About National Centre for Seismology (NCS):

• NCS is the nodal agency of the Government of India for monitoring of earthquake activity and conducts seismological research in the country. 
• It is an attached office of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MOES).
• The NCS monitors earthquake activity all across the country through its 24×7 round-the-clock monitoring centre for better understanding of earthquake source processes and their effect on the cause of earthquake-safe society.
• It consists of various divisions:
  • Earthquake Monitoring and Services
  • Earthquake Hazard and Risk Assessments
  • Geophysical Observation Systems
• It operates and maintains the NSN, or the National Seismological Network. The NSN consists of 153 seismological observatories spread across the country.
  • NSN is capable of recording earthquakes and events of magnitude (M)≥2.5 in and around Delhi, M≥3.0 for the North East (NE) region, M≥3.5 in the peninsular and extra-peninsular areas, and M≥4.0 in border regions. 
• Whenever an earthquake occurs in the country, its information is immediately disseminated by NCS to a variety of user agencies, including disaster management authorities. 
  • The NCS shares this information via earthquake bulletins within five minutes of an earthquake.
• It is also involved in the monitoring of aftershock and swarm activity, if occurred, throughout the country.
• Another important activity implemented by the NCS is microzonation. It is a site-specific study that provides a more realistic and reliable representation of ground motion characteristics.
  • It is useful in land use and urban planning, as well as in retrofitting of existing buildings.