Basics of Forensic Science: Foundations and Vocabulary

This easy-level mock covers the foundational vocabulary and essential knowledge of forensic science — every key definition, founding figure, date, and core principle that NFSU MSc, FACT, and UGC-NET candidates must know before approaching application-level material. All thirty questions are pitched at the definitional level, making this the ideal starting point for students new to the subject and an effective revision tool for checking foundational knowledge.

Questions cover Locard's Exchange Principle (who, when, and its bidirectional investigative implication), the three founding figures most often tested (Orfila for forensic toxicology, Gross for criminalistics, and Landsteiner for the ABO blood group system), the history of the world's first fingerprint bureau (Calcutta 1897, Henry + Haque + Bose), Galton's 1892 statistical proof of fingerprint individuality, the Lyon Laboratory (1910), the Frye general acceptance standard (1923), chain of custody, physical evidence, trace evidence, secondary transfer, the three principal fingerprint pattern types, latent vs patent vs plastic fingerprints, forensic entomology's minimum PMI function, forensic odontology's three applications, forensic geology's soil comparison role, the AFIS candidate-list function, ACE-V, the principle of individuality, direct vs circumstantial evidence, the Innocence Project, the FBI Laboratory (1932), CFSL structure under MHA/BPR&D, and the NFSU Act 2020.

Pitched at first-year BSc and MSc Forensic Science students at NFSU, LNJN-NICFS, and affiliated universities; FACT aspirants covering the General Forensic Science paper for the first time; and UGC-NET candidates building their forensic science foundation.

Topics covered:

• Locard's Exchange Principle: formulation, Lyon 1910, bidirectionality, investigative implication
• History: Orfila (1813), Gross (1893), Galton (1892), Calcutta bureau (1897), Landsteiner (1901), FBI Lab (1932)
• Evidence: physical, trace, class vs individual, direct vs circumstantial, chain of custody, secondary transfer
• Fingerprints: three pattern types, latent vs patent vs plastic, AFIS, ACE-V
• Forensic disciplines: entomology (minPMI), odontology, geology
• Indian forensic institutions: CFSL under MHA/BPR&D, NFSU Act 2020
• Expert witness: Section 45 IEA / Section 39 BSA

Each question carries a detailed explanation citing Saferstein's Criminalistics, James and Nordby's Forensic Science, Lee and Gaensslen's Advances in Fingerprint Technology, and primary Indian legal sources. Allow 30 minutes.