Government Withdrawal of Updated Seismic Code Triggers Expert Alarm
The Union government's recent decision to roll back India's newly introduced seismic zonation map and revised earthquake design code has triggered significant concern among the nation's leading seismologists and geologists. Many experts have described the move as potentially weakening the country's preparedness for a future major earthquake, which they consider a critical vulnerability given India's geological profile.
Revised Framework Proposed Major Updates
The revised framework, which was introduced in November 2025 by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), proposed substantial and scientifically-backed updates to India's seismic design norms. One of the most significant changes was the placement of the entire Himalayan arc under a newly created Zone VI, representing the highest seismic risk category. This classification was based on accumulated scientific knowledge about earthquake patterns and their potential impacts across the Indian subcontinent.
Senior geoscientist CP Rajendran has termed the government's rollback decision a "bad step" that represents a missed opportunity to strengthen India's disaster resilience. "We don't know what triggered the government to roll back such a bold policy. The new seismic code was based on the knowledge the scientific community had accumulated about earthquakes and its possible impact on India," Rajendran stated. He emphasized that scientists have repeatedly warned that the Himalayan region could witness a magnitude eight or larger earthquake in the future, making the updated code a reflection of the real earthquake risks the country faces.
India's Significant Seismic Risk Profile
Geologists have pointed out that India's seismic risk is far from marginal, with nearly 59% of the country's landmass and approximately 80% of the population falling under moderate to very high seismic hazard zones. This substantial exposure makes updated building codes and preparedness measures particularly crucial for national safety.
Piyoosh Rautela, a prominent geologist and former executive director of the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority, explained that the proposed revisions to the code represented a major step forward in improving the country's earthquake preparedness. "The proposed revisions marked a major step in strengthening India's seismic design framework to better protect the country's built environment from future earthquakes," Rautela said.
He further noted that the newly-proposed Zone VI covering the Himalayan arc properly acknowledged the persistent tectonic threat along the Indo-Eurasian plate boundary, which has produced devastating earthquakes similar to those witnessed during the 2001 Bhuj and 2015 Nepal earthquakes.
Technical Improvements in the Revised Code
The revised earthquake design code introduced several stronger safety measures that experts say would have significantly enhanced building resilience. These technical improvements included:
- Improved design spectra for more accurate earthquake modeling
- A substantial 10-30% increase in base shear requirements for structures
- Stricter rules addressing structural irregularities in building design
- More rigorous geotechnical and dynamic analyses for construction projects
These comprehensive changes aimed to promote performance-based engineering principles, ensuring buildings would be designed not only to survive seismic shaking but also to minimize collapse risks and economic losses during large earthquakes. The approach represented a shift toward more resilient infrastructure that could withstand the specific seismic challenges of different regions across India.
Implications for Construction and Infrastructure
Experts have acknowledged that the revised code would have had major implications for construction practices and ongoing infrastructure projects across the country. While implementing the updated standards would have required adjustments in building methodologies and potentially increased construction costs in high-risk zones, scientists argue that these measures were necessary for long-term safety and disaster mitigation.
The withdrawal of these updated standards has left many in the scientific community concerned about India's ability to withstand future seismic events, particularly in the vulnerable Himalayan region where tectonic pressures continue to build. As the country develops rapidly with extensive infrastructure projects, the absence of updated seismic codes could leave new constructions vulnerable to earthquake damage that might otherwise have been prevented.
