SDG 15: Life on Land | SDG 13: Climate Action
Supreme Court of India | Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) | Forest Survey of India (FSI) | Central Empowered Committee (CEC)
In a significant December 2025 judicial intervention, the Supreme Court of India formally established a uniform, elevation-based definition for the Aravalli Hills and Ranges, covering the states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. This ancient range, estimated to be 670 million years old, acts as a vital “Green Wall” against the Thar Desert and serves as the primary groundwater recharge zone for the National Capital Region (NCR). Under the new standard, a landform is legally classified as an “Aravalli Hill” only if it rises 100 metres or more above the local relief.
Simultaneous to this definition, the Court has enforced a Mining Freeze, ordering a complete pause on the grant of all fresh mining leases and the renewal of existing ones until a comprehensive Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) is finalized. The order further designates “Inviolate Zones”—absolute no-mining areas—that include Tiger Reserves, National Parks, wildlife corridors, and critical wetlands. The Forest Survey of India (FSI) has been directed to map the entire range on official toposheets within six months to ensure these boundaries are legally enforceable and transparent.
What is the “Mining Freeze” currently in effect for the Aravallis? The Mining Freeze is a mandatory judicial moratorium that halts all new stone quarrying and mineral extraction activities across the Aravalli range. This suspension is designed to prevent further ecological degradation while the government develops a scientific Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM). During this period, all existing leases in areas classified as “forest” are suspended, and resumption is permitted only after a fresh Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and specific, prior approval from the Supreme Court.
Policy Relevance
The Supreme Court’s directive marks a shift toward a consolidated national strategy for one of India’s most fragile and fragmented ecosystems:
Climate and Water Security: Preserving the Aravalli structure is essential to prevent desertification and protect the water security of North-West India, as the range recharges aquifers at a high potential.
Ending Regulatory Ambiguity: By replacing inconsistent state-level yardsticks with a uniform 100-metre rule, the policy aims to provide a predictable regulatory environment for “sustainable mining” once the freeze is lifted.
Public Health Impact: Safeguarding the hills as a natural windbreak is critical for managing the hazardous dust storms and severe air quality issues that frequently affect the National Capital.
Enforcement Accountability: The directive mandates high-tech surveillance, including drone monitoring and night-vision CCTV, to prevent illegal mining in the newly defined zones.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can the Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) provide specific legal safeguards for hills under 100 metres that serve as critical wildlife corridors or aquifer recharge zones to prevent an “ecological vacuum”?
Follow the full news here: Aravalli Hills: Protecting Ecology and Ensuring Sustainable Development