{"id":2552,"date":"2026-03-02T12:34:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T07:04:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=2552"},"modified":"2026-03-11T17:12:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T11:42:19","slug":"earthquake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/earthquake\/","title":{"rendered":"Earthquake, Causes, Types, Magnitude, Impacts, Challenges, Zones"},"content":{"rendered":"

An earthquake is a sudden shaking or trembling of the\u00a0Earth's surface<\/strong>\u00a0caused by the movement of\u00a0tectonic plates<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0volcanic activity<\/strong>\u00a0thereby releasing energy. India is located in a seismically active region, and the country is prone to earthquakes with over\u00a059 percent of India\u2019s land\u00a0<\/strong>area under\u00a0threat of moderate to severe seismic hazards<\/strong>. Long-term and sustained efforts are required to address the problem of earthquake risk in India. The loss of life and property can be considerably minimised through maintaining better code compliance in prospective constructions and implementing seismic retrofitting on existing buildings, making them earthquake resilient.<\/p>\r\n

Earthquake Vulnerability and Risk in India<\/h2>\r\n

India\u2019s high earthquake risk and vulnerability are evident from the fact that about 59 percent of India\u2019s land area could face moderate to severe earthquakes which means it is prone to shaking of\u00a0MSK (Medvedev\u2013Sponheuer\u2013Karnik scale) Intensity VII<\/strong>\u00a0and above.<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  • Tectonic sub-regions:\u00a0<\/strong>India has three major tectonic sub-regions - the\u00a0Himalayas\u00a0<\/strong>to the north, the\u00a0Ganges\u00a0<\/strong>and other river plains, and the\u00a0Peninsula<\/strong>.\r\n\r\n
      \r\n\t
    • The entire Himalayan Region is considered to be vulnerable to high-intensity earthquakes of a magnitude exceeding\u00a08.0 on the Richter Scale.<\/strong>\u00a0This is due to the ongoing subduction of the Indian Plate under the Eurasian Plate.\r\n\r\n
        \r\n\t
      • Shillong, 1897 (M 8.7); Kangra, 1905 (M.8.0); Bihar\u2013Nepal, 1934 (M 8.3); and Assam\u2013Tibet, 1950 (M 8.6) are some of the highly intense earthquake events.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
      • Scientists are aware of\u00a0distinct gaps\u00a0<\/strong>along the\u00a0Himalayan axis<\/strong>\u00a0where the previous release of geological stress does not entirely account for the strain that has accumulated.\r\n\r\n
          \r\n\t
        • For example, the\u00a0Central Himalayas<\/strong>\u00a0have historically had fewer earthquakes than other locations. As a result, it is one place where a significant earthquake is likely to occur in the future.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
        • The\u00a0tectonic features<\/strong>\u00a0and characteristics of the Himalayas are prevalent in the\u00a0alluvial plains of Indus, Ganga, and\u00a0<\/strong>Brahmaputra<\/strong>\u00a0too<\/strong>, as the rocks lying below the alluvial plains are just extensions of the Himalayan ranges only. Thus this region is also quite\u00a0prone to seismic activities.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
        • The\u00a0peninsular region\u00a0<\/strong>is also susceptible to earthquakes due to intra-plate faults and the internal deformation of the Indian Plate.\r\n\r\n
            \r\n\t
          • Kachchh<\/strong>,\u00a0Narmada\u2013Son, and Godavari rifts, the Aravalli\u2013Delhi Fold Belt\u00a0<\/strong>is the site of noteworthy seismicity.<\/li>\r\n\t
          • The\u00a0Bhadrachalam earthquake\u00a0<\/strong>of April 13, 1969, and the\u00a0Broach earthquake\u00a0<\/strong>of March 23, 1970, are two major intraplate earthquakes associated with\u00a0paleo rift zones<\/strong>\u00a0in the stable\u00a0continental region of peninsular India<\/strong>. The pre-existing faults get reactivated due to strain accumulation or fault weakening.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
          • Aggravated risk:\u00a0<\/strong>The increase in earthquake risk is due to a spurt in developmental activities driven by rapid\u00a0urbanisation<\/strong>, mining activities, rapid expansion of the infrastructure in moderate or high-risk areas, etc.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

