Context:
The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) is a centralized online platform designed for filing and tracking First Information Reports (FIRs), chargesheets, and investigation reports in police stations across India.
Relevance: GS 2 (Governance)
Completion of Integration:
- Nearly 15 years after its launch, all 17,130 police stations in India are now connected through CCTNS.
Launch and Budget:
- Initiated in 2009 with a budget of ₹2,000 crore, CCTNS aims to establish a comprehensive database accessible to law enforcement nationwide.
Key Features:
- Maintains crime records, including:
- Details of accused individuals and convicts.
- Habitual offenders.
- Missing persons and unidentified bodies.
- Stolen vehicles.
Analytical Capabilities:
- Generates analytical reports on criminal cases, property cases, and crime statistics at the police station level.
Enhancements for New Criminal Laws:
- The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) implemented 23 functional modifications to accommodate three new criminal laws (effective July 1):
- Replacing the Indian Penal Code, Evidence Act, and Criminal Procedure Code.
New Provisions in CCTNS:
- Key updates include:
- Seeking senior officers’ permission for arrests in certain cases.
- Informing relatives about arrests.
- Mandatory videography of crime scenes.
- Enhanced focus on forensic evidence collection.
- Updating victims on investigation progress within 90 days.
Integration with Criminal Justice System (ICJS):
- CCTNS integrates police data with other criminal justice components, including:
- Courts, prisons, prosecution, forensics, and fingerprints via the Integrated Criminal Justice System (ICJS).
