FACT 2026 Grows Bigger: Two Brand-New Domains — Forensic Biological Sciences & Crime Scene Management — Now Part of the Exam
India's national forensic aptitude benchmark makes its most significant structural leap yet, opening certification pathways for biology graduates, biotechnologists, and crime scene investigators for the very first time.
The National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Delhi Campus — the nodal institute for forensic science education and training in India — has officially released the FACT 2026 Information Brochure, and it carries a landmark announcement: two entirely new subject domains, Forensic Biological Sciences and Crime Scene Management, have been formally inducted into the Forensic Aptitude and Calibre Test, raising the number of specialised examination subjects from five to seven.
For the Indian forensic science community, this expansion is arguably the biggest structural change to FACT since the test was first introduced in 2018. It reflects a growing recognition by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that India's forensic talent pool must be broadened — and certified at a national level — to keep pace with the surge in forensic caseloads expected under new legislative reforms.
The timing is no accident. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) — which now mandates forensic investigation for serious offences punishable with seven or more years — is expected to sharply increase the volume of forensic examinations routed through central and state Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs) across India. Biological evidence (DNA, serology, entomology, anthropology) and crime scene documentation are not peripheral to this process — they are where investigations begin.
By bringing these disciplines into the FACT certification framework, the MHA signals that India's forensic talent pipeline must be strengthened not just in the lab, but at the scene and in the biology wing. FACT qualification is already being used by FSLs as a mandatory recruiting criterion, and that trend is only set to deepen.
"Biological evidence and crime scene integrity are not the end of forensic science — they are its very foundation. FACT 2026 finally certifies both."
Section B of FACT 2026 now comprises seven specialised subjects. Candidates must choose and attempt any one:
🔬 Forensic Biological Sciences
This domain covers the scientific analysis of biological evidence — from DNA profiling and serology to forensic entomology, forensic botany, forensic odontology, microbiology, physical anthropology, and zoology. Biological trace evidence is at the centre of most serious crime investigations, linking suspects to scenes, identifying victims, and establishing timelines.
The addition of this domain to FACT formally recognises biology-background graduates as eligible candidates for national forensic certification — a community that has long contributed to FSL work without a standardised benchmark.
Eligible Qualifying Degrees (FACT & FACT Plus):
| Qualifying Degree | Subject Required at Graduate Level |
|---|---|
| M.Sc. in Botany / Zoology / Microbiology | None specified |
| M.Sc. in Biotechnology / Biochemistry | Botany or Zoology |
| M.Sc. in Forensic Odontology | Botany or Zoology |
| B.Tech. / BE in Biotechnology | Not applicable |
| M.Sc. in Physical Anthropology | Botany or Zoology |
| M.Sc. in Forensic Science / B.Sc.–M.Sc. Forensic Science (Integrated) | Botany, Zoology, or Biology |
Additional Qualification for FACT Plus (must also clear one of the following):
| GATE | UGC NET | CSIR UGC NET |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences / Biotechnology | Forensic Science / Anthropology | Life Sciences / Biotechnology / Biochemistry |
🏛️ Crime Scene Management
Crime Scene Management as a FACT domain is a formal recognition of something the forensic community has always known: the quality of evidence processed in a laboratory is entirely dependent on how the crime scene was handled before the exhibit ever reached the lab. This domain covers scene documentation, evidence search and recovery, photography and sketching, packaging and labelling, chain of custody procedures, scene reconstruction, and multidisciplinary coordination between investigative and forensic teams.
This is a landmark inclusion for one important reason: it is the only domain in FACT 2026 that is open to undergraduate-level (B.Sc.) Forensic Science degree holders. Every other Section B domain requires a postgraduate degree. This makes Crime Scene Management a direct pathway for B.Sc. graduates to earn national forensic certification without waiting for a master's degree.
