India's Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) aims to overhaul justice procedures by January 1,2027. Plan is to digitize investigations,trials by integrating police,courts,prisons,forensics,prosecution into one platform. Home Ministry official said data will be stored in MeghRaj,a secure government cloud .
Transition's underway,but National Crime Records Bureau data shows only 46% of FIRs reach courts electronically. New criminal laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Sakshya Sanhita (BSS), and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS)—took effect July 1,2024, replacing older codes. Since then, 74.66 lakh FIRs filed under BNS .
Reforms demand better infrastructure,forensics. States,Union Territories have five years to implement changes. Zero-FIRs under BNSS allow complaints regardless of jurisdiction,with 63,572 filed. The Crime and Criminal Tracking and Network Systems platform,spanning 16,000 police stations, supports FIRs in 23 languages with Bhashini App's help.
A zero-FIR can't be refused. Once filed, it's sent to right police station for action—closure or investigation. Haryana, Goa, Assam, Punjab, Chandigarh fully onboard with new system,while 23 States,including Delhi, exceed national average. But connectivity issues slow progress in some northeastern areas.
Serious offenses now require forensic exams, leading to 25 new labs in two years. Lab numbers rose from 129 in 2023 to 154 in 2025. In 2023,labs handled 8,44,589 cases,with 4,64,879 pending. By 2025,cases increased to 11,11,798,with 3,90,786 still pending. Over 700 mobile forensic units deployed to boost investigations.
Since new laws,national compliance score jumped from 46.47% in Jan 2025 to 70.06% by June 2026. Charge-sheet submission compliance within 60 days went from 51% to 67%, 90-day rate from 40% to 61%. Generated 46.5 lakh digital evidence IDs, 56.74 lakh e-summons served. As of May 31, 2026,the database holds 37.68 crore police records, including 9.9 crore FIRs and 7.64 crore chargesheets,open to police,investigative agencies .
Looking ahead,Home Ministry official pointed to challenges: improving internet in remote areas, standardizing processes across States,ensuring full interoperability among justice platforms. Training personnel to adapt crucial for ICJS success…
