The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is in the final stage of clearing the DNA Profiling Bill that seeks to regulate the use of DNA analysis of body substances profiles and establishing a DNA Profiling Board to lay down standards for laboratories.

Sources in the Department said, the final version of the bill was approved by the Legal Division of the Ministry of Law and Justice. The bill was prepared by the drafting section of the same ministry. “The draft bill including the financial implications are under the consideration of the department and other competent authorities as the DBT wants to push it in the next Session of the Parliament,” sources said.

DNA Profiling Bill was first prepared by the DBT in consultation with Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad. The objectives of this bill are to regulate the use of DNA analysis of body substance profiles, making provision for establishment of DNA Profiling Board to lay down standards for laboratories, collection of body substances, establishing a national and state-level DNA banks and creation of policies for use and access to information from data bank.

The Draft Bill was circulated to the concerned ministries and departments and the document was revised based on the comments received. The draft Bill had also been sent to the Chief Secretaries of all the States for feedback, sources added.

Though the bill primarily aims to legalise the collection of DNA and analysis of samples for forensic purposes, it will have also bearing on health sector, especially in research activities associated with DNA samples.

At present, India does not have a national law that empowers the government to collect and store DNA profiles of convicts, but DNA collection and testing and is taking place in many states. Private labs are also in operation, mainly for the purpose of genetic testing, apart from the lab in the public sector that helps forensic testing. The current statutes for DNA collection in India are not sufficient as the neglect to lay out precise procedures for collection, processing, storage, and dissemination of DNA samples.