justice. Those who are interested in pursuing criminology courses and forensic science courses should go through this article.

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Educational Courses and Duration

Pursuing a career in Forensic Science needs some kind of certification and degree. These courses create the foundation for understanding the nuances of the field of forensic science. In India, quite a few numbers of colleges offer various courses on Forensic Science. It is always up to an individual to select a course according to their level of interest.

Degree

Course Name (Duration)

Undergraduate

B.Sc in Forensic Science (3 years)

Postgraduate

1. M.Sc in Forensic Science (2 years)

2. PGD in Forensic Science (1 year)

Doctoral

1. M.Phil in Forensic Science (3 years)

2. PhD in Forensic Science (3 years)

Course Fee Structure

Although the total fee structure for a BSc in Forensic Science varies from college to college, an average fee starts at Rs 30,000 going up to Rs 2 lakh.

Preferred Skillset

Along with an educational background in Science, there are certain skills needed to prosper in a career in the field of Forensic Science.

High observation: A keen eye for detail
Analytical and logical Thinking
Mathematical reasoning
Research skills: Well-read about the latest techniques in the world

Career Prospects

Compared to growth in crimes in India, there is huge gap for efficient forensic experts. Due to this gap, there is a high demand for Forensic Experts and the career prospects are high currently. Lack of awareness about the course is another reason for the demand of forensic experts high in the market.

Most of the Forensic Science candidates are hired by government agencies such as Central Bureau of Investigation or Information Bureau. Many legal firms and private investigators also hire Forensic Experts to strengthen their investigations and cases.

Teaching is also a lucrative option for Forensic Science experts. Teaching about this specific field in colleges needs a lot of in-depth study of the subject.

There is a lot of demand for highly qualified and trained Forensic Science experts in India. As very less number of students opt for this particular field.

Forensic Science Jobs

The students of Forensic Science can join in as any of the following titles according to their field of expertise:

Forensic engineers
Legal counsellors
Forensic expert
Forensic scientist
Crime scene investigator
Teacher/Professor
Crime reporter
Forensic engineer
Crime laboratory analyst
Forensic psychiatrist
Forensic serologist

Salary Package Offered

The salary options for a forensic science expert depend a lot on the organisation. In the government sector, the salary structure is fixed and based on the pay scale, whereas in the private sector, it depends on the organisation. On average it can be quoted that a fresh forensic science expert can start anywhere between Rs 3-4 lakh per annum and after the experience, it can increase to Rs 6-10 lakh per annum.

Top Recruiting Companies

Mentioned below are some of the companies where jobs for forensic science experts are available:

Central Bureau of Investigation
Intelligence Bureau
Police department
Forensic laboratories
Hospitals
Legal firms
Universities
Defence/army
Private detectives
Banks/Insurance firms

To sum up, Forensic Science is a unique and intriguing field, which if pursued in the right direction can shape up a good career path for a student both financially and professionally. In India, it currently shows a lot of potential.

About the Author

Sreetama Datta Roy

Manager Content

Sreetama has over a decade of editorial experience in the higher education beat. A wanderlust by passion, she is also an avid reader and a music lover. Among friends, she is popular for her sense of humour.