Entry Level Qualification 

Graduate

Career Fields 

Mathematics & Science

For Specially Abled 

Career Entrance Exam 

CUET PG, AIIMS MSC, JAM

About Career 

Forensic scientist applies the application of science and technology to criminal and civil laws. Criminal laws are laws related to the crime that is harmful, threatening or endangering properties or lives. Murder comes under criminal law. Civil laws are laws of private rights like cheating, business cheating, etc. A forensic scientist helps the investigation bodies (mostly Police, Court, etc.) with the scientific techniques in identifying and collecting evidences from the crime scene. You must have seen in TV and Movies where Police invited forensic branch to visit the murder spot and collect all blood samples, fingerprints, hair samples, etc. They do not merely collect these evidences, but they also analyse these evidences to create a strong case against or in favour of the accused. A forensic scientist is a broad category consisting of forensic chemistry, forensic biology, forensic anthropology, forensic accounting, and many other sub-fields.

Key roles and responsibilities

As a Forensic Scientist, you might be working on the crime scene in the laboratory.

At the crime scene, you might be working to:

1. You will analyse the crime scenes to determine all possible evidence that may be collected and how can they be collected.

2. You will take a photograph of the crime scene with all possible angles.

3. If needed, you will make sketches of the crime scene.

4. You will record all observations at the crime scene, collect findings. These could be including the location of evidence, their positions, etc. Like there might be a hall filled glass in the bathroom, so you will collect this information to deduce a finding.

5. You will collect all the evidence from the crime scene like weapons, fingerprints, any bodily fluids including urine, saliva and blood.

6. Ensure you collect these evidences properly and transfer them to laboratory

7. Try to reconstruct the crime scene to create probable theories.

If you are working in the laboratory, then your role and responsibilities will be:

1. Perform relevant chemical (cocaine, heroin, opium, LSD, liquor, acid, pharma products, cannabis, metal and alloys analysis), biological (blood, semen, saliva, hair urine, vaginal fluids, facial fluids, etc. analysis), digital (sim card, optical media, etc. analysis), pathological, accounting and anthropological analysis on the evidence that has been collected from the crime scene. Also perform ballistic analysis (analysis of arms and ammunition), handwriting, rubber stamp, passports, plastic currency (credit cards) counterfeit notes, documentation, explosives, physical (cement & mortar, tyre prints, footprints, show prints, fibres, paints, etc., analysis).

2. You will work to create a possible link between the collected evidence and the victim and or accused.

3. If you are a Forensic Medical expert, then you will perform a post-mortem of the body, you will also do DNA analysis, fingerprints analysis, blood sample analysis, etc. as requested and required.

Career Entry Pathway 

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics/Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies– UG in Science – PG in Forensic Science

After Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics/Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in Science in any subjects followed by a master’s degree in Forensic Science.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics/Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies – UG in Forensic Science – PG in Forensic Science.

After Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics/Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in Forensic Science followed by a master’s degree in Forensic Science.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies – UG in Medicine – Doctorate in Forensic Science (M.D. Forensic Science)

After Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in Medicine (M.B.B.S.) followed by an M.D. degree in Forensic Science.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies – UG in Medicine – PG in Forensic Science.

After Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in Medicine (M.B.B.S.) followed by a master’s degree in Forensic Science.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies – UG in Engineering (any field) – PG in Forensic Science.

After Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in Engineering in any field followed by a master’s degree in Forensic Science.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies – UG in Pharmacy – PG in Forensic Science.

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After Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in Pharmacy followed by a master’s degree in Forensic Science.

Required Qualification & Competencies 

Undergraduate studies after school:

1. To become a forensic Scientist, you can study various subjects at the undergraduate level.

2. If you have completed your schooling with Science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics), then you can opt for Engineering in undergraduate.

3. If you have completed your schooling with Science subjects (Physics, Chemistry and Biology), then you can opt for Medicine, Dental Surgery or Pharmacy.

4. If you have completed your schooling with Science subjects (Physics, Chemistry and Biology Mathematics), then you can opt for a bachelor degree in Forensic Science.

5. You can also opt for Business Management, Arts, Social Science and Commerce at bachelor level and then move towards forensic science at postgraduate level.

Post Graduate studies:

1. As the career of Forensic Scientist needs more specialized knowledge, there are various ways to take post-graduate studies.

2. If you have completed your bachelor degree in Engineering, Medicine, Forensic Science, Science or Pharmacy, then you can opt for a Master’s degree in Forensic Science in Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Biology, Forensic Anthropology, Forensic Engineering, Forensic Medicine, etc.

