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Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022 Replaces 1920 Colonial Law, Allows Iris, DNA, Voice Sample Collection

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
30 May 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022
Bodies:Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University (DBRANLU)International Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS)
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022, replaces the colonial Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920, modernizing India's forensic evidence collection framework.

2.The new law authorizes the collection of advanced biometrics like iris/retina scans, DNA, voice samples, and handwriting, significantly broadening the scope of criminal investigations.

3.The reform, discussed at the International Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS-2026) conference, highlights the need for national forensic standardization and digital infrastructure while ensuring constitutional safeguards.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

A landmark legislative shift has modernized India's century-old forensic evidence framework. The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022, replaces the colonial-era Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920, expanding the scope of biometric and biological data collection for criminal investigations, aligning with global scientific standards.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Replaced Colonial LawIdentification of Prisoners Act, 1920
New LegislationCriminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022
Key New Evidence TypesIris/retina scans, DNA samples, voice recordings, handwriting
International Conference24th Triennial Meeting of IAFS (IAFS-2026), Sofia, Bulgaria

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Replaced Colonial Law: Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920
  • ›New Legislation: Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022
  • ›Target this Data: The Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920, was replaced by the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: The Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal ministry for this legislation.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: The new Act authorizes collection of iris/retina scans, DNA, voice samples, and handwriting.

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022, falls primarily under the administrative purview of which Union Ministry?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022:

1. It repealed the colonial-era Indian Evidence Act of 1872.

2. It allows for the collection of voice samples and handwriting specimens as 'measurements'.

3. The law was discussed at the International Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS) conference in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

Which colonial-era legislation was specifically replaced by the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022, according to the news article?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is a primary objective of replacing the Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920, with the new 2022 legislation, as highlighted in the article?

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