In a move to bolster the forensic analysis and legal admissibility of digital evidence, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has officially notified six laboratories as authorized examiners of electronic evidence under Section 79A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. These labs span five states and cover computer, mobile, and drone forensics, enabling courts to receive expert digital evidence opinions critical to modern litigation.
- Six labs authorized under Section 79A to handle digital forensics across five states
- Recognizes evolving challenges in electronic evidence with AI and deepfakes
- Supreme Court supports certified digital evidence with expert validations
What happened
On July 9, 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) officially designated six laboratories as authorized examiners of electronic evidence under the Information Technology Act, 2000’s Section 79A. Five of these laboratories are tasked with computer and mobile device forensics, while one lab under the Border Security Force in Delhi specializes in drone forensics. This designation enables these labs to provide professional opinions on electronic evidence to courts, which is essential for the evidence’s legal acceptance.
The move addresses the growing need for certified analysis of digital proof amid increasing reliance on electronic records in legal cases. It complements the requirements set by the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, which mandates a dual certification process for digital evidence authenticity, such as WhatsApp chats and CCTV footage, to be admissible in courts.
Why it matters
Electronic evidence, unlike traditional physical evidence, is subject to continuous alteration and manipulation, especially with the rise of AI and deepfake technologies that can threaten the reliability of digital records. The Supreme Court of India has acknowledged these complexities and emphasized the importance of electronic fingerprinting—using hash values—to preserve the integrity of digital artifacts once admitted as evidence.
However, only a limited number of government-approved examiners currently exist, and states like Tamil Nadu have no notified experts despite their capability and infrastructure, which courts have flagged as a potential barrier to justice. By notifying new examiners, MeitY improves access to vetted experts and aims to mitigate delays or challenges in admitting digital evidence in ongoing and future legal matters.
What to watch next
The implementation and operationalization of these six newly designated labs will be closely monitored to assess their effectiveness in expediting access to trustworthy digital forensics expertise across Indian courts. The balance between government notifications and courts’ ability to accept evidence from privately qualified experts, as observed in the Supreme Court ruling, will continue to shape the evidentiary landscape.
Further judicial and legislative guidance may emerge to clarify the exact scope of authorized examiners and to streamline the certification process for electronic evidence to ensure consistent application nationwide. This is critical as digital evidence becomes increasingly prominent in criminal and civil litigations throughout India.