Abhigyan App: NCRB’s Real-Time Fingerprint Identification System for Smart Policing

Subject: GS 03: Security 

Context: Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently launched the Abhigyan app to enable real-time fingerprint-based identification of suspects using mobile devices.

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About Abhigyan App

• Abhigyan is a mobile application developed by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) that enables field-level biometric verification and instant access to criminal records.
• Launch: The application was launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the 26th All India Fingerprint Conference 2026 as a mobile extension of the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS).
  • NAFIS is a centralized, country-wide digital repository of criminal fingerprints managed by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)
• Legal Basis: The collection and verification of biometric data through Abhigyan are supported by the provisions of the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022.
• Key Features
  • Real-Time Biometric Identification: Police personnel can scan a suspect’s fingerprint using portable devices and match it against a national database of over 1.3 crore records within approximately 35 seconds.
  • Access to Centralised Criminal Database: The app provides direct access to NAFIS records, including information related to accused persons, convicts, prison inmates, narcotics offenders, and human trafficking suspects.
  • Secure Authentication Framework: Abhigyan uses a secure architecture with two-factor authentication to ensure that only authorized officials can access sensitive criminal databases.
• Significance
  • Faster and Technology-Driven Investigations: The application replaces time-consuming manual verification processes with rapid biometric identification, helping police track fugitives and repeat offenders more efficiently.
  • Enhanced Officer Safety: Instant access to criminal histories alerts field personnel about potentially dangerous individuals during routine checks and investigations.
  • Improved Inter-Agency Coordination: The platform connects police forces and investigative agencies across India through a unified digital ecosystem, enabling seamless information sharing and stronger case management.

About 26th All India Fingerprint Conference 2026

• All India Fingerprint Conference serves as a national platform bringing together forensic experts, police officials, and security agencies to enhance scientific investigation and internal security capabilities.
• Organising Authority: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs at the NCRB Headquarters, Mahipalpur, New Delhi.
• Key Digital Launches
  • NCRB-Abhigyan App: A mobile application enabling field officers to instantly verify fingerprints against the national NAFIS database.
  • CrPI (Criminal Procedure Identification System): A unified platform for collecting and managing multimodal biometric data, including fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans, and DNA records.
  • e-Forensics 2.0: A digital workflow system designed to connect investigative agencies with forensic laboratories and ensure secure evidence tracking.
  • e-Prosecution 2.0: A platform that facilitates real-time coordination among police, prosecutors, and courts to expedite criminal trials.

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