{"id":3205,"date":"2025-12-01T12:57:47","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T07:27:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/exams\/?p=3205"},"modified":"2026-02-24T12:31:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T07:01:34","slug":"india-new-seismic-zone-vi-earthquake-map-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/india-new-seismic-zone-vi-earthquake-map-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"New Seismic Zonation Map of India"},"content":{"rendered":"<p dir=\"ltr\">Previously, the Indian landmass was defined into four earthquake zones, including Zones II, III, IV, and V.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Adds a new highest risk Zone VI, with the whole Himalayan arc being covered by that new Zone VI for the first time. Zonal constraints: This is now automatically classified as higher risk. Hazard mapping: This gives importance to geological conditions rather than administrative boundaries.<\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\">India&rsquo;s Earthquake Vulnerability<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The number of moderate to high seismic hazard areas (previously 59 percent) is 61 percent of the territory of India.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">An area of 75 percent of India&#39;s population is in the seismically active areas.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Promotes retrofit of the old buildings in risky regions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Prohibits building in soft sediments or active fault lines.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Encourages the implementation of the standard building codes in the Himalayan and other vulnerable areas.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">NDMA establishes federal disaster management policies.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Disaster plans at the state level are developed and executed by SDMAs.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The National Seismological Network keeps watch on earthquake activities in India.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Study of early warning systems of earthquakes.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\">Previous Year Question Based on Earthquake Zone<\/h2>\n<table border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"8\" cellspacing=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Exam &amp; Year<\/th>\n<th>Question<\/th>\n<th>Options<\/th>\n<th>Answer<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>UPSC Prelims 2023<\/td>\n<td>Which of the following percentages of India&rsquo;s land falls in high seismic zones according to the updated map?<\/td>\n<td>A. 10%<br \/>\n\t\t\tB. 20%<br \/>\n\t\t\tC. 30%<br \/>\n\t\t\tD. 40%<\/td>\n<td>C. 30%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>SSC CGL 2022<\/td>\n<td>India is divided into how many seismic zones as per BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards)?<\/td>\n<td>A. 3<br \/>\n\t\t\tB. 4<br \/>\n\t\t\tC. 5<br \/>\n\t\t\tD. 6<\/td>\n<td>C. 5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>RRB JE 2021<\/td>\n<td>Which region of India falls under the highest seismic hazard zone?<\/td>\n<td>A. Indo-Gangetic plains<br \/>\n\t\t\tB. Himalayan region<br \/>\n\t\t\tC. Western Ghats<br \/>\n\t\t\tD. Deccan plateau<\/td>\n<td>B. Himalayan region<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>UPSC Prelims 2021<\/td>\n<td>The National Seismological Network in India is responsible for?<\/td>\n<td>A. Monitoring earthquakes<br \/>\n\t\t\tB. Flood control<br \/>\n\t\t\tC. Cyclone prediction<br \/>\n\t\t\tD. Soil erosion studies<\/td>\n<td>A. Monitoring earthquakes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>SSC CHSL 2020<\/td>\n<td>Earthquake-prone zones of India are classified on the basis of?<\/td>\n<td>A. Population density<br \/>\n\t\t\tB. Seismicity and past earthquake records<br \/>\n\t\t\tC. Rainfall<br \/>\n\t\t\tD. River systems<\/td>\n<td>B. Seismicity and past earthquake records<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>State PCS 2019<\/td>\n<td>Which authority is responsible for implementing disaster management plans in Indian states?<\/td>\n<td>A. NDMA<br \/>\n\t\t\tB. SDMA<br \/>\n\t\t\tC. ISRO<br \/>\n\t\t\tD. NDRF<\/td>\n<td>B. SDMA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>UPSC 2018<\/td>\n<td>National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) functions under which ministry?<\/td>\n<td>A. Ministry of Home Affairs<br \/>\n\t\t\tB. Ministry of Earth Sciences<br \/>\n\t\t\tC. Ministry of Defence<br \/>\n\t\t\tD. Ministry of Environment<\/td>\n<td>A. Ministry of Home Affairs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\">Expected Questions for Seismic Zone of India<\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Question 1: Which zone on the earthquake map of India represents the highest seismic risk?<br \/>\na) Zone II<br \/>\nb) Zone III<br \/>\nc) Zone V<br \/>\nd) Zone VI<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Answer: d) Zone VI<br \/>\nDescription: Zone VI (dark brown colour) indicates areas of very high seismic risk, including parts of the Himalayas, Northeast India, and Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Question 2: Which major city falls under Zone V?<br \/>\na) Delhi<br \/>\nb) Jaipur<br \/>\nc) Mumbai<br \/>\nd) Bengaluru<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Answer: a) Delhi<br \/>\nDescription: Zone V (red color) represents high seismic hazard areas, including Delhi, Patna, and parts of Gujarat and Maharashtra.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Question 3: Which state in India is entirely in Zone II (low seismic risk)?<br \/>\na) Gujarat<br \/>\nb) Karnataka<br \/>\nc) Kerala<br \/>\nd) West Bengal<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Answer: b) Karnataka<br \/>\nDescription: Zone II (yellow) indicates low seismic hazard, covering most of southern India, including Karnataka, Kerala, and parts of Andhra Pradesh.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Question 4: Port Blair in the Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands falls under which earthquake zone?<br \/>\na) Zone III<br \/>\nb) Zone IV<br \/>\nc) Zone V<br \/>\nd) Zone VI<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Answer: d) Zone VI<br \/>\nDescription: The Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands are in Zone VI due to their location near tectonic plate boundaries, making them highly prone to earthquakes.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Question 5: The city of Mumbai falls under which earthquake zone?<br \/>\na) Zone II<br \/>\nb) Zone III<br \/>\nc) Zone IV<br \/>\nd) Zone V<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Answer: d) Zone V<br \/>\nDescription: The western coast of India, including Mumbai, is in Zone V, which indicates a high risk of earthquakes.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Question 6: Which of the following cities is in a moderate-risk zone (Zone III)?<br \/>\na) Bhopal<br \/>\nb) Jaipur<br \/>\nc) Hyderabad<br \/>\nd) Shillong<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Answer: c) Hyderabad<br \/>\nDescription: Zone III (light yellow-brown) represents moderate seismic risk, including Hyderabad, Chennai, and parts of central India.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Question 7: Which of the following states has areas in both Zone IV and Zone V?<br \/>\na) Gujarat<br \/>\nb) Maharashtra<br \/>\nc) Rajasthan<br \/>\nd) Uttar Pradesh<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Answer: a) Gujarat<br \/>\nDescription: Gujarat has regions in Zone IV (orange) and Zone V (red), reflecting both moderate and high seismic risk areas.<\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The recent 2025 Seismic Zonation Map of India re-establishes the risk of an earthquake with the whole Himalayan belt in the Zone of highest risk of VI. Moderate-to-high hazard (61 percent of the landmass in India) covers safer urban planning, stricter building codes, and better disaster preparedness; planning infrastructure and policies to match the seismic assessment of science.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Previously, the Indian landmass was defined into four earthquake zones, including Zones II, III, IV, and V. Adds a new highest risk Zone VI, with the whole Himalayan arc being covered by that new Zone VI for the first time. Zonal constraints: This is now automatically classified as higher risk. Hazard mapping: This gives importance [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3206,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environment"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3205","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3205"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3205\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3236,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3205\/revisions\/3236"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}