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Building Seismic Resilience in India

17 Jul 2025 GS 1 Geography
Building Seismic Resilience in India Click to view full image

Context : India’s vulnerability to earthquakes was highlighted by the 4.4 magnitude tremor in Delhi on July 10, 2025, exposing the capital’s fragile infrastructure. Over 80% of buildings in Delhi, particularly those built before 2000, do not conform to seismic safety codes.

Seismic Risk in India:

  • India lies on a tectonically active zone, where the Indian Plate collides with the Eurasian Plate, leading to frequent seismic activity.

  • The Himalayan region, including Delhi (Zone IV), is overdue for a major earthquake (magnitude 8+) that could affect over 300 million people.

  • Seismic Zones IV and V, covering regions like Delhi, Northeast India, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Gujarat (Kutch), are highly vulnerable.

Urbanisation & Infrastructure Issues:

  • Rapid urbanisation, unregulated construction, and non-compliance with IS 1893:2016 seismic codes worsen earthquake risks.

  • Many buildings in Delhi and Guwahati are on liquefaction-prone soils, raising collapse risks during quakes.

  • Compared to countries like Thailand, India lacks stringent enforcement of building codes and public awareness.

Recommendations & Solutions:

  • Strict enforcement of seismic building codes (IS 1893:2016).

  • Retrofitting old structures with steel jacketing and base isolation.

  • Avoiding construction on floodplains and sandy basins.

  • Expansion of early warning systems like IndiaQuake app to rural and high-risk areas.

  • Public education on disaster preparedness, emergency kits, and evacuation planning.

  • Investment of ₹50,000 crore/year needed for retrofitting and mitigation.

Global Context:

  • Earthquakes in Myanmar, Greece, Indonesia, Chile, and Ecuador since March 2025 highlight increasing global seismic activity.

  • Lessons from Bangkok’s resilient construction and Myanmar’s failure due to poor enforcement are critical.

UPSC Syllabus:

  • GS Paper 1: Geography – Earthquakes, seismic zones, plate tectonics.

  • GS Paper 3: Disaster Management – Preparedness, mitigation strategies, infrastructure resilience.

  • Essay/Ethics: Governance responsibility in disaster prevention, moral duty to protect lives.



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