In November 2025, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), a statutory body under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD), unveiled a revised seismic zonation map under the updated Earthquake Design Code 2025. This new map incorporates data on active faults, maximum probable events, attenuation patterns, tectonics, and lithology.
The recent release marks significant advancements in seismic hazard assessment:
The updated zonation map employs new methodologies such as:
For the first time, the entire Himalayan arc has been classified under Zone VI, including the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh, and the states of Himachal Pradesh (HP), Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh (AR). This reflects consistent tectonic stress across the region, which was previously divided between Zones IV and V.
The new map indicates that 61% of India’s landmass is now categorized within moderate to high hazard zones, a notable increase from the previous assessment, which classified about 59% as earthquake-prone. The breakdown included:
The revised seismic map introduces stringent safety requirements for both structural and non-structural elements of buildings. According to BIS guidelines, elements exceeding 1% of a building's weight, such as parapets, ceilings, and tanks, must be securely anchored.
Hospitals, schools, bridges, pipelines, and major public buildings are now mandated to remain functional after significant earthquakes. This ensures effective emergency response and continuity of essential services.
As part of the new map provisions, towns located along boundaries separating two hazard categories will automatically be upgraded to a higher-risk zone. This measure ensures that planners and engineers adopt rigorous standards for constructing buildings and urban projects in these vulnerable areas.
Q1. What is the significance of the revised seismic zonation map released by BIS?
Answer: The revised seismic zonation map is crucial for enhancing earthquake preparedness in India, designating areas based on seismic risk and guiding construction safety standards.
Q2. What new zone has been introduced in the updated seismic map?
Answer: The updated seismic map introduces Zone-VI, which is the highest seismic hazard category, encompassing regions previously classified under Zones IV and V.
Q3. How much of India's population lives in seismically active areas according to the new map?
Answer: The new seismic zonation map reveals that approximately 75% of India's population resides in areas identified as seismically active.
Q4. What methodologies were used to create the new seismic map?
Answer: The new seismic map employed Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA) and the Probabilistic Exposure and Multi-Hazard (PEMA) methodologies to assess risks accurately.
Q5. What are the safety requirements for buildings under the new seismic guidelines?
Answer: The revised guidelines mandate that non-structural elements over 1% of a building's weight must be securely anchored to enhance safety during earthquakes.
Question 1: Which authority released the revised seismic zonation map in 2025?
A) National Disaster Management Authority
B) Bureau of Indian Standards
C) Ministry of Home Affairs
D) Geological Survey of India
Correct Answer: B
Question 2: What is the newly introduced seismic hazard zone in India's updated map?
A) Zone-IV
B) Zone-V
C) Zone-VI
D) Zone-III
Correct Answer: C
Question 3: How much of India's landmass is classified under moderate to high seismic hazard zones?
A) 50%
B) 59%
C) 61%
D) 75%
Correct Answer: C
Question 4: Which regions are classified under the highest seismic hazard category in the new map?
A) Southern India
B) Himalayan Arc
C) Western Coast
D) Eastern Plains
Correct Answer: B
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