Varanasi to get National Forensic Sciences University off-campus; UP Cabinet approves 50 acres of land
In a significant development for forensic education and criminal justice infrastructure in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the state cabinet has approved the establishment of an off-campus (extended campus) of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Varanasi. The decision clears the allotment of about 50 acres of land in Raja Talab tehsil, which will be provided free of cost on a 99-year lease to the university.
The land, currently under the animal husbandry department, will be formally transferred to facilitate the setting up of the NFSU campus. Officials said the move aligns with the state government’s focus on strengthening forensic capacity, scientific investigation, and specialised higher education in Uttar Pradesh.
Cabinet decision and location
The proposal was cleared by the Uttar Pradesh cabinet headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The campus will come up in Raja Talab, an area on the outskirts of Varanasi, offering connectivity to the city as well as surrounding districts in eastern UP.
According to officials familiar with the decision, the long-term lease arrangement is intended to ensure institutional stability and allow the university to develop permanent academic, residential and laboratory infrastructure over multiple phases.
Part of national forensic expansion
The Varanasi off-campus is part of the Centre’s broader push to expand forensic education and infrastructure under the National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES). The scheme, approved by the Union Cabinet in June 2024, provides for the setting up of new NFSU off-campuses and Central Forensic Science Laboratories across the country to address the growing demand for trained forensic professionals.
NFSU functions as India’s premier institution for forensic science and allied disciplines. It was originally established as Gujarat Forensic Sciences University and later accorded the status of a national university. Its mandate includes advanced education, research, and training in forensic science, cyber forensics, digital investigation, forensic psychology, criminology and related fields.
Academic and operational scope
While detailed academic plans for the Varanasi campus are yet to be officially notified, officials indicated that the off-campus is expected to offer undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma programmes in forensic science and emerging areas such as cybercrime investigation and digital forensics. Modern laboratories, crime-scene simulation facilities and specialised training centres are also expected to be part of the long-term plan.
The presence of an NFSU campus in Varanasi is likely to benefit not only students from eastern Uttar Pradesh but also aspirants from neighbouring states such as Bihar, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh, reducing their dependence on distant forensic institutions.
Boost to policing and justice delivery
Experts say the campus could play a key role in strengthening scientific investigation and evidence-based policing in the region. With new criminal laws placing greater emphasis on forensic evidence, proximity to a national-level forensic university is expected to help state police, prosecution agencies and courts through better-trained manpower and research support.
Officials added that the campus could also serve as a training hub for police officers, investigators and judicial officers, besides supporting research and consultancy in forensic and cyber domains.
Timeline and next steps
The cabinet approval clears the critical hurdle of land allocation. The next steps will include completion of the land-transfer process, preparation of a master plan, and coordination with the Centre and NFSU authorities on funding, infrastructure development and faculty recruitment. A phased rollout is expected, with academic activities likely to begin once basic facilities are in place, even as permanent construction progresses.
Significance for Varanasi
The proposed NFSU off-campus adds to Varanasi’s growing profile as an education and research hub, alongside existing institutions in engineering, medicine and traditional studies. State officials said the project is expected to generate employment during construction and operations, while also contributing to the city’s knowledge-based economy.
With the cabinet’s clearance now in place, Varanasi is set to become one of the key centres for forensic science education in northern India, reinforcing both academic capacity and the criminal justice ecosystem in the region.
