Why in News?
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh confirmed on April 1, 2026, that the NSN has expanded to 170 observatories across India. This is a significant jump from 84 stations in 2014 and 115 in 2021.
Key Facts
- Monitoring Capability: The current network can detect and locate any earthquake of magnitude 3.0 and above occurring anywhere in India.
- Real-Time Data Streaming: All stations are linked via VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) telemetry systems, allowing seismic data to stream in real-time to the headquarters in New Delhi.
- State-of-the-Art Equipment: Stations are equipped with Broadband Seismographs (BBS) for weak motion and Strong Motion Accelerographs (SMA) for high-intensity shaking.
- Seismic Microzonation: This program assesses local ground-shaking characteristics to help build earthquake-resilient infrastructure. Studies are complete for cities like Delhi, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, with work currently in advanced stages for Patna, Lucknow, and Amritsar.
- Information Dissemination: Earthquake parameters (location, depth, and magnitude) are typically estimated within 5–10 minutes of an event and shared via the BhooKamp Mobile App and the NCS website.
- Funding: Maintenance and augmentation of the network are supported under the PRITHVI scheme of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- Nodal Agency: The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) is the primary government body responsible for maintaining this network and conducting seismological research.
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