16,March 2024
Do you know fingerprints are a unique feature of humans? The patterns that we have on our hands do not match with any human in this world and therefore these are used for biometric identification. Even you will be amazed to know that two completely identical twins do not have the same set of fingerprints. If this mystery of different fingerprints fascinates you then PG Diploma in fingerprint science is a course that you should opt for. This course gives you a detailed insight into the science behind fingerprints and how to examine them. In this blog, we have given the complete details on what is PGD in fingerprint science, admission procedure, scope, career options, etc.
What is a PG Diploma in Fingerprint Science?
Fingerprints have been used for the identification of people for ages. It plays an important role in crime investigation cases as it helps the police department to identify the offender based on fingerprints they got as evidence from the crime scene. PGD in fingerprint science is a one-year course that is divided into two semesters. During the course, candidates will be taught the art of lifting, analyzing, and examining fingerprints. This course is designed in such a manner that it aims at your overall development as an investigator and not only on the theory part.
Key Highlights of PG Diploma in Fingerprint Science:
To give you a better understanding of this course here we have mentioned the important highlights related to it:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the course | PG Diploma in Fingerprint Science |
| Type | Postgraduate Diploma |
| Duration | 1 year |
| Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor’s degree in Science |
| Admission process | Entrance Exam/ Merit |
| Entrance Exam | PGCET |
| Average Fees | Rs. 1 Lakh |
| Average Salary | Rs.8 Lakhs |
| Job Profiles | Fingerprint Analyst, Fingerprint Technician, Fingerprint Expert. |
| Top Recruiters | Intelligence Bureau, Central Bureau of Investigation, Forensic Laboratory, Income Tax Department, Banks, Crime Branch. |
PG Diploma in Fingerprint Science Admission Process:
The admission process for the PG Diploma in fingerprint science varies from college to college. Therefore it is advisable for the candidates they check the admission procedure of the college they wish to take admission to. To get admission to the PGD fingerprint science course, you need to follow the mentioned procedure. Candidates will be offered admission to this course based on the entrance exam marks and merit list basis. The merit list is prepared by the colleges on the basis of the graduation marks of the candidates. You will be required to fulfill the basic eligibility conditions to get admission to this course.
Eligibility Criteria:
In order to get admission to the PG Diploma fingerprint science course candidates are required to fulfill the given eligibility criteria. If a candidate fails to comply with this criterion then he will not be able to get admission to their desired college. Here we have mentioned the necessary eligibility criteria for the same:
- Candidates need to pass class 10th and 12th in the science stream with at least 50 percent marks from a recognized board.
- Candidates must have passed graduation in forensic or equivalent stream with a minimum of 50 percent marks from a recognized university.
Entrance Exams:
Most of the institutes offer admission to this course on the basis of a merit list. But there are a few as well who provide admission on the basis of marks scored by the candidates in the entrance exam. The merit list for this course is released by each participating institute individually. Candidates can appear for below mentioned entrance exams to get admission to the desired course:
- PGCET: It is a common test conducted for admission into postgraduate diploma courses.
PG Diploma in Fingerprint Science Syllabus:
Since fingerprint science is one of the specializations of forensic science courses, its syllabus is also different from other branches. This syllabus may vary for different colleges offering PGD courses. Here we have given the detailed syllabus for the same in the table below:
| Semesters | Subjects |
| Semester-1 | Basics of Crime, Evidence and Law |
| Basics of fingerprint sciences and Conventional methods of fingerprint techniques | |
| Introduction to Forensic Science and Fingerprint Analysis | |
| Fingerprint Classification and Identification | |
| Techniques and Procedures in Fingerprint Analysis | |
| Laboratory Course-I | |
| Minor Project/ Field Visit/ Crime Scene Visit | |
| Semester-2 | Advanced fingerprinting techniques |
| Contemporary of fingerprints and other biometrics | |
| Crime Scene Investigation and Evidence Collection | |
| Forensic Photography and Documentation | |
| Courtroom Procedures and Expert Witness Testimony | |
| Ethics and Professionalism in Forensic Science | |
| Laboratory Course-II | |
| Minor Project/ Field Visit/ Crime Scene Visit |
Scope of PG Diploma in Fingerprint Science:
Since the importance of this field in crime investigation is a crucial factor, the demand for such professionals is also high. Such experts work as an integral part of the legal system. They are responsible for picking, analyzing, and examining the prints from the crime scene and the evidence. They get to work with renowned organizations in India and abroad.
