UPDATES
.

Earthquake Disaster Management in India | UPSC GS-3 Notes

  • Home
  • Earthquake Disaster Management in India | UPSC GS-3 Notes
Shape Image One

Earthquake Disaster Management in India

An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the Earth’s surface caused by the release of energy from the Earth’s crust, usually along faults or plate boundaries. It is one of the most destructive natural hazards because it occurs suddenly, gives very little warning, and can cause large-scale loss of life, destruction of infrastructure and secondary disasters such as landslides, fires and tsunamis.

India is highly vulnerable to earthquakes because a large part of the country lies in seismically active zones, especially the Himalayan belt, North-East India, Kachchh region, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of peninsular India.

Causes of Earthquake

  • Earthquakes are the result of sudden movement along faults within the Earth. The movement releases stored-up ‘elastic strain’ energy in the form of seismic waves, which propagate through the Earth and cause the ground surface to shake. Such movement on the faults is generally a response to long-term deformation and the buildup of stress. 
  • Natural Reasons 
    • Volcanic eruption 
    • Faulting and folding 
    • Upwarping and downwarping 
    • Gaseous expansion and contraction inside the earth. 
    • Plate Movement 
  • Landslides 
  • Man-made/Anthropogenic Reasons 
  • Deep underground mining 
  • Blasting of rock by dynamites for construction purposes. 
  • Deep underground tunnel 
  • Nuclear explosion
  • Reservoir Induced Seismicity (RIS)

Earthquake Vulnerability in India

  • India is vulnerable due to its location at the boundary of the Indian Plate and Eurasian Plate.
  • The Indian Plate is moving northward and colliding with the Eurasian Plate, leading to intense seismic activity in the Himalayan region.
  • Approximately 59% of India is vulnerable to earthquakes, and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has classified the country into four seismic zones based on earthquake risk. Zone V is the most active, including regions like the Himalayas, while Zone II is the least affected.

Major Earthquake-Vulnerable Areas in India

  • Himalayan Region
    • Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh are highly vulnerable due to active plate collision.
  • North-East India
    • The entire North-East region lies in a high seismic zone due to complex tectonic movements.
  • Kachchh Region of Gujarat
    • This region has experienced destructive earthquakes due to faulting and crustal movement.
      • Most of the faults in the region, viz., Kachchh Mainland Fault (KMF), South Wagad Fault (SWF), Gedi Fault (GF), and Island Belt Fault (IBF) are seismically active.  
      • Seismicity in the Kachchh region is highly complex as it is characterized by multiple seismic sources in the form of several East-West trending fault lines, which release continuously accumulating tectonic stresses at intervals producing earthquakes.  
  • Andaman and Nicobar Islands
    • These islands lie near the subduction zone and are vulnerable to both earthquakes and tsunamis.
      • Andaman and Nicobar Islands region is an earthquake hotspot, caused by ‘subduction’ of the Indian plate beneath the Burmese plate.
  • Indo-Gangetic Plains
    • The region lies directly south of the seismically active Himalayan collision zone and sits on deep, loose alluvial soil that can severely amplify ground shaking during a tremor

Impact of Earthquakes

  • Human Impact
    • Earthquakes can cause deaths, injuries, displacement and psychological trauma.
    • People may be trapped under collapsed buildings.
    • Vulnerable groups such as children, elderly persons, women, persons with disabilities and poor households are affected more severely.
  • Physical and Infrastructure Impact
    • Earthquakes damage houses, schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, dams, power lines, water pipelines and communication networks.
    • Poorly constructed buildings and unplanned urban settlements suffer maximum damage.
  • Economic Impact
    • Earthquakes cause loss of property, livelihood, businesses, industries and public infrastructure.
    • Government expenditure increases due to rescue, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
    • Economic activity may be disrupted due to transport failure, power breakdown and market closure.
  • Environmental Impact
    • Earthquakes may trigger landslides, soil liquefaction, ground subsidence, river blockages and changes in drainage patterns.
    • In coastal and island regions, undersea earthquakes may generate tsunamis.
  • Social Impact
    • Earthquakes disrupt education, healthcare, sanitation, drinking water supply and community life.
  • Secondary Hazards
    • Earthquakes may trigger:
      • Landslides
      • Tsunamis
      • Fires
      • Dam failure
      • Liquefaction
      • Flooding
      • Chemical leaks
      • Building collapse

