Why is it in the news?
The Bureau of Indian Standards withdrew the new 2025 seismic code after concerns raised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The earlier seismic standard of 2016 has been reinstated.
Category: Geography
Important Points:
● The Bureau of Indian Standards had issued a revised seismic code IS 1893 in 2025.
● The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs raised concerns about construction cost escalation.
● The new code could increase building costs by about 10–15% in high-risk zones.
● Infrastructure projects could face cost increases of up to 50%.
● The revision used advanced scientific methods such as Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment.
● It also incorporated active fault mapping and near-fault effects.
● A seismic code is a set of standards designed to ensure buildings withstand earthquake forces.
● The currently applicable standard is IS 1893 (Part 1):2016 issued by BIS.
● India is divided into four seismic zones – Zone II, Zone III, Zone IV and Zone V.