Seismic Zones of India: Earthquake-Prone Areas with New Map

The seismic zones of India have recently undergone a historic revision. Based on modern Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA) and stress accumulation data, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has updated the Earthquake Design Code (IS 1893:2025).

The most significant change is the introduction of a new Zone VI (Super-Critical Zone), making it the highest risk category. Consequently, India is now classified into five seismic zones: Zone II, Zone III, Zone IV, Zone V, and the newly created Zone VI.

In this article, we break down the updated seismic zones of India, highlight the most earthquake-prone areas, and list major Indian cities along with their respective seismic zones. We have also included a free downloadable PDF map for quick reference and revision, useful for competitive exams like UPSC.

What’s New in the new Seismic Zonation Map (2025)?

• The most significant update is the introduction of a new, highest-risk category — Zone VI.
• The entire Himalayan arc, including Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and northeast states, is now classified as Zone VI — the highest seismic hazard.
• This revised earthquake zonation has been generated using internationally accepted Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA) methods, replacing the earlier largely deterministic, historical-epicentre–based approach.
• Any town or settlement located on the boundary between two seismic zones is now automatically placed in the higher-risk zone.
• Around 61 % of India’s landmass is now categorized under moderate to high seismic risk zones (earlier 59%).
• Approximately 75% of India’s population now resides in seismically active regions.

The new seismic zones map replaces the older BIS classification that had four zones (II, III, IV, V). For comparison, here is the Old Seismic Zones Map of India:

Did You Know?

National Center for Seismology (NCS) is the nodal agency of the Government of India for monitoring earthquake activity in the country.

Earthquake Zones of India

India is prone to earthquakes due to its position at the intersection of multiple tectonic plates, including the Indian Plate, Eurasian Plate, and Burma Plate.

The ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian Plates, responsible for the formation of the Himalayas, makes northern and northeastern India highly vulnerable to seismic activity.

To manage this risk, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has re-classified the country into the following five earthquake zones:

1. Zone VI (Highest Risk)
2. Zone V (Very High Risk)
3. Zone IV (High Risk)
4. Zone III (Moderate Risk)
5. Zone II (Low Risk)

Why is there no Seismic Zone I in India?

India was historically divided into five earthquake zones (I to V). Zone I represented areas with the least seismic activity.

However, in the 2002 revision, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) merged Zone I with Zone II. This was done to ensure that even the safest areas adhere to a minimum standard of seismic safety. Hence, there is no “Zone I” in the current mapping; Zone II is the lowest.

Why Zone VI was Added?

Scientific studies revealed that the previous Zone V classification underestimated the risk in the Himalayas. Long-locked fault segments in the Himalayan arc have accumulated massive stress, capable of generating earthquakes of magnitude 8.0 or higher.

As a result, the entire Himalayan belt (previously split between Zone IV and V) has been unified into this new “Super-Critical” Zone VI.

The five seismic zones of India, along with the regions they cover and their major cities, are given below:

1. Zone VI

• The newly created highest-risk zone with extreme earthquake vulnerability.
• Includes major fault lines like the Himalayan Frontal Thrust and the Indo-Burma subduction boundary, which present significant seismic hazards.
• Major Regions Covered:
  • The entire Himalayan arc from west to east, including parts of Ladakh, entire Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim; All north-eastern states; Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Parts of North Bihar, UP, and West Bengal adjoining the Himalayan front; and parts of Gujarat.
  • Major Cities: Srinagar, Dehradun, Shimla, Dharamshala, Chandigarh, Gangtok, Imphal, Guwahati, Imphal, Bhuj, Joshimath, Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram).

2. Zone V

• Areas with very frequent earthquakes and high vulnerability to major seismic events.
• Major Regions Covered:
  • Remaining parts of Ladakh; parts of the northern Indo-Gangetic Plains adjoining the southern edge of Seismic Zone VI just below the Himalayas, stretching from Punjab to West Bengal; portions of Gujarat adjoining Zone VI; and parts of southwestern Maharashtra.
  • Major Cities: Amritsar, Gorakhpur, Farakka

3. Zone IV

• Areas with significant seismic activity and considerable risk of substantial damage.
• Major Regions Covered:
  • Delhi; parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan; areas adjoining southern edge of Seismic Zone V in the Indo-Gangetic Plains, including parts of Punjab, Haryana, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
  • Major Cities: New Delhi, Jaipur, Patna, Kolkata, Gandhinagar

4. Zone III

• Areas prone to moderate seismic activity with potential for significant damage.
• Major Regions Covered:
  • Parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha
  • Major Cities: Mumbai, Chennai, Amravati, Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Lucknow

5. Zone II

• Areas with the least likelihood of experiencing destructive earthquakes.
• Considered geologically stable with minimal tectonic activity.
• Major Regions Covered:
  • Remaining portions of Peninsular India
  • Stable regions of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
  • Parts of Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh
  • Lakshadweep Islands
  • Major Cities: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Raipur, Ranchi Prayagraj, Kavaratti

Seismic Zones of Indian Cities

A state-wise list of important cities falling in various seismic zones is given below:

Understanding the Scientific Basis

The 2025 update reflects India’s commitment to aligning with international best practices in seismic hazard assessment. Unlike the previous methodology that relied primarily on where earthquakes had already struck, the new Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA) approach:

• Models the behavior of locked fault segments that haven’t ruptured in centuries
• Accounts for stress accumulation in regions where strain is building up
• Predicts rupture propagation patterns and their effects on distant areas
• Incorporates attenuation models specific to Indian geology
• Considers soil amplification in cities built on soft sediments

This more rigorous approach has revealed that foothill cities like Dehradun, which are close to major thrust faults, face significantly higher hazards than previously assessed. It has also brought uniformity to the entire Himalayan region, eliminating the artificial hazard variations that existed when zone boundaries followed administrative lines.

Implications for Construction and Safety

The introduction of Zone VI and the updated zonation require:

• Stricter building codes for structures in Zone VI, with approximately 50-60% higher earthquake resistance than previously required
• Mandatory anchoring of non-structural elements (water tanks, facades, heavy ceilings) weighing over 1% of building weight
• Site-specific seismic studies for critical infrastructure near active faults
• Retrofitting of existing vulnerable structures, particularly schools, hospitals, and public buildings
• Enhanced urban planning that prioritizes safety and reduces exposure to seismic hazards

Monitoring and Preparedness

The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) continues to monitor seismic activity across the country using an expanded network of seismic stations. The new seismic map serves as a foundational tool for:

• Urban planning and infrastructure development
• Building code enforcement
• Risk assessment and disaster preparedness
• Public awareness and education
• Emergency response planning