Criminal justice system's digital push aims for a full roll-out by next year

📌 Summary:

• From January 1, 2027, procedures for all investigations and trials under the new criminal laws will be recorded digitally, a senior Home Ministry official said on June 30, 2026
• Nationwide rollout of the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) is expected to be completed soon
• ICJS integrates police, courts, prisons, forensics and prosecution on a single platform
• Emphasis is on an end-to-end digital workflow across the criminal justice chain
• The move operationalises the digital-evidence and time-bound provisions of the new criminal laws (BNS, BNSS, BSA)

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 Governance — e-governance, criminal justice reform, digitisation of the justice delivery system, and implementation of the new criminal laws.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• ICJS = Interoperable Criminal Justice System; links police, courts, prisons, forensics and prosecution
• Digital recording of investigations/trials mandatory from January 1, 2027
• The three new criminal laws: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)

🔑 Key Term: Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) — a national platform enabling seamless data transfer between the pillars of the criminal justice system (police, courts, prisons, forensics, prosecution).