Risk Reduction Measures

Structural Measures

  • Earthquake-Resistant Buildings
    • Buildings should be designed according to earthquake-resistant construction standards.
    • Special focus should be given to schools, hospitals, government buildings, bridges and lifeline infrastructure.
  • Retrofitting of Existing Buildings
    • Old and weak buildings should be strengthened through retrofitting.
    • This is especially important in urban areas, heritage buildings, public offices, hospitals and schools.
  • Safe Construction Practices
    • Use of good quality materials, proper foundation, flexible design and adherence to building codes can reduce damage.
    • Informal and unsafe construction in towns and cities should be regulated.
  • Strengthening Lifeline Infrastructure
    • Roads, bridges, power supply, water pipelines, communication towers and hospitals should be made earthquake-resilient.
    • Emergency facilities must remain functional after an earthquake.
  • Slope Stabilisation
    • In hilly regions, slope protection measures, retaining walls, drainage management and afforestation can reduce earthquake-induced landslides.

Non-Structural Measures

  • Hazard Mapping and Seismic Zonation
    • Earthquake-prone areas should be mapped properly.
    • Seismic zonation helps identify areas of high, moderate and low risk.
    • This helps in planning construction, infrastructure and disaster preparedness.
  • Enforcement of Building Codes
    • India has building codes and seismic safety standards, but implementation remains weak.
      • National Building Code 2016 — comprehensive; seismic chapter; mandatory for all engineered buildings 
    • Strict enforcement is necessary, especially in rapidly urbanising areas.
  • Land-Use Planning
    • Construction should be avoided in highly vulnerable areas such as fault zones, landslide-prone slopes, unstable soil areas and liquefaction-prone zones.
    • Urban planning must include seismic risk mapping.
      • No construction on active fault traces 
      • Liquefaction hazard zones — no critical facilities; special foundation requirements
      • Ridge-top construction — topographic amplification; avoid on sharp ridges
      • Valley bottom — soft sediment amplification; restrict high-rise construction
      • India gap — microzonation maps exist for few cities; not integrated into master plans or building bylaws
  • Public Awareness
    • People should know what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
    • Simple safety behaviour such as “Drop, Cover and Hold” can save lives.
  • Community Preparedness
    • Local communities should be trained in first aid, search and rescue, evacuation and relief management.
    • Community volunteers can act quickly before external help arrives.
  • School Safety Programme
    • Schools should conduct mock drills, evacuation training and structural safety audits.
    • Children should be taught basic earthquake safety measures.
  • Capacity Building
    • Engineers, architects, masons, contractors, local officials and disaster response teams should be trained in earthquake-safe construction and emergency response.
  • Mock Drills
    • Regular earthquake drills should be conducted in schools, offices, hospitals, apartments and public institutions.
    • This reduces panic and improves response.
  • Emergency Communication
    • Reliable communication systems should be developed for early information sharing, coordination and public guidance after an earthquake.
  • Emergency Response Planning
    • Districts and cities should prepare earthquake response plans.
    • These plans should include evacuation routes, relief centres, medical support, rescue teams and coordination mechanisms.
  • Insurance and Financial Protection
    • Disaster insurance can help households and businesses recover faster after earthquake losses.

NDMA Guidelines for Management of Earthquake: Six Pillars of Earthquake Management in India

  • Ensure the incorporation of earthquake resistant design features for the construction of new structures.
  • Facilitate selective strengthening and seismic retrofitting of existing priority and lifeline structures in earthquake-prone areas.
  • Improve the compliance regime through appropriate regulation and enforcement.
  • Improve the awareness and preparedness of all stakeholders.
  • Introduce appropriate capacity development interventions for effective earthquake management (including education, training, R&D, and documentation).
  • Strengthen the emergency response capability in earthquake-prone areas

Government Initiatives for Earthquake Safety

To enhance earthquake safety, the government has launched several initiatives:

