Supreme Court redefines Aravalli hillsCEFR B1
31 Jan 2026
Adapted from Abhimanyu Bandyopadhyay, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Agnese Kisune, Unsplash
The Aravalli range stretches nearly 670 kilometres from Gujarat to New Delhi. It is older than the Himalayas and provides many benefits: it helps recharge groundwater, slows the eastward spread of the Thar Desert and moderates temperatures in a region with heatwaves and air pollution. The hills also support biodiversity and make up much of the forest cover of the Delhi National Capital Region.
On 20 November 2025 the Supreme Court accepted a proposal from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to redefine what land counts as Aravalli hills. Under the new rule, only landforms that rise at least 100 metres above local ground level, with their slopes and adjoining areas, will be recognised. The court ordered a temporary pause on new mining leases, but said long‑term legal protection will apply only to hills meeting the 100‑metre threshold. The judgment was among the final decisions by Chief Justice Bhushan Gavai before his retirement.
The redefinition provoked protests across India. Environmental experts criticised the change for ignoring geological and ecological continuity and warned that much of the Aravalli system could be exposed to mining and real estate development. Campaigners call for better enforcement, a toll‑free complaint number and drone surveillance, and they report police detentions and other pressure on activists.
Local mobilisation began after a crisis in Gurugram in February 2025, when a planned road through the Aravalli Biodiversity Park prompted resident protests. The long‑term consequences of the court ruling remain contested and have led to renewed public efforts to protect the hills.
Difficult words
- recharge — help water enter and fill underground stores
- biodiversity — variety of different living species in areaBiodiversity Park
- redefine — state a new official definition or meaning
- landform — a natural physical shape on the Earth's surfacelandforms
- threshold — a minimum level or limit for something
- mining lease — a legal permit to extract minerals from landmining leases
- enforcement — actions to make rules or laws followed
- mobilisation — people coming together to act for a cause
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think the 100‑metre rule will protect the Aravalli hills? Why or why not?
- Which actions mentioned in the article (for example, a complaint number or drone surveillance) would you support to protect the hills? Why?
- Based on the Gurugram example, how can local residents influence decisions about nearby natural areas?
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