Henry Classification System
Updated: 12/10/2025, 11:04:30 AM Wikipedia source
The Henry Classification System is a long-standing method by which fingerprints are sorted by physiological characteristics for one-to-many searching. Developed by Hem Chandra Bose, Qazi Azizul Haque and Sir Edward Henry in the late 19th century for criminal investigations in British India, it was the basis of modern-day AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) classification methods up until the 1990s. In recent years, the Henry Classification System has generally been replaced by ridge flow classification approaches.
Tables
· Explanation
16
16
Key
16
Major
M
Primary
9
Secondary
R
Sub-Secondary
IIO
Final
15
| Key | Major | Primary | Secondary | Sub-Secondary | Final |
| 16 | M | 9 | R | IIO | 15 |
| M | 2 | U | OOI |
References
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- www.awazthevoice.inhttps://www.awazthevoice.in/india-news/azizul-haque-the-indian-who-devised-fingerprint-classification-system-2579.html
- www.thequint.comhttps://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/henry-classification-system-indians-hem-chandra-bose-azizul-haque-fingerprinting-credit-for-reforms-in-anthropometry
- Tewari RK; Ravikumar KV. History and development of forensic science in India. J. Postgrad Med 2000,46:303–308.http://www.jpgmonline.com/article.asp?issn=0022-3859;year=2000;volume=46;issue=4;spage=303;epage=8;aulast=Tewari
- J.S. Sodhi & Jasjeed Kaur The forgotten Indian pioneers of fingerprint science, Current Science 2005, 88(1):185–191.http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/jan102005/185.pdf
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- Carlton 2023