Why The Nation's Aravalli Hills Are at the Centre of Escalating Protests.

Demonstrations have broken out across northern India after the nation's top court redefined the Aravalli hills – one of the world's oldest geological formations stretching across the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and the capital territory.

Under the new definition, endorsed by the court following federal government recommendations, an Aravalli hill is any geographical feature with a minimum elevation of 100 metres (328 ft) above the adjacent land. Two or more such hills less than half a kilometre of each other, combined with the land between them, are classified as an Aravalli range.

Environmentalists argue that classifying Aravalli hills based on elevation potentially excludes numerous shorter, vegetation-clad but vitally important hills vulnerable to quarrying and development.

The central administration, however, says that the new definition is designed to tighten controls and bring uniformity and not dilute safeguards.

What is Sparking the Demonstrations?

This weekend, peaceful protests occurred in cities including Gurugram and Udaipur, organized by community members, farmers, environmental activists, and, in some cases, lawyers and political groups.

A founder member of a key conservation collective commented that the new definition threatens to compromise the critical role of the Aravalli range in "preventing desertification, replenishing aquifers and safeguarding local economies" in the northwestern region.

The lower, scrub-covered hills play a vital role in preventing desertification, boosting water tables and supporting livelihoods according to experts.

"This mountain system must not be categorized by height alone, but by its environmental, physical and weather-related purpose," noted an ecology advocate involved in the campaign to save the Aravallis.

He said that, globally, mountains and hill systems are classified by the functions they perform, not by arbitrary elevation thresholds.

"Any landform that is structurally a component of the Aravalli system and serves a vital purpose in ecology or preventing desertification should be recognised as a component of the system, regardless of its height."

Protesters are calling for that the government define Aravalli areas using research-based parameters, including topography, ecology, animal corridors and environmental durability.

One activist warned that the court's new definition might promote extractive industries, development and business projects, heightening the risk of ecological damage.

Opposition parties have stepped up criticism, warning that the new definition might lead to serious ecological damage.

One political leader said that protecting the Aravallis is "inseparable from Delhi's survival." Another leader described the range the state's "lifeline," stating that without it, "a vast region up to Delhi would have turned into a desert."

Official Position

India's federal government has sought to downplay these concerns.

In a official release, it said the new definition is meant to strengthen regulation and create standardization, adding that a single, objective definition was needed to regulate mining uniformly across states.

It added that the new definition encompasses the entire hill system – including slopes, related features, and connecting zones – clearly safeguarding hill clusters and their linkages.

The federal environment ministry clarified it is incorrect to assume that mining will be permitted on all landforms under 100 metres.

The government states areas inside the Aravalli hills or ranges are not eligible for new mining leases, while existing ones can continue if they follow sustainable mining norms.

It added that mining remains prohibited in core "inviolate" areas – protected forests, eco-sensitive zones, and wetlands – aside from certain essential, national security, and nuclear minerals permitted by law.

The minister responsible for ecology indicated only about 2% of the 147,000 sqkm Aravalli range could potentially be mined, and only after comprehensive assessments and formal clearance.

Nevertheless, many of the protesting groups contend that protests will persist and that they are exploring legal options to challenge the court's new definition.