Centre Refutes Aravalli Mining Claims: SC Definition Boosts Protection, Bans New Leases

• Central government refuted claims of changing the Aravalli definition for mining, stating the Supreme Court's definition strengthens protection.
• The Supreme Court has imposed a ban on new mining leases in the Aravalli region, with over 90% of the area now under protected status.
• A committee, formed in May 2024, standardized the Aravalli definition across states to prevent misuse, with the SC accepting recommendations on November 20, 2025.
• The definition considers a landform 100 meters or more higher than surrounding land as a hill, prohibiting mining within its lowest boundary.
• The government clarified that the ban applies to the entire hill system, not just peaks, refuting claims that areas less than 100 meters high are open for mining.

Why It Matters: SC-mandated Aravalli definition strengthens protection, bans new mining, covering over 90% of the region.