❖Increase in Seismic Observatories: The number of seismic observatories increased from 80 in 2014 to 168 by February 2025.
Special Program: NDMA aired an earthquake discussion program called "Aapda Ka Samna" on Doordarshan TV in March 2025.
❖10-Point Agenda: Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed a 10-point agenda in 2016 for disaster risk reduction, which aligns with Vision Document 2047 for a disaster-resilient India.
❖Retrofitting of Buildings: Approximately 59% of India's land area is earthquake-prone, prompting strict enforcement of building code compliance.
❖Himalayan Region Earthquake Preparedness: The Himalayan region received special attention with the implementation of early warning systems and a well-defined disaster response framework.
❖Simplified Earthquake Safety Guidelines: In 2021, earthquake safety guidelines were simplified to ensure better infrastructure safety under the Building Code of India.
❖Risk Transfer Mechanism and Infrastructure Insurance: A system has been established to assess earthquake-induced damage and ensure insurance coverage for affected infrastructure.
Launch of Bhookamp App: BhooKamp is a mobile app of National Center for Seismology (NCS), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India; which provides real-time earthquake information to the users.

Key Government Agencies for Earthquake Preparedness and Response

  • National Disaster Response Force (NDRF): The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was formed under the Disaster Management Act of 2005. Its purpose is to provide specialized response to natural and man-made disasters. The NDRF was first established in 2006 with 8 Battalions. Today, it has expanded to 16 Battalions, each with 1,149 personnel. 
  • National Centre for Seismology (NCS): India’s earthquake monitoring began in 1898 with the establishment of the first seismological observatory in Alipore (Calcutta). Today, the National Seismological Network monitors earthquake activity across the country. The collected data is shared with national and state authorities using advanced technology. The system also conducts research on developing earthquake early warning systems. 
  • National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): The Disaster Management Act was passed on 23rd December 2005, leading to the creation of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which is headed by the Prime Minister. Each state also has its own State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), led by the Chief Minister. While NDMA is responsible for setting disaster management policies, the SDMAs are in charge of creating and implementing disaster plans, including those for earthquakes. 
  • National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM): It began as the National Centre for Disaster Management (NCDM) in 1995. In 2005, it was renamed the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) to focus on training and building skills. Under the Disaster Management Act of 2005, NIDM is responsible for developing human resources, providing training, conducting research, and promoting policies related to disaster management.

Challenges in Earthquake Management in India

  • Poor Enforcement of Building Codes
    • Many buildings are constructed without following seismic safety norms.
      • Building stock vulnerability — 90%+ non-engineered; millions of buildings at risk; cannot be replaced quickly 
    • This increases the risk of collapse during earthquakes.
  • Unplanned Urbanisation
    • Rapid construction, informal settlements and congested cities increase vulnerability.
  • Weak Retrofitting Culture
    • Old buildings, schools, hospitals and public offices are often not retrofitted.
    • Seismic retrofit scale — millions of buildings need retrofit; prohibitively expensive at scale; no national programme 
  • Low Public Awareness
    • Many people do not know basic earthquake safety measures.
    • This can lead to panic and unsafe behaviour during earthquakes.
  • High Population Density
    • Dense settlements increase the possibility of high casualties and difficulties in rescue operations.
  • Vulnerability of Himalayan Region
    • The Himalayan region is young, fragile and seismically active.
    • It is also vulnerable to landslides, road blockages and communication breakdown.
  • Lack of Preparedness in Rural Areas
    • Rural houses may be made of weak materials and lack engineering safety.
    • Preparedness and emergency response capacity are often limited.
  • Difficulty in Prediction
    • Earthquakes cannot be predicted accurately in terms of exact time, place and magnitude.
      • No early warning — zero lead time; unlike cyclones; lives depend on building quality alone 
    • Therefore, preparedness becomes more important than prediction.
  • Hidden faults — blind thrust faults; not on hazard maps; future surprises inevitable 
  • Himalayan seismic gap — great earthquake overdue; Kumaon-Garhwal segment; could affect 50 million+ 
  • Post-earthquake fire — no planning for fire following earthquake in Indian cities 
  • Microzonation — critical for urban DRR; done for very few cities; not integrated into planning even where done 
  • Mason training — most construction by untrained masons; no formal certification system nationally