Top Recruiters:
The field of fingerprint science is a challenging yet exciting field. The companies that hire such experts are well-known ones and offer exciting salary packages to these professionals. Some of the best recruiters are:
| Serial No. | Government Organizations | Private Organizations |
| 1. | Intelligence Bureau | Private Hospitals |
| 2. | Central Bureau of Investigation | Detective Agencies |
| 3. | Government Forensic Laboratory | Private Forensic Laboratory |
| 4. | Income Tax Department | Insurance Companies |
| 5. | Crime Branch | University |
| 6. | Quality Control Bureau | Banks |
| 7. | Government Hospitals | Private Investigator |
| 8. | Courts | Secret Service |
| 9. | Narcotics Department, | |
| 10. | Department of Forensic Medicine |
Career Options after PG Diploma in Fingerprint Science Course:
Once you complete your postgraduate diploma in fingerprint science you become an expert in fingerprint analysis. You acquire the specialized skills that are important for such an expert. This field opens a wide range of career options in the legal and forensic field for a candidate. Such graduates can work in government and private firms. The need for such experts who can make precise calculations about the crime and can help the investigating officers in the case has raised the demand for reliable professionals.
Some of the top career options that a candidate has after the diploma course are given below:
- Fingerprint experts,
- Forensic investigators,
- Crime scene examiners,
- Fingerprint analysts,
- Professor,
- Lab technician,
- Forensic advisor,
- Fingerprint technician.
PG Diploma in Fingerprint Science Salary:
The salary offered to such an expert is quite competitive in the market. The roles they play in crime investigation are important and so the packages they get are good enough. The salaries these professionals receive on the basis of their experience are mentioned below:
| Serial No. | Experience | Salary (Per Annum) |
| 1. | Entry level (less than one year) | 3-4 Lakhs |
| 2. | Early career (1-4 years) | 4-5 Lakhs |
| 3. | Mid career (5-9 years) | 6- 8 Lakhs |
| 4. | Experienced (10-19 years) | 9- 12 Lakhs |
| 5. | Late-career (20+ years) | 14 Lakhs+ |
Top PG Diploma in Fingerprint Science Colleges:
There are various private and government colleges across India that offer PGD courses in fingerprint science. The fees of these colleges vary from each other depending on various factors. Students willing to take admission in this particular course can have a look at these colleges and can choose the college wisely. Here in the table below, we have mentioned both private and government colleges.
Some of the top institutes offering Postgraduate Diploma in fingerprint science are given in the table below:
| Serial No. | Government Colleges | Private Colleges |
| 1. | Banaras Hindu University | Lloyd Law College |
| 2. | Panjab University | Chandigarh University (CU) |
| 3. | Cochin University of Science and Technology | Amity University, Noida |
| 4. | BBAU | LPU |
| 5. | University of Mysore | Christ University |
| 6. | University of Madras | Dr M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute |
| 7. | Gujarat University | Amity University, Gurugram |
| 8. | University of Calicut | Galgotias University |
| 9. | GGSIPU | Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences |
| 10. | IFS Mumbai | Sharda University |
| 11. | Osmania University | Kalinga University |
| 12. | NFSU | Jain University |
It is a pre-conceived notion that if you pursue a diploma course it is not that fruitful because you will not be getting good placement after it. But it is not right, after doing a diploma course too candidates get good career opportunities in the emerging field of forensics.
References:
- https://www.universitydunia.com /courses/science/pg-diploma- in-fingerprint-science
- https://nfsu.ac.in/Programs /programinfo/15?deptid=46
- https://www.shiksha.com/university /national-forensic-sciences-university -gandhinagar-48862/course-pg-diploma- in-fingerprint-science-253950
- https://collegedunia.com/ courses/post-graduate-diploma- in-forensic-science