The Government has undertaken several scientific studies to understand earthquakes occurring in the country. These studies are primarily carried out by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) through its attached office, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), along with other scientific institutions and academic organizations.

The details of such studies include continuous monitoring of seismic activity through a National Seismological Network (NSN) comprising 169 seismological observatories at present, analysis of earthquake source parameters, seismic hazard assessment, and microzonation studies in major cities. The Government has also supported research projects in crustal deformation, fault mapping, paleoseismology, and earthquake precursor studies.

The Government has made budgetary provisions for earthquake-related studies. These studies are supported under various central sector schemes of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, including the umbrella schemes such as Seismology and Geosciences component, under PRITHVI scheme of MoES. Funds are allocated for strengthening seismic networks, research projects, microzonation studies, and capacity building.

As part of the Government initiatives regarding reduction of earthquake risk and vulnerability; NCS has taken-up measures to strengthen the NSN through its expansion and modernization for disseminating the earthquake information to the stakeholders and the Public which improves the response to earthquake disaster and hazard assessment. Also, NCS has taken-up seismic hazard microzonation of targeted cities lying in high seismic zones for earthquake risk assessment and mitigation planning. Capacity building, public awareness programmes, and training initiatives are carried out by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) and State Governments.

This information was submitted by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) For Earth Sciences and Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh in Lok Sabha on 25 March 2026.

 

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