Physical Geography Earthquake Risk Debate in Himalayan and Northeastern India Context: Scientists, engineers, and government officials are reviewing whether earthquake risks to structures in the Himalayan and northeastern regions are being overestimated. A report is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet Secretariat. Withdrawal of Updated Standards The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) withdrew the revised IS 1893 (2025) guidelines after concerns that stricter norms could significantly impact ongoing and future infrastructure projects like metro systems. Seismic Zoning in India India is divided into four seismic zones (II to V), with Zone V (Himalayan region) being the most vulnerable. Strong earthquakes (magnitude 8) have occurred here, capable of causing severe structural damage. Higher Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) Values Proposed The updated model suggests PGA values ranging from 0.15 g to 0.75 g (and even higher globally), compared to lower values in current Indian standards. Global Comparison Countries like Japan and the U.S. design for higher acceleration values (around or above 1 g), while India’s current standards are considered relatively low.
