Guwahati: India has rolled out a major update to its national earthquake safety code, IS 1893:2025, and the findings are a wake-up call for the entire country—especially the Northeast. The new seismic map divides India into five earthquake zones instead of four, and a stunning 61% of the country now falls under moderate to high earthquake risk.
That means more than three out of every four Indians live in areas that could experience strong shaking.
What’s new? The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has added a brand-new highest-risk category called Zone VI, and the entire Northeast has been placed in it. This is based on an advanced scientific analysis that studied the region’s active faults, past earthquakes, and the way seismic waves travel through the ground. Simply put: the Northeast is one of India’s most earthquake-prone regions, and the new map finally reflects that reality.
The revamped code also updates how buildings should be designed. Instead of relying on older methods, engineers will now use a modern, probability-based system—similar to what countries like the US and Japan follow—to understand how strong the shaking could be over long periods.
Importantly, the new guidelines call for stronger building designs, taking into account not just sideways shaking but also vertical jolts, soil conditions, and the risk of the ground turning unstable or “liquefying” during a major earthquake. The rules also stress securing architectural elements and equipment—things that often fall and cause injuries even when the building itself stays standing.
Experts say the changes will reshape how cities grow, especially in high-risk areas like Guwahati, Imphal, Aizawl, and Shillong. Even if wind or other loads seem to govern construction, earthquake-resistant detailing is now non-negotiable for all buildings in Zones III to VI.
“With the entire Northeast falling under Zone VI, the region now needs stricter seismic design, better detailing and stronger enforcement for every building and infrastructure project,” an expert said.
As India urbanises at record speed, the updated quake code aims to make homes, offices, schools, and public infrastructure safer and more resilient, reducing the damage and loss of life that major earthquakes have caused in the past.
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Dear Sir,
When one can see the revised guidelines of the new seismic code.
What changes designers can expect in Delhi NCR.
Can we use the old building, which was constructed in the year 1996, continue?