International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 12 | Dec 2025
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
Seismotectonic Dynamics and Disaster Preparedness: A Multidimensional Review of Earthquake Risk in India Mistry Pooja B.1, Chandresha Sandip P.2, Tiwari Mohit3 1 Assistant Professor, Applied Mechanics Department, Vishwakarma Government Engineering College,
Chandkheda, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
2Assistant Professor, Applied Mechanics Department, Government Engineering College, Dahod, Gujarat, India 3 Students, Electrical Engineering Department, Vishwakarma Government Engineering College, Chandkheda,
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India ---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract - India occupies one of the world’s most complex
system. This convergent plate boundary generates substantial tectonic stress, which is distributed not only along the Himalayan arc but also across the broader continental interior. According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, approximately 59% of India’s land area falls under zones classified as moderate to very high seismic risk, underscoring the extensive geographic extent of seismic vulnerability.
seismotectonic environments due to the persistent convergence of the Indian and Eurasian plates. This report provides an integrated assessment of the nation’s seismic hazard profile by examining geological processes, historical earthquake patterns, and emerging anthropogenic influences. The analysis demonstrates that compressional stresses generated along the Himalayan collision zone propagate deep into the Indian craton, challenging perceptions of the peninsular shield as a stable tectonic block. It further highlights the growing significance of human-induced seismicity, showing how reservoir impoundment, groundwater extraction, and related activities can destabilize critically stressed fault systems.
Compounding this geological predisposition is India’s vast population density and rapid urban expansion, which significantly heighten the potential impact of seismic events. Urban centers with inadequate structural resilience, aging infrastructure, and high concentrations of people and assets face disproportionately greater risk. Consequently, understanding the nation’s seismic hazard profile requires a multifaceted examination of both geophysical processes and socio-environmental conditions.
A detailed review of India’s seismic zonation framework, major past earthquakes, and the evolution of national preparedness measures reveals a clear transition from reactive disaster response to proactive, mitigation-oriented risk management. Despite substantial progress in monitoring networks, institutional capacity, and seismic-resistant construction practices, persistent challenges—including funding limitations, enforcement gaps, and the intrinsic unpredictability of seismic events—underscore the need for sustained research, technological investment, and policy advancement. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of long-term commitment to building a resilient seismic-risk governance system for India.
1.2 Scope and Objectives This research seeks to develop a comprehensive, integrative analysis of earthquake hazards in India. Moving beyond conventional descriptions of seismically active regions, the report investigates the geological drivers, historical seismicity, and emerging factors—such as intraplate earthquakes and anthropogenically induced seismicity—that influence the seismic risk landscape. A central objective is to interrogate the prevailing misconception that certain regions of India remain “seismically safe,” demonstrating instead that vulnerabilities extend far beyond the Himalayan frontal arc.
Key Words: Disaster preparedness, Hazard mitigation, Geodynamic processes, Paleo seismicity, Structural vulnerability, Risk management
The study aims to: Elucidate the tectonic mechanisms underpinning seismic activity in both inter-plate and intraplate settings.
1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background
Examine major historical earthquakes to identify spatial patterns and recurrence characteristics.
The Indian subcontinent has long been recognized as one of the most seismically active regions of the world, shaped fundamentally by the interaction of major lithospheric plates. Its tectonic setting is dominated by the persistent northward drift of the Indian Plate and its ongoing collision with the Eurasian Plate—an orogenic process responsible for the uplift and continuous evolution of the Himalayan mountain
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Assess the evolution of national mitigation frameworks, including preparedness, policy reforms, and engineering interventions. Highlight human-induced seismicity as an increasingly relevant component of India’s hazard profile.
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