The Supreme Court of India, on January 21, 2026, extended its stay on the central government's redefinition of the Aravalli range — a legal controversy with profound implications for Rajasthan's environment.
The controversy centres on a 2022 notification by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), which redefined the Aravalli based on a 100-metre minimum elevation criterion. Under this new definition, only 1,048 of 12,081 surveyed hills qualify as part of the Aravalli range — effectively removing over 91% of previously identified Aravalli land from regulatory protection.
Environmentalists and the Supreme Court's own amicus curiae have argued that this redefinition was motivated by development interests, particularly to open land in Haryana (Gurugram–Faridabad belt) and Rajasthan for real estate and mining. The original Aravalli protection was grounded in a 1992 Supreme Court order and subsequent interpretations that covered contiguous geological formations irrespective of elevation.
The environmental stakes for Rajasthan are immense: 41.8% of Rajasthan's Aravalli natural vegetation is at risk under the new definition. The Aravallis serve as a critical watershed for the semi-arid region, recharging groundwater for cities like Alwar, Jaipur, and Ajmer. They also form a biological corridor between Sariska and Ranthambore Tiger Reserves.
The SC's continued stay prevents land use changes in contested Aravalli areas until the case is fully heard. A final ruling could redefine the legal framework for protecting India's oldest mountain range.