Aravalli Hills Case: Supreme Court’s Suo Motu Action & Mining Concerns 

The Supreme Court is scheduled to take suo motu cognisance of rising public concern regarding the recent definition of the protected Aravalli hills and range. The move follows apprehensions that the new criteria could dilute environmental safeguards and potentially open the region to expanded mining activities — posing serious ecological risks.

A three-judge Special Vacation Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will hear the issue.

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Background — Why Are the Aravallis Important?

The Aravalli hills are among the world’s oldest fold mountain systems, stretching across:

• Haryana

• Rajasthan

• Delhi

• Gujarat

They serve as:

• A natural barrier against the eastward expansion of the Thar Desert

• A major groundwater recharge zone

• A key ecological buffer for NCR

The Court itself has described the Aravallis as a “green barrier” essential for environmental stability.

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What Was the Controversial New Definition?

In November, the Supreme Court accepted a Ministry of Environment (MoEF&CC) committee recommendation that:

• A landform qualifies as an Aravalli hill if:

  • Elevation is 100 metres or more above local relief

• An Aravalli range is:

  • A collection of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other

Many activists and environmentalists argue that:

• The definition is too restrictive

• It excludes numerous low-height ridge systems

• It may reduce protection zones

• And facilitate legal mining in vulnerable landscapes

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Court’s Position on Mining — Sustainable but Restricted

The Court endorsed recommendations on:

• Sustainable mining

• Identifying ecologically sensitive and restoration-priority areas

It clearly stated:

Mining shall be strictly prohibited in conservation-critical zones

and permitted only in scientifically justified exceptional circumstances

Further, it ordered:

No new mining leases

until the Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM)

is finalised by MoEF&CC through ICFRE.

This indicates a precautionary approach — but critics worry that definitional dilution may still weaken protections.

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Why Did the Supreme Court Take Suo Motu Cognisance?

Public outrage and environmental concerns included:

• Fear of unbridled mining expansion

• Possible loss of forest and scrub habitats

• Threats to groundwater recharge

• Increase in dust pollution across NCR

• Risk of urban heat island effects

Civil society argued that the 100-metre elevation clause:

• Leaves out ecologically critical low-lying ridges

• Treats mining as default instead of exception

• Undermines decades of conservation efforts

The Court’s suo motu action indicates acknowledgment of:

• Environmental risk

• Policy ambiguity

• Public interest dimensions

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Environmental & Policy Significance — UPSC Mains Angle

GS-3 | Environment, Conservation & Sustainable Development

Themes involved:

• Ecological fragility of semi-arid ecosystems

• Judicial environmental governance

• Balancing development & sustainability

• Role of scientific criteria in conservation policy

• Mining regulation & landscape-level planning

Relevant keywords for answers:

• Precautionary principle

• Inter-generational equity

• Landscape-based conservation

• Carrying capacity

• Environmental rule of law

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GS-1 & GS-3 — Why Aravallis Matter for NCR

Impact areas:

• Heat regulation & urban climate moderation

• Biodiversity corridors

• Prevention of dust storms

• Stabilising wind patterns

• Groundwater recharge & aquifers

• Air quality regulation

Weakening protections could worsen:

• Air pollution crises

• Desertification risk

• Groundwater depletion

• Land degradation

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UPSC Prelims — Possible Question Themes

• Location & physiographic extent of Aravalli Range

• Oldest fold mountains in India

• NCR environmental conservation issues

• MPSM / MoEF&CC / ICFRE roles

• Judicial interventions in environmental governance

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How to Use This Topic in Mains Answers

When writing answers:

✔️ Start with ecological significance of Aravallis

✔️ Mention new definition & concerns

✔️ Evaluate sustainable mining vs conservation

✔️ Conclude with balanced policy suggestions

Possible conclusion framing:

A science-based but ecologically sensitive approach to landscape conservation — supported by strong monitoring, public participation, and judicial oversight — is essential to protect the Aravalli ecosystem while ensuring sustainable livelihoods.

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Practice Questions for UPSC Aspirants

Mains (GS-3) — 10 Marks

“The Aravalli range functions as a critical ecological shield for North India, yet faces increasing anthropogenic threats.”

Discuss the environmental implications of redefining protected landscapes in the context of sustainable mining policy.

Prelims — Concept Check

1. The Aravalli Range acts as a natural barrier preventing the spread of which of the following?

   • (a) Rann of Kutch marshes

   • (b) Thar Desert eastward expansion

   • (c) Deccan Plateau uplift

   • (d) Himalayan foothill flooding

(Answer: b)