Securing Forensic Chain of Custody for Indian State Govt (1million+ cases per year) Using Cardano and Zero-Knowledge Proofs

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Rahul Konudula

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Co proposers and Additional applicants

Quixy [VIVID MINDS TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD]

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

6

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language.

No

[GENERAL] Summarise your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

Trivolve-Quixy are building a forensic management system for U.P. State(241M Population), We are proposing to integrate Cardano to secure evidence integrity by time-stamping proofs at point of capture

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

No dependencies.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

No

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs.

Our Forensic Management System (FMS) for the Indian State Government's police department will remain closed-source due to security and confidentiality concerns. Open sourcing could expose source code to bad actors, compromising both legal and individual privacy standards. 

[METADATA] SDG rating

SDG Goals

8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

SDG Subgoals

17.19 - By 2030, build on existing initiatives to develop measurements of progress on sustainable development that complement gross domestic product, and support statistical capacity-building in developing countries

9.1 - Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all

9.b - Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution.

Problem Statement:

In India, police forensic departments face significant challenges in maintaining the security and integrity of the chain of custody for evidence. The chain of custody is the most critical process of evidence documentation. It is essential to assure the court of law that the evidence is authentic, meaning it is the same evidence that was seized at the crime scene.

Moreover, it must be shown that the evidence was, at all times, in the custody of a person designated to handle it and that it was never unaccounted for. Current systems are inadequate in safeguarding the evidence trail, which raises concerns about the legitimacy of the handling process and the susceptibility to tampering. As a result, the reliability of forensic evidence, pivotal in legal proceedings, is frequently put into question, potentially altering the outcomes of important legal cases.

Quixy has partnered with State Govt of UP, India to co-develop a forensic management system, this proposal is about integrating cardano to enhance data integrity.

Overview of Quixy:

Quixy is recognized as one of India's leading software companies, specializing in no-code/low-code enterprise solutions for governments and corporations worldwide. It has achieved remarkable milestones, including the development of over 26,198 no-code apps and engaging more than 200,000 users across 15+ industries.

In collaboration with Trivolve, Quixy is developing a state-of-the-art forensic management system. This system is designated for deployment within the law enforcement department of Uttar Pradesh, a state with a population of over 240 million. The aim is to enhance the security and confidentiality of evidence management.

Why do we need Cardano?

The forensic management system that Trivolve and Quixy is developing uses an advanced tracking mechanism where each piece of evidence is given a unique ID that connects to previous IDs. This system helps maintain the chain of custody and keeps case details private. However, this system has a significant challenge due to its centralized design. The central data storage does not have a strong method to clearly show how these unique IDs are linked. This lack of transparency can cause doubts about the evidence's credibility in legal situations and risks the authenticity of chain of custody.

There is a risk that someone could claim the database was accessed or altered without authorization, which undermines the integrity of the evidence. This issue is critical because it could affect legal outcomes by raising questions about the evidence's validity in court. We are proposing a solution to bring the entire chain of custody proof onto Cardano, ensuring the trail has not been tampered with, using Cardano’s smart contracts

Chain of Custody Overview: Below is the comprehensive trail of the chain of custody in forensic evidence management software, outlining each stage from collection to courtroom presentation:

To address the risks mentioned earlier, each piece of evidence will get a unique case ID when it's uploaded. We'll also use special aliases and subaliases linked to each Case ID. This makes it hard for anyone with bad intentions to figure out which case a particular piece of evidence belongs to.

However, even with these detailed steps, it's still tough to prove that the connections between Case IDs, aliases, and subaliases haven't been changed in a centralized system. This could become a problem in court.

Solution:

To mitigate this risk and secure the chain of custody, We are proposing to develop a blockchain-based solution using Cardano smart contracts and Zero-Knowledge Proofs (zkp):

• Hash Generation: At the time of evidence logging, our backend will generate a SHA-256 hash for the Case ID and all the aliases, and subaliases related to that case at time of upload encapsulating this data securely.
• Blockchain Stamping with ZKP: The SHA-256 hash, along with a Zero-Knowledge Proof PubKey that can be proved with an open source script, will be stamped onto the Cardano blockchain. This ensures that the hash corresponds accurately to the original identifiers without revealing any sensitive information.
• This step guarantees any tampering attempt would be evident, as altering the data would result in a hash mismatch, and the zero-knowledge proof would fail to verify.

Smart Contract for Traceability and Central Registry:

• A smart contract on the Cardano blockchain will maintain a central registry of all cases, tracking the creation and any updates to the hashes and associated data. This contract will facilitate traceability, enabling authorized parties to verify the integrity of the evidence trail at any point without exposing the underlying details.
• The smart contract will also manage access and permissions, ensuring that only authorized entities can make updates or query the system, further securing the evidence against unauthorized tampering.

