- Why in news
- On 21 July 2026, the Environment Ministry published a press note saying the Supreme Court's High-Powered Committee on the Aravalli Hills has invited public inputs within 21 days.
- What it is
- The Aravalli range runs through Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is among the oldest fold mountain ranges in the world. It acts as a barrier against desert spread and helps recharge groundwater. Mining and encroachment have long been disputed before the Supreme Court.
- Who can respond
- Inputs are invited from the States of Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat, environmentalists, NGOs, mining lease holders, villagers, farmers, mine workers and local communities.
- How to respond
- Submissions go by email or a Google form within 21 days of the notice, with documentary evidence where possible.
- Range spread
- The Aravalli range stretches across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Don’t confuse with Aravalli vs Western Ghats: The Aravalli is an ancient, much-eroded fold range in north-west India. The Western Ghats lie along the west coast of the peninsula and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and biodiversity hotspot.
Environment: Prelims tests bodies, programmes and the law behind them; Mains asks why plans fall short.
Why it matters
- The Aravalli checks desert spread towards the Indo-Gangetic plain and recharges groundwater.
- Public consultation brings in livelihood and local concerns before the Court decides.
Problems
- Illegal mining and encroachment degrade the range.
- Balancing mining and livelihoods against ecological protection is hard.
Way forward
- Base the committee's findings on mapped, verifiable data.
- Enforce restrictions on mining and restore degraded areas with local participation.
Put in your answer
Judicial oversight: The Supreme Court is handling the Aravalli issue in a suo motu petition and has appointed an expert committee, showing environmental governance through the courts.
- 2022Mains GS4 · Q9Ethical case on stone mining ban in Aravalli Hills, corrupt officials
- 2020Mains GS1 · Q5Justify that desertification does not have climatic boundaries, with examples
- 2013Mains GS3 · Q19Consequences of illegal mining and MoEF's Go and No-Go zones
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting environment topic. Committee call for public inputs has few testable facts, so no question.
Source: PIB, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change., 21 Jul, 11:07 IST · Release 291487
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.