Way Forward

  • Structural Safety
    • National Seismic Retrofit Mission — 10-year programme; hospitals and schools first; Zone IV/V priority
    • Mason certification — national programme; 10 lakh certified earthquake-resistant construction masons by 2030
    • Third-party audit mandate — all states to adopt third-party structural audit system
    • Confined masonry promotion — national campaign; replace non-engineered masonry; affordable improvement
  • Risk Assessment
    • Microzonation — complete for all 50 cities in Zone IV/V by 2030; mandatory integration in master plans
    • National fault catalogue — comprehensive mapping including blind faults; NGRI mandate
    • Use technology such as GIS mapping, remote sensing and real-time monitoring for risk assessment.
  • Response Capacity 
    • NDRF expansion — double to 32 battalions; position in all Zone V states 
    • Mass casualty protocol — national Mass Casualty Incident  plan for urban earthquake; all states adopt 
    • Develop local-level emergency response plans.
  • Urban Planning
    • Earthquake risk in Master Plans — legally mandate risk-based zoning in all Zone IV/V cities 
    • Building permission — automatic seismic zone identification; appropriate code requirement flagged  
    • Strictly enforce earthquake-resistant building codes.
    • Conduct safety audits of schools, hospitals, bridges and public buildings.
    • Promote retrofitting of old and vulnerable structures.
    • Integrate seismic risk assessment into urban planning and infrastructure projects.
  • Early Warning 
    • National Earthquake Early Warning System — phase-wise; 500+ sensor network; pilot in Guwahati, Delhi, Srinagar 
    • Improve seismic monitoring and research.
    • Cell broadcast integration — use existing cyclone cell broadcast infrastructure for Earthquake Early Warning (EEW)
    • Public education — Drop Cover Hold On; national campaign; before EEW installed
    • Automatic systems — train braking, gas shut-off, elevator recall — EEW integration
  • Train engineers, architects, masons and local officials in safe construction.
  • Strengthen community-based disaster preparedness.
  • Conduct regular mock drills in schools, offices and residential areas.
  • Promote disaster insurance and financial resilience.
  • Create awareness through schools, media, local bodies and community organisations.

Earthquakes cannot be prevented, but their impact can be greatly reduced through preparedness, safe construction, public awareness and effective response mechanisms. For India, earthquake disaster management must shift from a relief-centric approach to a risk-reduction approach, with strong focus on earthquake-resistant infrastructure, community preparedness and strict enforcement of building safety norms.

Sample Mains Questions

Q1. What is an earthquake? Explain the major natural and anthropogenic causes of earthquakes.(150 words, 10 marks)

Q2. Discuss the earthquake vulnerability profile of India.(150 words, 10 marks)

Q3. Earthquakes cannot be prevented, but their impact can be reduced. Discuss.(250 words, 15 marks)

Q4. Explain the structural and non-structural measures for earthquake risk reduction.(250 words, 15 marks)

Q5. Poor enforcement of building codes is a major reason for earthquake vulnerability in India. Analyse.(150 words, 10 marks)

✍️ Curated by InclusiveIAS Editorial Team

At InclusiveIAS, our editorial team is led by experts who have successfully cleared multiple stages of the UPSC Civil Services Examination, including Mains and Interview. With deep insights into the demands of the exam, we focus on crafting content that is accurate, exam-relevant, and easy to grasp.

Whether it’s Polity, Current Affairs, GS papers, or Optional subjects, our notes are designed to:

  • Break down complex topics into simple, structured points

  • Align strictly with the UPSC syllabus and PYQ trends

  • Save your time by offering crisp yet comprehensive coverage

  • Help you score more with smart presentation, keywords, and examples

🟢 Every article, note, and test is not just written—but carefully edited to ensure it helps you study faster, revise better, and write answers like a topper.

Telegram Channel Links

InclusiveIAS

Answer Writing Group

Essay Writing Group

UPSC PRELIMS NOTES

Polity

International Relations

Environment

Economy

Science and Technology

Geography

History and Culture

Mapping

UPSC MAINS NOTES

General Studies - 4 (Ethics)

General Studies - 3

General Studies - 2

General Studies - 1