3. If you are a dental graduate, you can opt for a forensic ontology course and become a Forensic Dentistry.

4. Medicine graduate can also opt for an M.D. in Forensic Medicine.

5. If you are a graduate in any course, you can opt for business management course in Finance with specialization in Forensic Accounting.

6. If you have graduated in Engineering, Mathematics or Computer Application, then also you can opt for a postgraduate degree in Digital Forensic & Information System for Digital Forensics, Cyber Security & Forensic Computing and Forensic Computing.

Compentencies Required

You should have the following occupational interests:

1. Investigative - You should have interests for Investigative Occupations. Investigative occupations involve working with ideas and quite a lot of thinking, often abstract or concep-tual thinking. These involve learning about facts and figures; involve the use of data analysis, assessment of situations, decision making and problem-solving.  

2. Realistic - You should have interests for Realistic Occupations. Realistic occupations involve more practical and hands-on activities than paperwork or office work. Realistic occupations often involve physical activities for getting things done using various tools and equipment.

3. Conventional - You should have interests for Conventional Occupations. Conventional occupations involve repetitive and routine tasks as well as fixed processes or procedures for getting things done. These occupations involve working more with data, systems, and procedures and less with ideas or creativity.

Following personality attributes are required:

1. You are always or mostly care about your actions and behaviour.

2. You are always or mostly disciplined in your action and behaviour.

3. You don't trust others easily.

4. You are always calm or generally remain calm in most situations.

5. You are always practical or in most situations.

You should have the following skills and knowledge:

1. Communication skills - You should possess excellent communication skills, as you may have to work on project teams with various departments.

2. Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, understanding the points being made by others, asking questions, etc.

3. Critical Thinking - Skills in the analysis of complex situations, using logic and reasoning to understand the situations and take appropriate actions or make interpretations and inferences.

4. Writing - Skills in communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the readers.

5. Reading Comprehension - Skills in understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

6. Law & Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, legal procedures, regulations, Government orders, etc.

You should have the following aptitudes and abilities:

1. Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

The ability to combine pieces of information from various sources, concepts, and theories to form general rules or conclusions. 

2. Inductive Reasoning -analysing various events or situations to come out with a set of rules or conclusions.

3. Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules and common logic to specific problems to produce answers that are logical and make sense. For example, understanding the reasons behind an event or a situation using general rules and common logic.

4. The flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden among other distracting materials.

Career - Job Opportunities & Profiles 

1. If you begin your career at a government forensic lab, then there are two ways:

Either you join as Laboratory Assistant, or

You join as a Senior Scientific Officer Grade (II).

2. You can begin your career in research as a Research Associate after M.Sc. or as a Doctoral Research Fellow (Junior Research Fellow and then Senior Research Fellow in India). After your Ph.D., you can get opportunities as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow.

3. If you join a hospital college, then you will start your career as a junior resident doctor and continue your M.D. studies. You can also join as a senior resident doctor and continue D.M. studies.

4. You can join a hospital as a medical officer (Forensic Medicine).

5. Most of the universities and college will hire you as a professor at the position of Junior Professor or Assistant Professor. 

6. In the Private sector, you may be hired as a finance analyst or fraud analyst at the beginning of the career.

Depending on the profile and specialization, you will have job opportunities at the following organizations:

1. Government Medical Institutes as AIIMS.

2. Government Hospitals like: SMS Hospital, King Edward Memorial College, Tata Memorial College, etc.

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3. Private Forensic Labs in India like Incognito Forensic Foundation.

4. Government forensic labs like Central Forensic Science Laboratory in New Delhi, Hyderabad, Chandigarh & Kolkata, and state forensic science laboratories like forensic science laboratory Jaipur, Mumbai, etc.

5. Forensic departments of State Government agencies like Delhi Police, Mumbai Police, etc.

6. Accounting and Law firms in India.

7. IT organizations like: Wipro, TCS, Infosys, etc.

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Work Environment

Forensic scientist work is not a desk job; they may have to travel to crime scenes at any time of the day. They may have to work in the all-weather outside to protect evidence getting destroyed. Many times, you may have to spend hours in laboratories working alone or in partnership with another scientist. You will mostly work with law enforcement departments like Police.

Specialisation Tracks In This Career

Forensic Accountant

Forensic Accountants are responsible for producing accounting evidence suitable for use in the court of law. They work to keeps auditing, accounting evidence in case of insurance claims, personal injury claims, money laundering, audits, etc.

Digital Forensic Scientist

Digital Forensic Scientists are responsible for investigating and recovering evidence from digital devices like laptops, mobile, computer, tablets, systems, drives, etc.

