The most important function of the forensic database is to produce matches between the suspected individual and crime scene bio-markers, and then provides evidence to support criminal investigations, and also leads to identify potential suspects in the criminal investigation. Majority of the National DNA databases are used for forensic purposes.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, only about a quarter of rape cases ended in conviction in 2016. These rates are low in other countries too. The outrage over these attacks has reinforced the belief that India needs a sex offenders’ database or a DNA database of those accused and charged with rape.

• Despite the spate of violent attacks against women, including rapes, in India, very few of the men implicated have been convicted. While identifying the rapist is the first step to serving justice, his identity does not guarantee due punishment or a stiff sentence for the crime.
• The outrage over these attacks has reinforced the belief that India needs a sex offenders’ database or a DNA database of those accused and charged with rape. India has developed a draft Bill for such a DNA database and the Andhra Pradesh government even announced that it has signed up with a private agency for collecting DNA from all its citizens.
• DNA identification technologies have advanced so much that even minor genetic differences, such as those among family members, may be used to distinguish individuals and identify a person from his or her unique DNA. Still, planting of DNA in a crime scene, misinterpretation of tests, and errors in analyses have all taken place in cases where DNA has been used to implicate a suspect, resulting in the miscarriage of justice.
• Some people have said that having everyone’s DNA in the database would be a good thing, since anyone can be apprehended if matched to a crime scene. But experience with the U.K. and U.S. databanks has shown that having more innocent people’s DNA stored increases the chances of a false positive and has not increased the chances of finding a guilty match.
• One, it is absolutely essential that the people from whom DNA is taken give their informed consent; taking DNA surreptitiously should be prohibited. Two, a court order should be required for obtaining DNA without informed consent and the DNA should only be compared with the crime scene DNA for the suspect. Three, those who are cleared for a crime should not have their DNA information stored, and DNA gathered from offenders should be destroyed after identification so that such information is not used for profiling in future. Four, a court order should be necessary to access medical records for genetic data.

Social benefits of DNA profiling:

• It is an accurate and extremely useful in ascertaining the identity of a person from his DNA sample.
• It is being used around the world for crime investigation especially crimes associated with terrorism. In India use of DNA based technology helped solve the Pune blast case by establishing the identity of criminals.
• Improve conviction rate in case of crimes where other evidence are not easily available and connect seemingly unrelated crimes.
• Apart from criminal investigation, the technology is useful in natural disasters to identify bodies
• Establishing identity of missing persons would become easier with the technology.

The use of technology is being opposed as

• Privacy concerns have been raised as data may be misused as Aadhar data has already been misused.
• Fear that any failure on part of technology or sample contamination may have severe consequences if DNA result taken as ultimate evidence.
• Information like ancestry or susceptibility to a disease, or other genetic traits, is liable to be misused.
• DNA tests in countries where is being used have not led to improvement in conviction rate.

DNA Profiling has immense scope for ensuring quick and effective Justice to People. The need of hour is research and devising ways for proper functioning of these Technologies.
Also, there is need for Effective Regulation in ensuring Justice without compromising with Right to Privacy. Creation of a DNA database has several advantages but raises several issues as well. The government has been making efforts in making a law on the subject with the DNA profiling Bill.DNA technology has also progressed a lot in recent years. All this has made it imperative for us to examine the issues and advantages in detail. DNA profiling can be a boon if strong and effective safeguards are present against misuse both technologically and legally. DNA profiling cannot substitute a shabby investigation for establishing the criminal offence and has to be used as part of efficient investigative practice.