UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Tragic evening

Q1. Following the March 2026 rollback of the revised seismic code, into how many seismic zones is India presently divided under the governing Bureau of Indian Standards map?

  • A. Three
  • B. Four
  • C. Five
  • D. Six

Q2. After the withdrawal of the revised earthquake design code in March 2026, the seismic zonation of India is currently governed by which standard?

  • A. IS 1893 (Part 1): 2016
  • B. IS 1893 (Part 1): 2025
  • C. IS 456: 2000
  • D. IS 13920: 2016

Q3. The Mw 7.5 mainshock of 24 June 2026 was reported as the strongest earthquake to strike Venezuela since which event?

  • A. The 1900 San Narciso earthquake
  • B. The 1967 Caracas earthquake
  • C. The 1812 Caracas earthquake
  • D. The 1997 Cariaco earthquake

Q4. The Bureau of Indian Standards, which notified and then withdrew the revised IS 1893 seismic code, functions under which Union Ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
  • B. Ministry of Earth Sciences
  • C. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Home Affairs