            Earthquake Zones in India<\/h2>\r\n

            The Bureau of Indian Standards<\/strong>\u00a0(BIS) has divided India into four seismic zones based on the level of seismic hazard. Approximately 11% of the country is in zone V, 18% in zone IV, 30% in zone III, and the rest in zone II.<\/p>\r\n

            \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
            Seismic Zones of India<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
            Zone V<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

            - It covers the areas liable to\u00a0seismic intensity IX<\/strong>\u00a0and above on the MSK (1964) Intensity Scale. This is the most severe seismic zone and is referred to here as the\u00a0Very High Damage Risk Zone.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

            -\u00a0It includes<\/strong>\u00a0Parts of Jammu and Kashmir (Kashmir valley), the western part of Himachal Pradesh, the Eastern part of Uttarakhand, the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, part of Northern Bihar, all northeastern states of India and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

            Zone IV<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

            -\u00a0MSK VIII\u00a0<\/strong>areas are referred to as the\u00a0High Damage Risk Zone.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

            -\u00a0It includes<\/strong>\u00a0remaining parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, remaining part of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Some parts of Haryana, Parts of Punjab, Delhi, Sikkim, northern part of Uttar Pradesh, small portions of Bihar and West Bengal, parts of Gujarat and small portions of Maharashtra near the west coast and small part of western Rajasthan.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

            Zone III<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

            - The associated intensity of this zone is\u00a0MSK VII<\/strong>\u00a0and is termed as a\u00a0moderate damage risk zone.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

            -\u00a0It includes<\/strong>\u00a0Kerala, Goa, Lakshadweep islands, some parts of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, remaining parts of Gujarat and Punjab, some parts of West Bengal, part of western Rajasthan, part of Madhya Pradesh, the remaining part of Bihar, northern parts of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, parts of Maharashtra, parts of Odisha, parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Parts of Tamilnadu and Karnataka.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

            Zone I<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

            - The probable intensity of this zone is\u00a0MSK VI or less<\/strong>\u00a0and referred to as a\u00a0low damage risk zone.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

            -\u00a0It includes\u00a0<\/strong>the remaining Parts of Rajasthan and Haryana, the remaining parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, the remaining parts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, the remaining parts of Telangana and Karnataka, and the remaining parts of Tamilnadu.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n

            Impacts of Earthquake<\/h2>\r\n

            The types of impacts vary greatly depending on where the earthquake occurs - whether it is urban or rural, thickly or sparsely inhabited, highly developed or underdeveloped, and the infrastructure's ability to withstand shaking. The following are a few impacts of earthquakes:<\/p>\r\n

              \r\n\t
            • Structural damage:<\/strong>\u00a0Earthquakes can cause buildings and other structures to collapse.\r\n\r\n
                \r\n\t
              • More than 90% of the casualties in past earthquakes in India have occurred due to the collapse of houses and structures.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
              • Surface Rupture & Ground Displacement:\u00a0<\/strong>The primary earthquake hazard is\u00a0surface rupture.<\/strong>\u00a0It can result from\u00a0vertical or horizontal displacement\u00a0<\/strong>on either side of a ruptured fault.\r\n\r\n
                  \r\n\t
                • Ground displacement, which can occur over broad areas, can cause significant damage to structures, roads, trains, and pipelines.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
                • Tsunamis:<\/strong>\u00a0Earthquakes that\u00a0occur beneath the water<\/strong>\u00a0have the potential to cause tsunamis.\r\n\r\n
                    \r\n\t
                  • The most likely scenario for a massive tsunami is a large (M7 or greater) subduction-related earthquake.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
                  • Liquefaction:<\/strong>\u00a0Liquefaction of soil occurs when loosely packed, water-logged sediments at or near the ground surface lose strength due to intense ground shaking. The soil temporarily behaves like a viscous liquid.\r\n\r\n
                      \r\n\t
                    • Liquefaction beneath houses and other structures can cause significant damage during earthquakes.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
                    • Fires:\u00a0<\/strong>Fires are often linked to earthquakes because\u00a0fuel pipes rupture<\/strong>\u00a0and electrical wires are destroyed when the ground shakes.<\/li>\r\n\t
                    • Livelihood disruption:<\/strong>\u00a0Earthquakes can cause economic disruption, as businesses and industries are forced to close, and people are unable to work.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                      Mitigation Strategies for Earthquakes<\/h2>\r\n

