Narco tests

• The protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar have expressed their willingness to undergo narco analysis tests, provided that it is monitored by the Supreme Court and broadcasted live for the entire country to witness.

ABOUT NARCO TESTS

• In a narco analysis test, a drug called sodium pentothal is injected into the body of the accused, which transports them to a hypnotic or sedated state in which their imagination is neutralised.
• In such state, the accused is understood as being incapable of lying and is expected to divulge the truth.
  • In India, Narco analysis tests were notably used in the 2002 Gujarat riots case, and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case.

ABOUT SODIUM PENTOTHAL-

• Sodium pentothal, or sodium thiopental, is a fast-acting, short-duration anaesthetic used in larger doses to sedate patients during surgery.
• It is also referred to as a “truth serum”

ABOUT POLYGRAPH OR LIE DETECTOR TEST-

• It measures and records several physiological indicators– blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while a person is asked and answers a series of questions.
• This test is based on the assumption that physiological responses that are triggered when a person is lying are different from what they would be otherwise.
• A numerical value is assigned to each response to conclude whether the person is telling the truth, is deceiving, or is uncertain.