Parliament Question: Impact of seismic changes on structural safety of buildings

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1043 ANSWERED ON 09/02/2026 IMPACT OF SEISMIC CHANGES ON STRUCTURAL SAFETY OF BUILDINGS 1043. DR. AJEET MADHAVRAO GOPCHADE: Will the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs be pleased to state: (a) whether Government is aware that frequent seismic changes and related geophysical activities adversely impact the structural strength and stability of buildings; (b) if so, whether the Central Government, in consultation with State Governments and other relevant stakeholders, has assessed the risks of sudden building collapse arising therefrom; (c) the details of existing guidelines or standards relating to structural safety and seismic resilience of buildings; and (d) whether Government proposes to frame regulations mandating periodic structural and seismic safety audits of buildings to minimise the risk of sudden collapse and the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU) (a) to (d): As per 12th Schedule of the Constitution of India, urban planning including building plan approvals and enforcement of building bye-laws, is the function of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/ Urban Development Authorities. Government of India supplements the efforts of the States through schematic interventions/ advisories. Government is aware that earthquakes and related geophysical activities can adversely impact the structural strength and stability of buildings, particularly where buildings are not designed/constructed as per applicable seismic safety provisions and where existing structures have vulnerabilities. The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has published Model Building Bye-laws (MBBL) – 2016 (https://mohua.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/MBBL.pdf), in which Chapter-6 deals with Provisions for Structural Safety, and lays down guidelines/standards relating to structural safety and seismic resilience of buildings. Further, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, has published the National Building Code of India (NBC), 2016, which is a comprehensive model code for regulating building construction activities across the country. The NBC, along with relevant BIS standards such as IS 1893 (Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures), IS 13920 (Ductile Detailing of Reinforced Concrete Structures) and other allied codes, lays down detailed provisions relating to structural safety and seismic resilience of buildings, which are adopted and enforced by States/UTs and Urban Local Bodies as part of their building regulations. Further, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has issued the National Disaster Management Guidelines on Management of Earthquakes, which provide guidance on earthquake risk reduction, including measures for safer construction, structural strengthening and retrofitting of buildings, particularly lifeline and critical infrastructure (https://ndma.gov.in/sites/default/files/PDF/Guidelines/earthquakes.pdf). Regulation and enforcement relating to periodic structural and seismic safety audits, building inspection regimes and compliance requirements are within the domain of States/Union Territories (UTs) and ULBs. *****