                      Earthquake mitigation strategies are actions taken to reduce the risk of damage and loss of life from earthquakes. These strategies can be implemented at the individual, community, and government levels.<\/p>\r\n

                        \r\n\t
                      • Building codes:\u00a0<\/strong>Earthquake-resistant building codes can help to ensure that buildings can withstand the forces of an earthquake.<\/li>\r\n\t
                      • Land use planning:<\/strong>\u00a0Land use planning can help reduce the risk of earthquake damage by locating buildings and other structures in areas that are less likely to be affected by earthquakes.<\/li>\r\n\t
                      • Public awareness:<\/strong>\u00a0Public education can help to raise awareness of the risks of earthquakes and teach people how to protect themselves during an earthquake.<\/li>\r\n\t
                      • Disaster preparedness:\u00a0<\/strong>Disaster preparedness can help communities to be better prepared for an earthquake by developing\u00a0emergency plans\u00a0<\/strong>and stocking up on supplies.<\/li>\r\n\t
                      • Assessment of high-risk cities:<\/strong>\u00a0Regular earthquake risk assessment in Indian cities helps mitigate negative consequences, prepare for future events, and guide government agencies in prioritising\u00a0disaster management<\/strong>\u00a0and response measures.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                        India\u2019s Preparedness<\/h2>\r\n

                        India is one of the most seismically prone countries in the world, necessitating several earthquake mitigation and preparation measures. The following are the measures taken by the government in this regard:<\/p>\r\n

                          \r\n\t
                        • National Centre for Seismology:<\/strong>\u00a0It works under the\u00a0Ministry of Earth Sciences<\/strong>, monitors earthquakes through\u00a0115 observatories,<\/strong>\u00a0and disseminates information to state and central disaster authorities for timely mitigation measures.<\/li>\r\n\t
                        • National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project:<\/strong>\u00a0It is a\u00a0centrally sponsored<\/strong>\u00a0plan Scheme by the NDMA, that has been approved in\u00a0seismic zones IV and V<\/strong>, involving the adoption, enforcement, and updation of a Techno-legal Regime, institutional strengthening, and public awareness.<\/li>\r\n\t
                        • Seismic micro-zonation of cities:\u00a0<\/strong>Seismic micro-zonation of cities with populations of 5 lakh or more is done by the\u00a0National Centre for Seismology.\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n
                            \r\n\t
                          • The aim is to develop strategies for constructing earthquake-resistant buildings to minimise damage and loss of life, thereby promoting safer urban planning.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
                          • Awareness campaign by NDMA:\u00a0<\/strong>The\u00a0National Disaster Management Authority<\/strong>\u00a0(NDMA) of India is engaged with conducting regular awareness campaigns every year through print, electronic and social media from time to time to\u00a0sensitise programs<\/strong>\u00a0on prevention and preparedness for building safety from earthquakes.<\/li>\r\n\t
                          • Building codes and guidelines:\u00a0<\/strong>The Indian government is following guidelines from the\u00a0Bureau of Indian Standards<\/strong>,\u00a0Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council, and Housing<\/strong>\u00a0and Urban Development Corporation to design and construct earthquake-resistant structures, aiming to minimise loss of life and property damage in earthquake-prone areas.\r\n\r\n
                              \r\n\t
                            • These regulations are in circulation widely among the public and governmental bodies.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
                            • Earthquake Disaster Risk Index:\u00a0<\/strong>The index of cities in Seismic Zones IV and V is an attempt to estimate the earthquake risk of the country to help reduce the social and economic consequences of an earthquake.\r\n\r\n
                                \r\n\t
                              • The study, by the NDMA, provides a quantitative understanding of potential risks and their implications, guiding government agencies in prioritising disaster preparedness and response measures in\u00a0vulnerable cities.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                                Challenges and Way Forward<\/h2>\r\n