Forensic Anthropologist

Forensic Anthropologists use the knowledge of anatomical science (knowledge of body and body parts) to find evidence for the legal investigation. They can identify the sex, age, ancestry etc. of a deceased person, decomposed or burnt the body.

Forensic Linguist

Forensic Linguists use the knowledge of linguistics (Languages) to bring evidence in the court. They investigate the crime by understanding the law around the crime.

Forensic Biologist

Forensic Biologists use the knowledge of biology to associate the victim or the accused to a location, item, another person, etc. in the criminal investigation. DNA analysis, post-mortem analysis, etc. are used by a forensic biologist.

Forensic Psychiatrist

Forensic Physiatrists work with the court to determine whether the accused is competent enough to stand a trial or defences based on his/her mental disorders. If a person is mentally not stable and shows a sign of depression, anxiety, etc. it is their job to bring it to the court notice.

Forensic Chemist

Forensic Chemists use the knowledge of chemistry to collect evidence and bring them to the court. They identify substances that might have been used in crime scenes like poisons.

Forensic Medicine Consultant

Forensic Medicine Consultants use the knowledge of medicine and surgery to collect evidence and bring them to the notice of police or court. They find the DNA, blood samples etc. of the person through medical knowledge and also find the cause of death.

Career Growth

1. If you start the career as a fraud analyst, you can soon become Assistant Managers (Fraud) and later Consultant (Fraud) and then IT and Security head.

2. If you start as a Senior Scientist Officer (Grade II) at a government lab, you would soon be Senior Scientist officer (Grade I) and then Principal Scientific Officer and finally Director of the Laboratory.

3. If you start as a Laboratory attendant, you will become a laboratory assistant, and then some of you might become senior scientist assistant.

4. The career growth in university and college states from Assistant Professor and then Associate Professor, Professor and Professor Emeritus. Professors can also get administrative positions such as Director/Dean/Vice Chancellor, etc.

5. If you are hired as a research associate, then you will go on to become a Doctoral Research Fellow, then Post-Doctoral Research Fellow and then Scientist in Progressive Grades. 

6. If you join as a Medical Officer (Forensic Medicine), then you will go on to become Deputy Medical Superintendent and then Additional Medical Superintendent and then Medical Superintendent. You might also become director of the Hospital.

Salary Offered  

1. At the entry level, if you join as a residency doctor, you will be earning anything between Rs. 20,000 to 65,000. If you join as an associate professor, you would be earning anything between Rs. 30,000 to 1, 00,000. If you join as a Medical Officer (Forensic Medicine) in the hospital, then you would be earning anything between Rs. 50,000 to 1, 00,000 per month. If you join as a senior scientific officer (Grade II), then you will earn between Rs. 56,100 to 1, 77,500 per month. If you join as a Laboratory attendant, then you will earn around Rs. 18,000 to 56,900. In a private lab as a forensic fraud analyst, you may earn anything between Rs. 30,000 to 50,000.

2. At the junior level with a work experience of 2-5 years, you would be earning anything between Rs. 25,000 to 2, 00,000 per month.

3. At the middle level with an experience of 5-10 years, you would be earning anything between Rs. 60,000 to 3, 00,000 per month.

4. At the senior level of over ten years of work experience in government jobs, you would be earning anything between Rs. 1,00,000 to 2,50,000 and in private sector you might earn up to 5,00,000 per month.

Monthly Earnings In Indian Rupee

1. Entry level: 0 - 2 years of work experience 

2. Junior Level: From 1 to 12 years of work experience 

3. Mid-Level: From 5 to 20+ years of work experience 

4. Senior Level: From 10 to 25+ years of work experience (there could be exceptions in some high-end technical, financial, engineering, creative, management, sports, and other careers; also in the near future, people will reach these levels much faster in many careers and in some careers, these levels will have no meaning as those careers will be completely tech skill driven such as even now, there is almost no level in a Cyber Security Expert’s job)

Famous Personalities 

Information not available.

Work Activities 

As a Forensic Scientist, you would be required to do the following work activities on a regular basis:

1. Identifying objects, actions, and events - Identifying various characteristics of objects; observing and understanding actions and events; understanding changes in actions and events.

2. Communicating with co-workers - Communicating with people in writing, verbally or otherwise inside your workplace and various other people who have professional relationships with your place of work including vendors, government officials, etc. or with people at large.

3. Getting information & learning - Observing, hearing, reading, using computers, or otherwise obtaining information and learning from it.

4. Updating and using relevant knowledge - Keeping updated with the latest knowledge relevant to your fields of work and use of the relevant knowledge in getting things done.