Key Facts & Data Points

  • Code withdrawn: IS 1893 (2025) – seismic design code introduced by BIS.
  • Code reinstated: IS 1893 (Part 1):2016 – current applicable standard as of March 2026.
  • Cost impact cited by MoHUA:
  • 10‑15% increase in construction costs for buildings in Zones V & VI.
  • Up to 50% rise for large infrastructure projects.
  • Seismic zonation under IS 1893:2016:
  • Zone II – Low (≈ 41% of land).
  • Zone III – Moderate.
  • Zone IV – High.
  • Zone V – Very High (≈ 59% of India's landmass considered prone to earthquakes).
  • Scientific basis of the 2025 draft: Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA), active fault mapping, near‑fault effects.

Background & Context

  • The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) periodically updates seismic design codes to incorporate the latest geophysical research.
  • The 2025 draft aimed to tighten design requirements based on advanced methodologies, but was perceived as financially burdensome.
  • MoHUA intervened, highlighting the lack of extensive stakeholder consultation and the potential adverse impact on affordable housing and infrastructure.
  • Consequently, BIS reverted to the 2016 code, which remains the legal benchmark for structural design.

Significance for India / Governance / Policy

  • Public safety: Ensures that structures are designed to resist seismic forces, reducing loss of life and property.
  • Economic implications: A stricter code could inflate construction costs, affecting housing affordability and project viability, especially in high‑risk zones.
  • Policy balance: Highlights the need for inclusive policy‑making where scientific recommendations are weighed against socio‑economic realities.
  • Infrastructure development: The rollback may accelerate ongoing projects in seismic zones, aligning with the government's push for faster infrastructure rollout.

Related Constitutional / Legal Provisions

  • Article 246 & 247 – Division of powers: Building regulations fall under the State List, but BIS standards are nationally applicable under the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1955.
  • National Building Code (NBC) 2016 – Incorporates IS 1893 standards for seismic design.
  • Urban Development Ministry (MoHUA) Guidelines – Mandate stakeholder consultation for major regulatory changes.

References

  • Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) – IS 1893 (Part 1):2016.
  • Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) press releases.
  • Economic Survey 2025‑26 – Section on Infrastructure Costs.

Prepared for UPSC aspirants – focus on factual recall, analytical linkage, and policy implications.