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National Automated Fingerprint Identification System

Why in the News?

Recently, the Union Home Minister inaugurated the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) in New Delhi.

Key Points:

About NAFIS

  • NAFIS Project is a country-wide searchable database of crime- and criminal-related fingerprints. 
  • Developed by: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
  • It would help in the quick and easy disposal of cases with the help of a centralised fingerprint database.
  • It functions as a central information repository by consolidating fingerprint data from all states and Union Territories. 
  • It enables law enforcement agencies to upload, trace, and retrieve data from the database in real time on a 24×7 basis.
  • NAFIS assigns a unique 10-digit National Fingerprint Number (NFN) to each person arrested for a crime. 
    • This unique ID will be used for the person’s lifetime, and different crimes registered under different FIRs will be linked to the same NFN.
  • It automates the collection, storage, and matching of fingerprints, along with digitizing the records of fingerprint data.