Expert: Seismic map rollback is ready for earthquakes

DEHRADUN: The Indian government’s decision to cancel India’s newly introduced seismic zoning maps and revised earthquake design codes has sparked concerns among seismologists and geologists, many of whom say the move could undermine the country’s ability to prepare for future major earthquakes.The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) launched a revised framework in November 2025 proposing a major update to India’s seismic design codes, including bringing the entire Himalayan arc under a new Zone VI, the highest seismic risk category.

Geologists warn India’s earthquake risk is far from marginalSeveral experts described the withdrawal as a “missed opportunity” to strengthen India’s resilience, especially in areas where scientists have long warned of the possibility of devastating earthquakes.Senior geoscientist CP Rajendran called the rollback a “bad step”. “We don’t know what prompted the government to cancel such a bold policy. The new earthquake norms are based on the accumulated knowledge of the scientific community about earthquakes and their possible impact on India,” he said.Rajendran added that scientists have repeatedly warned that the Himalayan region may experience earthquakes of magnitude eight or larger in the future. “The new norms reflect the real seismic risks the country faces,” Rajendran said.Geologists point out that India’s earthquake risk is far from minimal. According to experts, nearly 59% of the country’s landmass and nearly 80% of its population fall into moderate to extremely high earthquake risk zones.Piyoosh Rautela, a geologist and former executive director of the Uttarakhand Disaster Management Authority, said the proposed changes in regulations represent an important step forward in improving disaster preparedness in the country.“The proposed revisions mark an important step towards strengthening India’s seismic design framework to better protect the country’s built environment from future earthquakes,” Rautela said. He added that the newly proposed Zone 6 covering the Himalayan arc acknowledges the ongoing tectonic threats along the Indo-Eurasian plate boundary – similar to those that occurred during the 2001 Bhuj earthquake and the 2015 Nepal earthquake.Experts further said that the revised code introduces stronger safety measures, including an improved design spectrum, 10-30% increase in base shear requirements, stricter rules for structural irregularities and more stringent geotechnical and dynamic analyses. The changes are intended to promote performance-based engineering – ensuring buildings are designed to not only withstand vibrations but also minimize the risk of collapse and economic losses during a major earthquake.Meanwhile, experts acknowledge that the revised code has had a significant impact on construction practices and ongoing infrastructure projects across the country.