Aravallis Under Threat & India’s Environmental Governance Crisis

 UPSC Current Affairs Notes | 2026 Prelims & Mains

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🏔️ The Aravalli Range: India’s Ecological Shield

• Runs from Gujarat → Rajasthan → Haryana → Delhi

• Functions:

  • Barrier against the Thar Desert desertification

  • Houses historic forts (Chittorgarh, Ranthambore)

  • Zones of spiritual and cultural heritage

• Already degraded by illegal mining

❗Government’s Controversial Policy Change

• Areas of Aravallis below 100m height removed from protection
  ➡️ 90% of Aravallis are now vulnerable to mining
  ➡️ Opens doors for the mining mafia

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🌫️ Air Pollution Crisis in NCR (Delhi)

• Winter smog = dust + smoke + particulate matter

• Annual deaths due to pollution in 10 cities: ~34,000

• Ongoing public health disaster

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💧 Uranium in Groundwater: Silent Poison

• CGWB Report: 13–15% groundwater samples in Delhi are unsafe

• Punjab & Haryana have the worst contamination

• Severe long-term health implications

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🔗 These Are Not Separate Events

All linked to:
➡️ Policy negligence
➡️ Natural resource exploitation
➡️ Weak environmental regulation
➡️ Corporate-driven decision-making

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🏛️ Governance Failures Highlighted

1️⃣ Regulatory Dilution

Law/Policy	Criticism
Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023	Massive forest land was diverted
Draft EIA Notification 2020	Weakened public hearings; post-facto approvals
CRZ Notification 2018	Promoted coastal commercialisation

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2️⃣ Weak Implementation

• National Clean Air Programme: Underfunded + funds unused

• Pollution control mechanisms are failing

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3️⃣ Corporate Influence

• Electoral Bond revelations show:

  • Corporates funding the ruling party

  • Influence on environment clearances

➡️ Raises question of policy capture

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4️⃣ Communities Treated as Opponents

• FRA 2006 blamed for forest loss

• NTCA called for the eviction of 65,000 families from tiger reserves
  ➡️ Violates Wildlife Protection Act (relocation must be voluntary)

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🧭 The Way Forward — A New Deal for the Environment

✔️ Immediate Actions Needed

• Stop deforestation in:

  • Great Nicobar, Hasdeo Aranya, Dhirauli

• Strict crackdown on mining in:

  • Aravallis, Western Ghats

• Safeguard the Himalayan regions from ill-planned development

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✔️ Policy Reforms

• Withdraw/review controversial:

  • FCA Amendment 2023

  • Forest Conservation Rules 2022

• End post-facto environmental clearances

• Strengthen National Green Tribunal

• Promote cooperative federalism for air & water crises

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✔️ Principles for Future Policy

• Rule of law in environmental governance

• Work with local communities, not against them

• Recognise the environment ↔ human well-being link

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✨ UPSC Mains Value Addition

Keywords to Use:

Ecological security | Regulatory capture | Environmental federalism
Airshed management | Environmental justice | Precautionary principle

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📌 Potential Mains Questions

1️⃣ “India’s environmental crisis is not ecological but governance-driven.” Examine with reference to recent policy decisions on the Aravallis and other eco-sensitive zones. (15 marks)

2️⃣ Discuss the implications of weakened environmental safeguards on public health, local communities, and climate resilience in India. (10 marks)

3️⃣ Evaluate whether India’s recent environmental reforms align with the principles of sustainable development and cooperative federalism. (15 marks)

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🎯 Prelims Quick Check

Q. The Aravalli Range acts as a natural barrier preventing the spread of the Thar Desert towards which of the following?
A) Deccan Plateau
B) Indo-Gangetic Plains
C) Eastern Coastal Plains
D) Vindhyan Basin