Supreme Court Pauses Centre’s Aravalli Definition After Protests, Orders Fresh Review

Public anger spilled onto the streets with a clear demand- save the Aravallis, save the nation. Protests erupted after a revised definition of the Aravalli Range left vast stretches vulnerable to regulated mining. Led largely by Gen Z, citizens pushed back against what they saw as environmental erosion. The pressure paid off. The Supreme Court of India stayed the Centre’s definition, putting its own earlier order on hold and initiating suo motu proceedings. The court acknowledged the need for clarity and ordered a fresh expert committee, replacing the previous bureaucrat-heavy panel. The move follows sharp criticism of the Centre’s 100-metre rule, which could have opened nearly 90% of the Aravallis to legal mining. While the government has paused new leases, the long-term fate of the Aravallis remains uncertain.