Fingerprint Sciences: History and Ridge Biology Basics

UGC-NET Forensic Science Unit VIII drill on the history of fingerprinting and the biology of friction ridge skin. Covers the foundational contributions of William Herschel (1858, Bengal), Henry Faulds (1880, Nature), Francis Galton (1892, Finger Prints), and Edward Henry (1897, Henry Classification System), along with the three fundamental principles of fingerprint science: permanence, individuality, and classifiability. The Indian Fingerprint Bureau at Calcutta (Kolkata), established in 1897 as the world's first fingerprint bureau, is examined together with the roles of Azizul Haque and Hem Chandra Bose in developing the classification system under Edward Henry IPS. Ridge biology covers the dermal and epidermal layers of friction ridge skin, eccrine sweat gland structure, and the volar pad regression model of ridge formation between weeks 10 and 16 in utero.

The Indian regulatory and institutional context addresses the Identification of Prisoners Act 1920, which governs lawful fingerprint collection in India, and Section 39 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023 (formerly Section 45 of the Indian Evidence Act 1872) on expert opinion admissibility. Current institutional structure covers the NCRB Central Fingerprint Bureau (CFPB) as the apex national body and the State Fingerprint Bureaux (SFPBs) operating under each State police organisation. The Bertillon anthropometric system and its replacement by the Henry fingerprint system following the West-Will West case context are also tested. Primary references include Sharma B.R. (Forensic Science in Criminal Investigation and Trials), Saferstein (Criminalistics, 12th ed.), and Champod et al. (Fingerprints and Other Ridge Skin Impressions).

Topics covered:

• Herschel 1858 and Faulds 1880: pre-Galton fingerprint pioneers
• Galton 1892: statistical proof of uniqueness and permanence
• Henry Classification System 1897 and FPB Kolkata
• Azizul Haque and Hem Chandra Bose: Indian co-developers
• Three fundamental principles: permanence, individuality, classifiability
• Friction ridge biology: eccrine glands, dermal and epidermal layers
• Ridge formation in utero (weeks 10-16) and volar pad model
• Identification of Prisoners Act 1920; NCRB CFPB and State FPBs

Designed for first-pass UGC-NET Forensic Science Paper II preparation, NFSU MSc Forensic Science entrance revision, and aspirants for State forensic laboratory posts. Allow 30 minutes.