                                In India, earthquake management faces several challenges due to the country's\u00a0geographical location<\/strong>\u00a0and other factors. Some of the key challenges include:<\/p>\r\n

                                  \r\n\t
                                • High Seismic Activity:\u00a0<\/strong>India is located in a seismically active region, with\u00a0Indian-Eurasian plate boundary<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0fault lines<\/strong>\u00a0running through the country. This makes it prone to earthquakes of varying magnitudes. Retrofitting and other measures in these areas are expensive.<\/li>\r\n\t
                                • Unplanned urbanisation:<\/strong>\u00a0Poorly built infrastructure and rapid unplanned growth due to population pressure are rising regularly without concern for\u00a0seismic risk<\/strong>, particularly in high regions.\r\n\r\n
                                    \r\n\t
                                  • For example,<\/strong>\u00a0In\u00a0Delhi<\/strong>, Areas along the banks of the\u00a0Yamuna and Hindon rivers,\u00a0<\/strong>where numerous multi-story buildings are located, reside in the most seismic-prone zones.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
                                  • Rise in Tourism:\u00a0<\/strong>The rise in the purchasing power of the Indians has caused a spurt in the tourism movement. Tourism in high seismic zones and the related activities there aggravate the problems of earthquake management.<\/li>\r\n\t
                                  • Lapse in building regulations:<\/strong>\u00a0In terms of seismic performance, the condition and quality of Indian building stock are inadequate.\u00a0Retrofitting existing structures\u00a0<\/strong>and ensuring robust building codes and enforcement are essential challenges in earthquake management.\r\n\r\n
                                      \r\n\t
                                    • For example, according to the\u00a0Centre for Science and Environment,<\/strong>\u00a0in Delhi, almost 80 percent of buildings violate regulations.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
                                    • Awareness and Preparedness:\u00a0<\/strong>Awareness about earthquake risks and preparedness measures among the general public is crucial.\r\n\r\n
                                        \r\n\t
                                      • The greater emphasis should be on educating the public about earthquake safety, evacuation procedures, and the importance of constructing earthquake-resistant buildings.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
                                      • Lack of Financial Resources:<\/strong>\u00a0Adequate financial resources are required for investment in earthquake-resistant infrastructure, retrofitting existing buildings, conducting research, and enhancing preparedness and response capabilities.\r\n\r\n
                                          \r\n\t
                                        • Mobilising sufficient funds<\/strong>\u00a0and allocating them effectively are required in earthquake management.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                                          Earthquake UPSC PYQs<\/h2>\r\n

                                          Question 1:\u00a0<\/strong>Discuss about the vulnerability of India to earthquake-related hazards. Give examples including the salient features of major disasters caused by earthquakes in different parts of India during the last three decades.\u00a0(UPSC Mains 2021)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

                                          Question 2:<\/strong>\u00a0The frequency of earthquakes appears to have increased in the Indian subcontinent. However, India\u2019s preparedness for mitigating their impact has significant gaps. Discuss various aspects.\u00a0(UPSC Mains 2015)<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                          An earthquake is a sudden shaking or trembling of the Earth’s surface caused by the movement of tectonic plates. Check about Earthquake, Causes, Types, Impacts, UPSC Notes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":9277,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[86,40],"class_list":{"0":"post-2552","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-notes","8":"tag-earthquake","9":"tag-quest"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2552"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20284,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2552\/revisions\/20284"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}