diff --git a/backend/src/app.py b/backend/src/app.py
index 3fbb822f..8da8c96b 100755
--- a/backend/src/app.py
+++ b/backend/src/app.py
@@ -127,12 +127,13 @@ def ensure_initial_admin_user() -> None:
         db.close()
 # #endregion ensure_initial_admin_user
 # #region run_alembic_migrations [C:2] [TYPE Function]
-# @BRIEF Applies pending Alembic migrations before application initialization.
-# @POST All Alembic migrations up to 'head' are applied to DATABASE_URL.
-# @SIDE_EFFECT Executes ALTER TABLE / CREATE TABLE / etc. via Alembic migration chain.
-# @RATIONALE Keeps DB schema in sync automatically at container startup —
-#           eliminates manual `alembic upgrade head` and drift between
-#           inline _ensure_*() migrations and Alembic migration files.
+# @BRIEF Applies all pending Alembic migrations against DATABASE_URL.
+# @POST All Alembic migrations up to 'head' are applied.
+# @SIDE_EFFECT Executes ALTER TABLE / CREATE TABLE via Alembic chain.
+# @RATIONALE Single source of truth for schema changes. All column additions,
+#           drops, renames, and data migrations go through Alembic.
+#           init_db() runs after to create any tables that don't have
+#           a standalone Alembic migration yet.
 def run_alembic_migrations() -> None:
     with belief_scope("run_alembic_migrations"):
         try:
@@ -142,29 +143,28 @@ def run_alembic_migrations() -> None:
             logger.reason("Alembic migrations applied up to head")
         except Exception as exc:
             logger.explore(
-                "Alembic migration failed — app may have schema drift",
+                "Alembic migration failed — check migration chain or alembic.ini",
                 extra={"error": str(exc)},
             )
-            # Don't crash — init_db() + _ensure_*() serve as safety net
+            raise
 
 
 # #endregion run_alembic_migrations
 
 
 # #region startup_event [C:3] [TYPE Function]
-# @BRIEF Handles application startup tasks: Alembic migrations, schema init, admin bootstrap, scheduler.
+# @BRIEF Handles application startup: Alembic → create_all → admin bootstrap → scheduler.
 # @RELATION CALLS -> [run_alembic_migrations]
 # @RELATION CALLS -> [init_db]
-# @PRE None.
-# @POST Schema is up-to-date (Alembic + inline safety net), admin user exists if configured, scheduler is started.
+# @POST Schema is up-to-date via Alembic, missing tables created, admin exists, scheduler started.
 @app.on_event("startup")
 async def startup_event():
     seed_trace_id()
     with belief_scope("startup_event"):
         ensure_encryption_key()
-        # 1. Alembic — applies complex migrations (add/drop/rename columns, data migrations)
+        # 1. Alembic — applies ALL pending migrations (add/drop/rename columns, data migrations)
         run_alembic_migrations()
-        # 2. init_db — creates missing tables + inline _ensure_*() additive safety net
+        # 2. init_db — creates new tables via create_all() (does NOT alter existing ones)
         init_db()
         ensure_initial_admin_user()
         scheduler = get_scheduler_service()
diff --git a/backend/src/core/database.py b/backend/src/core/database.py
index 510fbedd..05284217 100644
--- a/backend/src/core/database.py
+++ b/backend/src/core/database.py
@@ -760,29 +760,23 @@ def _ensure_dictionary_entries_columns(bind_engine):
 
 
 # #region init_db [C:3] [TYPE Function]
-# @BRIEF Initializes the database by creating all tables.
+# @BRIEF Creates any missing tables via create_all().
 # @PRE  engine, tasks_engine and auth_engine are initialized.
-# @POST  Database tables created in all databases.
-# @SIDE_EFFECT  Creates physical database files if they don't exist.
-# @RELATION CALLS -> [_ensure_filter_source_enum_values]
-# @RELATION CALLS -> [_ensure_dataset_review_session_columns]
-# @RELATION CALLS -> [_ensure_dictionary_entries_columns]
+#       Alembic migrations (run_alembic_migrations) have already been applied.
+# @POST  All tables from SQLAlchemy models exist in all databases.
+# @SIDE_EFFECT  Creates physical database tables if they don't exist.
+# @RATIONALE Schema migrations are handled by Alembic (run_alembic_migrations runs
+#           before init_db in startup_event). create_all() only creates NEW tables
+#           that don't exist yet — it does NOT alter existing ones. All column
+#           additions must go through Alembic migrations.
+# @REJECTED _ensure_*() inline additive migrations removed — they were duplicating
+#           Alembic logic, were not versioned, and created hidden schema drift.
+#           All schema changes must now go through Alembic.
 def init_db():
     with belief_scope("init_db"):
         Base.metadata.create_all(bind=engine)
         Base.metadata.create_all(bind=tasks_engine)
         Base.metadata.create_all(bind=auth_engine)
-        _ensure_user_dashboard_preferences_columns(engine)
-        _ensure_llm_validation_results_columns(engine)
-        _ensure_user_dashboard_preferences_health_columns(engine)
-        _ensure_git_server_configs_columns(engine)
-        _ensure_auth_users_columns(auth_engine)
-        _ensure_roles_is_admin_column(auth_engine)
-        _ensure_filter_source_enum_values(engine)
-        _ensure_dataset_review_session_columns(engine)
-        _ensure_translation_jobs_columns(engine)
-        _ensure_translation_schedules_columns(engine)
-        _ensure_dictionary_entries_columns(engine)
 
 
 # #endregion init_db