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The present study area represents one of the active segments of the frontal part of the Arunachal Himalaya. The major structural boundaries traversing the area are the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT) and other local faults are tectonically active, as evident from the landforms that evolved in the fault zones. Strath terraces and uplift fluvial terraces are observed in the hanging‐wall block of the HFT and MBT, and along the HFT straight to curvilinear mountain fronts are observed. Normal faults both transverse and parallel to the strike of HFT are observed in the hanging‐wall block of the HFT. West of Pasighat the sub‐Himalaya terrain resembles a duplex, where there is gradual rise in elevation from the Brahmaputra Plain to the low‐lying hills of the sub‐Himalayan and sudden rise in elevation across the MBT. Drainage aligning to the bedrock structures and stream migrations are observed in the fault zones. Along the MBT, the sub‐Himalayan rocks are thrusted over either by quartzite or black carbonaceous shales, in some sections the MBT is behaving as a back‐thrust that dips towards the south. The MBT has also been displaced by almost N–S‐trending transverse faults where highly sheared bedrocks are also observed. Tilting of Quaternary fluvial deposits are observed in the hanging‐wall blocks of intraformational thrusts at two locations. Signatures of paleoseismic activities in the form of various soft‐sediment deformational structures are observed in Quaternary deposits in the HFT zone and also in the hanging‐wall block of the MBT. To determine the deformation and strain rate accumulation, we have re‐analysed the available GNSS results of the area, which indicate a deformation rate of up to 16 mm/year in the vicinity of the Pasighat region. The GPS‐derived deformation rates are well corroborated with the existing results of peak ground acceleration (PGA) anomalies. The component–wise motion indicates higher fault perpendicular motion in this part, which reveals an accumulation of more strain along the major Himalayan faults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have analysed the geomorphic signatures in aggregation with the geomorphic indices with respect to hinterland and foreland neotectonic variability across the major Himalayan thrust system along the Kali River valley of eastern Kumaun Himalaya. The valley floor morphology in the vicinity of the major thrust gave rise to the accommodation space for the aggradation of the recent fluvial sediments. For a longitudinal distance of 212 km between the South Tibet Detachment (STD) and Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT), the valley has preserved significant aggradational landforms. These landforms have been physically examined to explain the spatial and temporal variability in phases of aggradation/incision in response to the tectonic activity during the late Quaternary. Fossil valleys and associated epigenetic gorges, cut‐and‐fill terraces with thick alluvial cover, debris‐flow terraces, bedrock strath terraces, and alluvial fan terraces are the significant aggradational landforms observed within the valley. They provide signatures of tectonic activity and past climatic records. We have analysed various geomorphic indices, namely, stream‐gradient index (SL), steepness index (Ks), hypsometric curve and index (HI), and asymmetric factor (AF) to map the spatial variability in tectonic processes across the major thrusts. The channel morphology (depth and width) of a river becomes adjusted in geological time because of long‐term tectonic and erosional processes. However, the channel geometry and deviations can be highly adjustable in a tectonically disturbed mountainous region. The deviations along the river course can be attributed to active tectonic movement along thrusts/faults or because of erosion/sedimentation processes. We applied a novel method called the river Gradient Length Anomaly (GLA) for 37 subbasins of the Kali River to deduce active deformation (uplift/subsidence) corresponding to the increased sedimentation and erosional rates, both from the upstream and downstream parts of the thrusted blocks, from where river flows through. The results of basin‐wise morphometric indices were corroborated with GLA anomaly and field observations, which suggests that the area has undergone active deformation between the Main Central Thrust (MCT) and Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT), which is attributed to the regional compression. The results of geomorphic and morphometric data are validated with the focal mechanisms of moderate earthquakes. The geomorphic analysis suggests that the hinterland part of eastern Kumaun is more active than the foreland region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current geodetic investigation is based on nearly a decade of continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) data towards the western part of the Indian Plate (2009–2019). This research focused on the Kachchh Rift Basin (KRB), the seismically most active intra‐plate region of the Indian Plate, which has seen three ≥ M 7.0 earthquakes in the last two centuries. The GPS stations on the northern and southern margins show SSW and NNE directed motion, indicating that the KRB is currently under the influence of regional compressive stress on both flanks and the same is reflected in the form of earthquake activity in the center portion. Furthermore, the existence of intra‐basin stress, in addition to regional stress, increases strain accumulation and results in the creation of a Principal Deformation Zone (PDZ) in the central part of the KRB. The average annual deformation in the middle of KRB remains 1.0 ± 0.5 mm/year, while sites near the South Wagad Fault (SWF) experience 1.2 mm/year of fault parallel motion. The dominant fault normal motion along the flanks with a maximum fault parallel motion in the middle intimates the existence of strike‐slip tectonics in the central Kachchh. The geometric relationship of strike‐slip faults in a compressive margin and strain accumulation in pre‐existing faults (PDZ) is responsible for current strike‐slip and thrust motion in the Kachchh, including the 2001 Bhuj earthquake (M 7.7). Our geodetic model is well‐corroborated with the geological observations of the wrench fault model of strike‐slip faults. PS‐InSAR results in the northern part of the region between Khadir and Bela Islands show ≤6.0 mm of annual LOS displacement. GPS results indicate ≈ 1.3 to 1.4 ± 0.5 mm/year of fault parallel motion along the transverse Ekal Amrapar Fault (EAF). The non‐significant variation in GRACE‐derived TWS values (from 2009 to 2018) rules out non‐tectonic deformation in the vicinity of EAF and thus points to tectonic activity as the cause of the derived deformation in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geomorphic evidences and geochronology suggest recent tectonic activity in the Belt of Schuppen of Dimapur and Peren districts of Nagaland. Multiple levels of strath terraces forming remarkable geomorphic expressions are observed along the Chathe and Jharnapani river valleys. They indicate episodic uplift of the hanging‐wall blocks of the thrust systems. The major lineaments prominently trend parallel to the NE–SW regional thrusts, some being perpendicular or oblique. Active normal faults displacing bedrock and overlying fill sediments point to recent tectonic activity. The parallel and trellis drainage patterns are lineament‐controlled. Uplift of the terrain is evident from successive palaeochannels of the Chathe River younging towards the southwest. Three major aggradational phases of the terrace sediments are inferred from optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) chronology, the oldest beginning around 21 ka, the second around 11–7 ka, and the youngest between 3.5 and 1 ka. A sand lens of a tilted strath terrace exposed between Kukidolong and Chumukedima is dated at 7 ka, indicating tectonic events after 7 ka. Five major phases of bedrock uplift/incision have been estimated during 20 ka (0.13 mm/year), 11 ka (0.92 mm/year), 9 ka (2.29 mm/year), 6 ka (0.67 mm/year), and 1.8 ka (2.6 mm/year). Transverse topographic symmetry and asymmetry factor data suggest tilting towards the NE and SW. Other morphometric indices, such as channel sinuosity, stream length gradient index, valley floor to valley height ratio, and mountain front sinuosity, suggest that the area is tectonically active, which corroborates field observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]