Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya

Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya is a central university in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, named after its founder Sir Hari Singh Gour, the jurist and educationist who endowed his personal fortune to establish what was originally the University of Saugor in 1946. It was made a central university by Act of Parliament in 2009.

The university''s Department of Criminology and Forensic Science, set up in 1959, is among the oldest of its kind in India and a quiet workhorse for the discipline. Generations of forensic scientists, faculty members, and central laboratory examiners have trained here, and the department''s syllabi have influenced curricula across many state universities.

Why it matters for students: For students who want a strong theoretical grounding in classical forensic science, instrumental analysis, questioned documents, forensic biology, fingerprints, and ballistics, combined with the cost and pace of life of a smaller university town, Sagar remains a serious option. Research output and PhD throughput are steady, and faculty maintain ties with central and state forensic labs across central India.

At a glance:

• Type: Central university (since 2009)
• Established: 1946, as the University of Saugor
• Department founded: Criminology and Forensic Science, 1959
• Location: Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
• Programmes in this department: B.Sc. Forensic Science, M.Sc. Forensic Science, M.Phil., Ph.D.
• Accreditation: NAAC accredited

The campus is sprawling and traditional, with its own residential and library infrastructure. For students who want depth in fundamentals and the patience that comes with a long-running department, this is one of the institutional homes of forensic science in India.