Impact TLDR

• Transaction Volume: Anticipated 1 million cases annually, demonstrating robust scalability and efficiency.
• Global Exposure: Extensive media campaigns in India and worldwide to highlight Cardano's potential.
• Potential India-Wide RollOut: If we win this, we can take this proposal across all 28 states Govts and 8 union territories to integrate Cardano in their Forensic Management Systems.

Conclusion:

By integrating SHA-256 hashing and Zero-Knowledge Proofs within the Cardano blockchain, Trivolve introduces an advanced layer of security that addresses key vulnerabilities in forensic data management. This innovative approach not only safeguards against tampering but also significantly bolsters the legal defensibility of the evidence, ensuring a more robust and reliable judicial process.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community.

The blockchain-based forensic management system developed by Trivolve and Quixy, using Cardano's smart contracts and Zero-Knowledge Proofs (zkp), will significantly improve the security, reliability, and credibility of the chain of custody in forensic evidence management across India. This system addresses a critical issue in the judicial system by ensuring the integrity of evidence.

Value to the Cardano Community

1. Demonstration of Utility: Successfully applying Cardano’s blockchain technology to forensic evidence management showcases its capabilities in handling secure, scalable solutions for critical governmental processes.
2. Adoption and Network Growth: Integrating Cardano into a state-level government process expands its user base and enhances network activity. A potential national rollout could significantly boost Cardano's adoption and utility across India.
3. Innovation and Collaboration: This project encourages the Cardano community to develop new applications for smart contracts and zkps, promoting public-private partnerships within the blockchain space.

Measurement of Impact

• Quantitative Metrics: We anticipate handling approximately 1 million cases (UP Govt Data) annually through this system, resulting in a similar number of transactions on Cardano for data integrity checks. This volume is vital for evaluating the system's scalability and operational efficiency.

• Qualitative Metrics: With a significant marketing budget, an extensive media campaign across Indian and global platforms will promote the project and highlight Cardano's role, showcasing its capabilities to a broad audience. This will further create an impact about the success of this implementation on Cardano.

Possibility of Nationwide Rollout

• Scalability and Extension:
• If we win this proposal, we plan to expand this blockchain-based forensic management system to all 28 states and 8 union territories of India. This means the entire Forensic Department across the country could use this system, all supported by the Cardano platform. Such a broad adoption would greatly increase the number of users and transactions on Cardano and showcase how blockchain technology can significantly improve government processes across a whole country.

Conclusion

The collaboration between Trivolve, Quixy, and Cardano provides a robust solution to the longstanding challenges of managing forensic evidence in India. By safeguarding the chain of custody, this project not only strengthens the legal process but also establishes Cardano as a practical solution for high-security applications. Successful implementation in Uttar Pradesh could pave the way for adoption across all Indian states and union territories, significantly expanding Cardano's impact.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

The team is composed of experts in blockchain technology with a proven track record for delivering high-quality Cardano-built solutions with transparency and accountability. Our existing products have served to enhance the Cardano ecosystem in a tangible way, we have strong strategic partnerships and we intend to deliver the project with the same level of quality that the Cardano Community has come to expect from us.

With a collective experience of over 30 years in the blockchain domain, our team is well-equipped with the necessary expertise to develop and deliver this project.

https://trivolvetech.com/

We've established a pivotal partnership with Quixy to co-develop this together, it is recognized as one of India's leading software companies, specializing in low-code enterprise solutions for governments and corporations worldwide. It has achieved remarkable milestones, including the development of over 26,198 no-code apps and engaging more than 200,000 users across 15+ industries.

https://quixy.com/

https://www.forbesindia.com/audio/forbes-india-daily-tech-conver-sation/gautam-nimmagadda-ceo-of-quixy-talks-about-why-nocode-software-is-coming-of-age/72833

https://seedgroup.com/news/seed-group-partners-with-no-code-low-code-platform-quixy-to-simplify-enterprise-solution-building-in-the-uae-and-middle-east/

[Project Milestones] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Project Kickoff and Initial Marketing

A: Milestone Outputs

• Development of a comprehensive project plan detailing timelines, resource allocation, and technical specifications for Cardano integration.
• Launch of an initial marketing campaign to publicize the integration of Cardano by a State Government in India.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Documented project plan.
• Successful launch of the marketing campaign with measurable engagement across selected media platforms.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Documented project plan.
• Marketing campaign performance report showing reach and engagement metrics.

Milestone 2: System Architecture Design

A: Milestone Outputs

• Creation of detailed backend and smart contract architecture suitable for integrating with the Cardano blockchain.
• Production of user flow diagrams to clearly delineate all system interactions and processes.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Technical documentation of the system architecture is completed.
• User flow diagrams are validated by the technical team.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Finalized system architecture documents.
• User flow diagrams.

