Aravalli hills' definition by Supreme Court sparks widespread protests and mining fears

Widespread protests have erupted across Rajasthan and the Delhi-National Capital Region after a Supreme Court ruling in November redefined the Aravalli hills, triggering fears that legal protections for much of the ancient mountain range could be weakened. The new definition, endorsed by the Court on 20 November, recognises only landforms rising at least 100 metres above surrounding terrain as part of the Aravalli range, a change that protesters and environmentalists say could open vast areas to mining and construction once a sustainable plan is finalised. 

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has defended the ruling, insisting that more than 90 per cent of the 1.44 lakh square kilometre Aravalli spread remains protected and reassuring that the decision does not relax mining rules. He said mining is banned in Delhi under the new terms and that the majority of the range continues to enjoy ecological safeguards.

Critics, however, describe the definition as a narrow elevation threshold that excludes most low-lying hills and ridges from legal protection, potentially exposing them to exploitation for stone, sand and other extractive uses. Environmental advocates argue that the range’s lower elevations perform critical ecological functions, including dust capture, groundwater recharge and biodiversity support, and that excluding them could exacerbate desertification and pollution problems across northern India. 

Protests widen from Rajasthan to Delhi-NCR

Demonstrations reached a peak on 20–21 December, with rallies and street protests in cities such as Jaipur, Udaipur and Gurugram. Lawyers and residents in Udaipur delivered memoranda urging the government to file a review petition in the Supreme Court, warning that the new definition could turn parts of the Mewar region into a desert and strip legal protection from about 90 per cent of the hills, as many do not meet the 100-metre criterion. 

Political activism has also surged, with Aam Aadmi Party figures and other critics accusing state and central governments of prioritising development and building interests over environmental preservation. An AAP spokesperson called the revised definition a “death knell” for the Aravallis, claiming money and development interests had been placed above air quality and ecological health. 

In addition to urban street protests, tribal communities across southern Rajasthan have mobilised, highlighting the cultural and livelihood importance of the hills. Demonstrators from Banswara and Dungarpur staged symbolic hill climbs to draw attention to the perceived threats posed by the legal change, calling on authorities to uphold the Forest Rights Act and other protections. 

Grassroots movements, including the #SaveAravallis campaign on social media, have added to the momentum, with villagers planning symbolic fasts and community actions to highlight ecological concerns across Haryana and Rajasthan. 

What the new definition means for mining and ecology

Under the revised criteria, any landform within the Aravalli districts must have at least 100 metres of elevation above its local relief to qualify as part of the protected Aravalli hills. The Court also directed the Central government to conduct detailed scientific mapping and prepare a sustainable mining plan. It ordered a ban on new mining leases until these steps are completed. 

Opposition figures argue that this narrow focus on topographic height effectively removes legal safeguards from lower hills — which constitute the bulk of the Aravalli landscape — and may embolden mining interests where elevations fall below the threshold. They contend that the exclusion of these areas could weaken the natural buffer against desertification from the Thar Desert and alter rainfall and groundwater patterns that depend on the Aravalli’s ecological continuity. 

Environmentalists also point to past degradation caused by unregulated mining and stone crushing, particularly in districts where vast swathes of hills have already been eroded, and warn that weaker protection could accelerate ecological loss. 

Union Environment Minister Yadav has rejected claims of relaxed mining norms arising from the redefinition, stating that it is incorrect to assume that landforms below 100 metres will automatically open to mining, and reaffirming the government’s commitment to preserving the Aravalli ecosystem.