Eligible Qualifying Degrees (FACT & FACT Plus):
| Qualifying Degree | Subject Required at Graduate Level |
|---|---|
| B.Sc. in Forensic Science | Physics or Mathematics |
| B.Sc.–M.Sc. Forensic Science (Integrated) | Physics or Mathematics |
| B.Sc.–M.Sc. Criminology & Forensic Science (Integrated) | Physics or Mathematics |
| M.Sc. in Forensic Science | Physics or Mathematics |
Additional Qualification for FACT Plus (must also clear):
| UGC NET |
|---|
| Forensic Science (No GATE or CSIR route listed for this domain) |
FACT 2026 — Full Structure at a Glance
- Format: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) only — no descriptive answers
- Total Questions: 120 (all mandatory)
- Section A: 50 questions — General Forensic Aptitude (compulsory for ALL candidates)
- Section B: 70 questions — Choose and attempt ANY ONE of the 7 specialised domains
- Total Marks: 120 (1 mark per question)
- Negative Marking: None
- Qualifying Marks: 50% in each section separately + 60% overall (5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwD)
- Duration: 2 hours per test
- FACT: 30 May 2026 · Forenoon · 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- FACT Plus: 30 May 2026 · Afternoon · 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- Medium: English only
- Results declared on: www.nfsu.ac.in
Who Can Apply
- Must be an Indian National
- Must possess the qualifying degree specified for the chosen domain (or be in final semester — provisional admission)
- FACT Plus additionally requires clearing UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, GATE, or GPAT in the relevant subject
- No upper age limit for either FACT or FACT Plus
- A candidate may appear any number of times
- A candidate may appear for FACT, FACT Plus, or both (separate application forms required)
- FACT certificate issued only after full eligibility criteria are confirmed
Applications open on 7 April 2026 and close on 10 May 2026. Apply online at www.nfsu.ac.in. Fees are non-refundable and no application can be submitted after the last date.
| Candidate Category | Gender | FACT Fee | FACT Plus Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (GEN) | Male | ₹1,500/- | ₹1,500/- |
| General (GEN) | Female | ₹750/- | ₹750/- |
| OBC-NC / SC / ST / PwD | Any | ₹750/- | ₹750/- |
* Fee excludes applicable GST. Payment via Debit/Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI only. Cash, Demand Draft, and Money Orders are not accepted.
Agartala
Bhopal
Chennai
Delhi
Gandhinagar
Guwahati
Mumbai
Nagpur
Allotted centre is final — no change requests will be entertained. No TA/DA will be provided. Admit card will be available for download on www.nfsu.ac.in only.
The addition of Forensic Biological Sciences and Crime Scene Management to FACT 2026 is not a minor administrative update — it is a substantive shift in how India thinks about forensic certification. For years, microbiology graduates, zoologists, physical anthropologists, and forensic odontologists contributed to FSL work without a formal national benchmark. B.Sc. forensic graduates managing crime scenes had no FACT pathway at all. Both gaps are now closed.
If you fall within the newly eligible categories, this is the year to register. Prepare your qualifying documents, check your domain eligibility against the official tables, and apply well before the 10 May deadline. The FACT certificate is increasingly the difference between a shortlisted and a rejected application at India's FSLs.
✦ Apply at www.nfsu.ac.in · Helpdesk: facthelpdesk@nfsu.ac.in ✦
Sources & References
- National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU). FACT and FACT Plus Information Brochure 2026. NFSU Delhi Campus (LNJN NICFS), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Official document. https://www.nfsu.ac.in
- Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) — Forensic Investigation Mandate. https://www.mha.gov.in
- National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). Central OBC List for Fee Concession Verification. https://www.ncbc.nic.in
- Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Foreign Degree Equivalence for Candidates with International Qualifications. https://www.aiuweb.org
- FACT 2026 Helpdesk: facthelpdesk@nfsu.ac.in
© Budding Forensic Expert · Content compiled from official NFSU FACT 2026 brochure · For informational & academic purposes only · Always verify at www.nfsu.ac.in
