Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday stressed the importance of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for turning data into intelligence and called for using the information to study crime patterns, identifying repeat offenders and international criminals. He said active use of technology across the entire chain of investigation, prosecution and conviction should be ensured.
Speaking at the inauguration of the All India Fingerprint Conference-2026 organised by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) here, Shah stressed that not only should the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) be used for identifying criminals, but the database must be enriched by adding fingerprints collected from crime scenes.
"There are numerous such cases where NAFIS has been of great help in simplifying even the most complex cases. But I still believe that NAFIS is being utilised only 10 per cent of the time.“We need teams in all states to use AI and ML to study crime pattern and identify repeat offenders. We also need profiling and steps to prevent criminals from using jurisdictional gaps between different states,” he added.
He said our system needs to think hard to fix responsibility in cases of attempts to disturb security.The Union Minister also stressed the need to counter cybercrime, encourage third party audits, and a strong check on misuse of authority.
"The NAFIS should not be used just for finding criminals, it can succeed only when you enrich the NAFIS data through fingerprints obtained from every crime scene," the home minister said.It is a two-way system that is very useful in proving the criminal, but the crime can be proven only when data is generated, Shah said.
"When it comes to the criminal justice system, our country is going through a phase of transformation. In the old days, the police station was considered a tool to maintain law and order. If there was a dispute anywhere, the station house officer would resolve the matter; otherwise, it would go to court, and cases would remain pending for years on end," he said.
Union Minister Shah said, “Today, as far as the criminal justice system is concerned, our country is going through a transformation phase. There was a time when the police station and law and order were considered the main tools for maintaining peace. Whenever there was a dispute, the station in-charge would immediately resolve it. If not, a case would be filed, and matters would remain pending for year.”He also highlighted features of the new criminal laws that have replaced the archaic provisions.
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