India being a large landmass is particularly prone to earthquakes. The Indian subcontinent is divided into five seismic zones with respect to the severity of the earthquakes. The classification of the zones has been done by the geologist and scientist as early as 1956 when a 3-zone (Severe, Light and Minor hazard) Seismic Zoning Map of India was produced. Since then the issue of seismic hazard has been addressed by different experts and agencies.

The aforementioned map was based on a broad concept of earthquake distribution and geotectonics. The severe hazard zones are roughly confined to plate boundary regions, ie, the Himalayan frontal arc in the North, the chaman fault region in the north west and the indo burma region in the north east. The lower hazard zone is confined to indian shield in the south and then moderate hazard zone confined to the transitional zone in between the two.

The bureau of Indian standards is the official agency for publishing the seismic hazard maps and codes. It has brought out versions of seismic zoning map: a six zone map in 1962, a seven zone map in 1966, and a five zone map 1970/1984. The last of these maps is currently valid; this map was created based on the values of maximum MM intensities recorded in various parts of the country, in historic times.

Zone V is the most vulnerable to earthquakes, where historically some of the country's most powerful shock have occured. This region included the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, all of North-Eastern India, parts of north-western Bihar, eastern sections of Uttaranchal, the Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh, near the Srinagar area in Jammu & Kashmir and the Rann of Kutchh in Gujarat. Earthquakes with magnitudes in excess of 7.0 have occured in these areas, and have had intensities higher than IX.

Much of India lies in Zone III, where a maximum intensity of VII can be expected. Four of the major metropolitan areas lie in Zone IV, i.e. New Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta. Only Chennai lies in Zone II. A large section of south-central India lies in Zone I along with a section stretching from eastern Rajasthan into northern Madhya Pradesh. Some areas of Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh also lie in Zone I.

In recent years india has been a host to many earthquakes of varying magnitude and intensity. The following table gives a detailed chronology.