UPSC Mains 2015 GS Paper 3 Q16: model answer
The frequency of earthquakes appears to have increased in the Indian subcontinent. However, India’s preparedness for mitigating their impact has significant gaps. Discuss various aspects.
What the question wants
Discuss the gaps in India's preparedness to reduce earthquake impacts.
How to structure it
Risk, gaps, fixes.
- India's seismic risk
- Gaps
- Measures
How to think it through
~59% of land prone to moderate to severe quakes; zones II–V (BIS revised seismic zonation 2025 added zone VI? — BIS IS 1893 2025 draft new map with Himalayan arc in zone VI; uncertain, avoid). Nepal 2015 triggered question. Gaps: non-engineered buildings, poor code enforcement (IS 1893, IS 13920), no retrofitting of old schools/hospitals, urban density (Delhi zone IV), lack of microzonation, few trained masons, weak EOCs, low awareness and drills, insurance near zero, limited early warning. Measures: NDMA earthquake guidelines 2007, National Building Code 2016, techno-legal regime, retrofitting, microzonation, NDRF, mason training, EEW in Uttarakhand (IIT Roorkee), BhuDEV app.
Model answer
The Nepal earthquake of April 2015 killed about 9,000 people and was felt across North India. It was a reminder that about 59% of India's land lies in zones prone to moderate or severe earthquakes, including Delhi and the whole Himalayan arc.
Gaps in preparedness
- Unsafe buildings: most homes are non-engineered, built without engineers.
- Weak enforcement of the seismic codes (IS 1893, IS 13920) and the National Building Code.
- Old schools and hospitals not retrofitted.
- Dense, unplanned cities with narrow lanes where rescue is hard.
- Little microzonation of city soils, though soft soils amplify shaking.
- Few trained masons and engineers in small towns.
- Low awareness and rare drills.
- Hardly any insurance cover for homes.
- Emergency operation centres that are weak in many districts.
- Lifeline infrastructure such as bridges and power stations rarely checked for seismic safety.
- Bhuj (2001) showed apartments collapsing because of soft storeys and poor concrete.
Measures
- NDMA's earthquake guidelines and a techno-legal regime that links building approval to codes.
- Retrofitting of lifeline buildings first.
- Microzonation of cities in zones IV and V.
- Mason training and certification.
- Earthquake early warning, as piloted in Uttarakhand, and the BhuDEV app.
- NDRF teams and community drills.
- Seismic safety audits before approving high-rise buildings.
- Insurance linked to safe construction.
Earthquakes do not kill people; buildings do.
Draw: A map of seismic zones with the Himalaya and Kutch in the highest zone.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
59% area, seismic zones, Nepal 2015, non-engineered buildings, IS 1893, IS 13920, NBC 2016, techno-legal regime, retrofitting, microzonation, mason training, EEW Uttarakhand, NDRF.
Where most answers lose marks
- Claiming earthquakes have become more frequent. The question says 'appears'; focus on preparedness gaps.
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Question text as printed in the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) question paper. The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.
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