Services and Activities
Earthquake monitoring on a 24x7 basis through the National Seismological Network (NSN) of 150 stations is the prime activity of the center. A dedicated team maintains NSN to make available real-time data for real-time monitoring of earthquake activity all across the country. Central Seismological Observatory (CSO) Shillong was established in 1902 as the second observatory in India; maintains a 20 station network of northeast India a part of 150 station national network. Center also deploy temporary network as and when required for monitoring of swarm or aftershock activity nearest to affected region of the country.
Besides earthquake monitoring, NCS is engaged in Seismic Hazard Microzonation (SHM) studies of populous urban centers. Seismic Hazard Microzonation' is a process of classifying a region into zones of relatively similar exposure to various earthquake-related effects and has emerged as a major tool towards our efforts for preparedness and mitigation of losses due to earthquakes. NCS has completed microzonation of the Delhi 
(18.8 MB) (English) region on a 1:10,000 scale and played a key role in various studies relating to the seismic microzonation of other cities, such as Jabalpur and Guwahati. Currently, microzonation studies of Chennai, Coimbatore, Bhubaneshwar, and Mangalore are in progress.
Borehole Geophysics Research Laboratory (BGRL), Karad is engaged in scientific deep drilling in the Koyna-Warna region for directly measuring the in-situ physical properties of rocks, pore-fluid pressure, hydrological parameters, temperature, and other parameters of an intra-plate, active fault zone in the near-field of earthquakes – before, during and after their occurrence.
NCS Provides Earthquake Data and seismicity reports of specific regions to various user agencies such as insurance companies, industrial units, powerhouses, river valley projects, etc. on a payment basis. Seismological data and earthquake-related information is also provided to different agencies dealing with relief and rehabilitation measures, earthquake disaster mitigation and management related matters, seismic zoning, etc
As part of systematic archival of historical analog charts, state-of-the-art facilities have also been established for raster scanning and vector digitization of seismic analog charts. These facilities have enabled raster scanning of a lakh old analog charts and vector digitization of significant earthquake waveforms.
In order to generate trained manpower in the field of seismology and allied subjects, NCS organizes training courses/ awareness programs in Seismology and allied subjects at various levels to station operators and scientists of departmental and various non-departmental agencies. Officers of the center also deliver lectures on various Seismology related topics, on request, for the benefit of various state / central government organizations dealing with earthquake-related matters. Familiarization training on various operational activities related to earthquake monitoring is also imparted to trainees from various organizations.