Archive · 25 Oct 2025
AIIMS Launches DNA Portal to Identify Unidentified Bodies
Imagine a website where police and scientists can upload information about people who have died without being identified, or people who have gone missing.
This website uses DNA and other clues to match unidentified bodies to their families.
AIIMS in Delhi created this website, called UMID, which is like a digital detective to solve these cases.
The website has information about unidentified bodies, and missing persons, allowing families to search for their loved ones.
If a person is missing, their family can provide DNA samples to see if there's a match.
This is important because many bodies remain unidentified due to lack of ID proofs, accidents, and other reasons.
AIIMS Delhi launched the UMID portal, a DNA database for identifying unidentified bodies and missing persons.
The portal contains DNA profiles, physical descriptions, and other details of unidentified bodies.
The pilot project began in 2022 and now has a website accessible to the public.
The goal is to create a national DNA database to help identify thousands of bodies annually.
Family members can search the portal and submit DNA samples for potential matches.
- Who
- AIIMS Delhi's Department of Forensics Medicine & Toxicology
- What
- Launched a portal to help identify unidentified bodies and missing persons using DNA data.
- When
- The website was launched on October 18, and the pilot project began in 2022.
- Where
- AIIMS Delhi and several other centers across India.
- Why
- To address the challenges in identifying unidentified bodies and missing persons by creating a national DNA database and integrated identification system.
- Portal Name
- UMID (Unidentified dead bodies, Missing persons, Identification portal and DNA database)
- Launched by
- AIIMS Delhi’s Department of Forensics Medicine & Toxicology
- Launch Date
- October 18
- Database Contents
- DNA profiles, physical descriptions, photographs, phenotype details
- Pilot Project Start
- 2022
- Unidentified Bodies Reported Annually
- Approx. 50,000 in India
- Missing Persons Reported Annually
- Approx. 300,000 in India