Current Status and Developments in Biodosimetry Research in India.

In the current global scenario, human populations remain increasingly susceptible to radiation exposure due to several contributing factors. These include the expanding use of radiation-based technologies to improve quality of life, the growth of nuclear industries and space research activities, geopolitical tensions among nuclear-armed states, and the persistent threat of nuclear terrorism, all of which collectively elevate the risk of large-scale radiation exposure. Biodosimetry, which relies on the detection of radiation-induced cytogenetic and molecular biomarkers, is a globally recognized scientific approach for early triage and absorbed dose assessment following radiation exposure. In India, the biodosimetry facility at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, has pioneered dose-estimation techniques and remains the country's nodal reference laboratory responsible for conducting biodosimetry for suspected over-exposed individuals in regulatory, emergency, and other critical situations. To strengthen national preparedness, BARC has launched the Indian Biodosimetry Network (IN-BioDoS) for inter-laboratory comparison (ILC) and capacity building. Six laboratories from different regions of India have been included in this network. Currently, more than ten Indian Universities/research institutes are focusing on radiation biology research, contributing to the development of skilled professionals who can carry forward the nation's biodosimetry program. Over the past few decades, biodosimetry research has seen notable progress. A comprehensive review of literature sourced from databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar reveals that Indian researchers have made significant contributions to the advancement of biological dosimetry. In this context, the aim of this review is to provide a detailed overview of ionizing radiation exposure sources, dose quantification methods, and the application of biodosimetry from an Indian perspective. Furthermore, the review summarizes two decades of research and development carried out by Indian scientists across thematic areas such as basic research, radiation dose assessment, biodosimetry in radiological emergencies, and ILCs. Recent advances and future perspectives are also briefly discussed.