Milestone 3: Prototype Development

A: Milestone Outputs

• Development of a functional system prototype demonstrating core functionalities integrated with the Cardano blockchain as mentioned in the proposal.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• The prototype meets all predefined functional requirements.
• Successful demonstration of the prototype in a controlled environment.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Recorded demo of the prototype operation.
• Onchain testnet transaction links.

Milestone 4: Pilot Testing

A: Milestone Outputs

• Conducting pilot testing of the system with 10 dummy cases to evaluate functionality and system integrity.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• The system handles all test cases without critical failures.
• Feedback from pilot testing indicates the system meets operational expectations.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Pilot testing report detailing the outcomes and any issues encountered.
• Feedback compilation.

Milestone 5: Secondary Marketing and User Feedback

A: Milestone Outputs

• Rollout of a secondary marketing campaign to spotlight the successful integration.
• Implementation of improvements based on initial user feedback.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• High engagement and positive feedback from the secondary marketing campaign.
• Successful implementation of system improvements based on earlier user feedback.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Marketing campaign report detailing reach, engagement, and impact.
• Compiled user feedback reports that include specifics on how feedback was incorporated and the improvements made.
• Documentation of system updates and changes implemented as a result of user feedback, including before-and-after analysis of system performance.

Milestone 6: Project Closure

A: Milestone Outputs

• Comprehensive project closure documentation that reviews all phases of the project, lessons learned, and final outcomes.
• Production of a project closure video that highlights key achievements.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Project closure document must encompass all project details and be approved by the project steering committee.
• The project closure video must effectively communicate the project’s successes.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Final project closure document signed off by all key stakeholders.
• Published project closure video, available on multiple platforms, demonstrating the project’s achievements and impact.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Rahul Konudula, CEO - Trivolve

He has founded companies across real estate, international commodities, and mineral mining that have been running successfully for more than a decade with 8 figure annual revenue in USD. He has over eight years of experience in the RWA sector, focusing on bringing innovative solutions by integrating AI and Blockchain and consistently being one of the leading contributors to industry advancements in South India.

Trivolve Tech

We are a prominent AI and Blockchain development studio based in Dubai and India, specializing in creating innovative solutions for the Asia-Pacific region. With a dedicated team of 31 professionals, we have been serving over 20 enterprise clients, including governments, venture capital firms, and Fortune 500 companies, for more than three years. Our expertise extends to consulting for leading Cardano projects, leveraging our extensive experience in product development.

Quixy

Quixy, a leader in no-code/low-code application development and business process automation, recognized as one of India's leading software companies, specializing in low-code enterprise solutions for governments and corporations worldwide. It has achieved remarkable milestones, including the development of over 26,198 no-code apps and engaging more than 200,000 users across 15+ industries.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

Milestone 1: Project Kickoff and Initial Marketing

Allocation: 50,000 ADA

• Project management and initial planning: 15,000 ADA
• Initial marketing campaign and public relations: 35,000 ADA

Milestone 2: System Architecture Design

Allocation: 100,000 ADA

• System architecture planning and technical documentation: 40,000 ADA
• Backend architecture development: 60,000 ADA

Milestone 3: Prototype Development

Allocation: 150,000 ADA

• Development of functional system prototype: 130,000 ADA
• Initial testing and iteration: 20,000 ADA

Milestone 4: Pilot Testing

Allocation: 80,000 ADA

• Setup and execution of pilot testing with dummy cases: 50,000 ADA
• Evaluation and quality assurance: 30,000 ADA

Milestone 5: Secondary Marketing and User Feedback

Allocation: 50,000 ADA

• Roll-out of secondary marketing campaigns: 30,000 ADA
• Collection and implementation of user feedback: 20,000 ADA

Milestone 6: Project Closure

Allocation: 120,000 ADA

• Final documentation and project closure activities: 40,000 ADA
• Production and dissemination of closure video and final reports: 80,000 ADA

Total Allocated: 550,000 ADA

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

Value for Money Justification for the Cardano Ecosystem

The investment into the blockchain-based forensic management system, though substantial, offers considerable benefits to the Cardano ecosystem and is aligned with the cost structure of similar government projects in India:

• High Volume of Transactions: Handling about 1 million cases per year significantly increases transaction volume on Cardano, showcasing its capacity to support large-scale governmental operations.

• Intense Marketing Campaign: A well-funded marketing campaign aimed at promoting this project across both Indian and global media will not only raise Cardano's profile but also demonstrate its application in critical governmental function.

• Development for State-Wide Rollout: Implementing the system initially in Uttar Pradesh—India's most populous state—requires significant investment but is essential.

• Cost Comparability: The costs associated with this project are at par with other government tenders in India for similar technological implementation.

Overall, these factors justify the cost associated with the project, as the potential impact, scalability, and strategic value they offer to Cardano are significant, aligning well with the typical financial frameworks of governmental contracts in India.