Question

India is divided into how many seismic zones according to the earthquake zoning map?
A. 3
B.4
C.5
D.7

Answer 1

Hint: Seismicity is defined as the measuring of the occurrence of earthquakes.Its magnitude and mechanisms in a particular location.Beno Gutenberg and Charles Francis Richter coined this term.

Complete answer:The zones which are weak and more prone to earthquakes are called seismic zones. India has 5 seismic zones. These zones are based on the occurrence of earthquakes and scientific inputs in accordance to the earthquakes that have occurred in the region in the past. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the official agency in India that publishes the seismic hazard maps and codes.Earthquakes occur due to a shift in the tectonic plates below the earth’s surface. The Indian cities which are located closer to the Himalayas are prone to more threats.
1. Zone 1: the current Indian measure of earthquakes does not use zone 1. Therefore it is not classed.
2.Zone 2: This zone is the low damage zone.
3.Zone 3: This is the moderate damage zone. Megacities like Kolkata, Chennai,Mumbai and Bhubaneswar lie in this zone.
Option 4: This is the high damage risk zone. This zone includes Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh,Himachal Pradesh,Uttarakhand,Sikkim and parts of the Indo Gangetic plains.
Zone 5: This is the very high damage risk zone. This includes Jammu and Kashmir ,western and Central Himalayas, North and Middle Bihar, North East India region,Rann of Kutch and the islands of Andaman and Nicobar islands.

So, the correct answer is option B.

Note: There are technically four seismic zones in India because zone 1 is not included. The National Centre for Seismology under the Ministry of Earth Sciences is the chief agency which deals with the various activities in the field of Seismology.