The Aravali Hills are considered one of the oldest mountain ranges in India. They were formed approximately 1.5 billion years ago, making them far older than the Himalayas. The Aravali range stretches across north-western India and is about 670 kilometres long. It begins near Palanpur in Gujarat and extends through Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, where it comes to an end.
The geographical and environmental importance of the Aravali range is immense. It acts as a natural barrier, preventing the Thar Desert from spreading into the fertile lands of eastern India. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in balancing the effects of the monsoon and maintaining groundwater levels. The forests of the Aravali help in storing rainwater, ensuring water availability in surrounding regions.
The Aravali region is rich in biodiversity. It is home to a wide variety of trees, medicinal plants and wildlife. Leopards, jackals, nilgai, foxes and numerous bird species are characteristic of this region. The mountain range has also been known for its mineral wealth; however, excessive mining has posed a serious threat to its existence.
Today, the Aravali Hills are facing multiple environmental challenges. Illegal mining, encroachment, deforestation and rapid urbanisation are disturbing its natural balance. Experts believe that if the Aravali is not conserved, it will have a direct impact on climate, groundwater and human life.
The Aravali is not merely a mountain range but a strong foundation of India’s ecology. Its conservation is essential to ensure a clean environment and maintain natural balance for future generations.
In this discussion show, news anchor Rajdeep Sardesai addresses the recurring severe waterlogging in Gurugram, questioning whether the city can still be termed a millennium city or India's sinking city. Environmentalist Vaishali Rana highlights that Gurugram has around 550 kilometres of stormwater drains, but most are encroached upon. She emphasizes that 18 kilometres of the 28-kilometre Badshapur Nala, the primary arterial drain draining into Najafgarh Jhil, is closed due to encroachments, exacerbating the flooding year after year. Retired superintending engineer Dr. Shiv Singh Rawat acknowledges that excessive concretization has drastically reduced the soil's natural water-absorption capacity, causing rapid runoff and flooding along major highways and underpasses due to long-term administrative planning failures. Architect and urban designer Dikshu Kukreja points out that master plans fail to respect natural topography and calls for implementing blue-green infrastructure, permeable footpaths, and future-oriented climate planning. The panellists emphasize administrative accountability, proper town planning, and civic action to address the city's urban infrastructure crisis.
In this Special Report, India Today Legal Correspondent Aneesha Mathur details a significant development for environmental conservation as the Supreme Court stays its own November 20 judgment regarding the definition of the Aravali hills. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has put the '100-metre height' criterion on hold following public outrage and protests, largely from Rajasthan. The court initiated suo motu proceedings to review the impact of the new definition, which activists feared would open 90% of the ancient range to mining. Mathur notes, 'The Supreme Court has put its own order on hold, staying the centre's definition of the Aravalli hill range.' A new panel will now study the ecological implications.
The top focus of this episode of News Today is the death of Angel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, in Dehradun following an attack on December 9.
The big talking point of this episode of News Today is Unnao rape survivor's fight for justice after the Delhi High Court suspended the life sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a former MLA convicted in the 2017 rape case.
The Delhi High Court suspended the life sentence of former MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case, a decision explored in this news broadcast. The court's ruling, which found Sengar was not a 'public servant' under specific sections of the POCSO Act, is analyzed. Lawyer Mahmood Paracha alleges systemic collusion, stating the CBI and state machinery worked against the survivor, who has expressed fear for her life following the order. This bulletin also covers other significant national stories, including the Centre's decision to impose a complete ban on new mining leases in the Aravali range to preserve the ecosystem. Additionally, it reports on a court rejecting the UP government's plea to withdraw charges in the 2015 Akhlaq lynching case and ordering an expedited trial. The program also notes the acquittal of accused in the 2009 Shaheen Malik acid attack case and the formal political alliance of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray for the BMC polls.
In this exclusive report, India Today's Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai and reporter Milan Sharma discuss the Centre's decision to ban new mining leases in the Aravali range. Milan Sharma explains that the Union Environment Ministry has directed states like Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat to restrict fresh leases. The move follows a Supreme Court order and opposition criticism of Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav. The government aims to enlarge protected zones and map 39 districts to prevent ecological degradation.
In a special interview, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav addresses the controversy surrounding mining in the Aravali range. Responding to demands from environmentalists to make the region a 'total no-go zone', Yadav argues that the area has been settled for thousands of years and that only '0.19%' of the land is used for essential mining, specifically mentioning marble extraction in Raj Samand and Udaipur. He highlights the government's commitment to conservation, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative in the region. Yadav also asserts that all ministry documents are available online in response to questions about third-party ecological audits.
As a political war over the Aravalli mountain ranges has intensified, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday accused the Congress of spreading "misinformation" and "lies" on the issue.
In this Special Report, Sheo MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati raises an alarm over the new Supreme Court definition of the Aravali hills, stating that excluding hills under 100 metres will remove legal protection from over 90% of the range. Bhati calls this the ‘death knell’ for the region, already plagued by rampant mining. He highlights the contradiction in the state government’s stance, noting they allocated ₹250 crore for Aravali development in the 2025-26 budget but are now ‘sleeping soundly’ while the heritage is destroyed. Invoking the legacy of the Khejrali movement, Bhati urges all political parties and the youth of Rajasthan to unite and fight for the environment, warning that the destruction will impact the entire NCR region.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, addressed the recent Supreme Court order concerning the Aravali range, stating the government's commitment to balancing ecology and economy. Yadav clarified that the government accepts the court-mandated committee's report and its recommendations for sustainable mining, emphasising that 'no new mining lease except in case of critical strategic and atomic mineral' will be permitted. He highlighted that core areas, including four tiger reserves and twenty wildlife sanctuaries, are prohibited from mining activities. A 'Management Plan for Scientific Management' (MPSM) must be finalised before any new leases are granted. Yadav also noted the court's appreciation for the government's Aravali green initiatives and its approval of ICFRE's study standards.
A major controversy has erupted over the Aravalli range after a new Supreme Court definition sparked protests across North India. Environmental activists warn the revised criteria could threaten one of India's oldest mountain ranges. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has pushed back, calling the charges baseless and asserting that 'only a tiny 0.19% of the total 1.4 lakh square kilometre Aravali region is open for mining'. He stated that the vast majority of the Aravallis remain protected through designations like protected forests, reserve forests, and eco-sensitive zones. Protests have taken place from Gurugram to Jaipur, with activists demanding the new guidelines be withdrawn, fearing they will open the gates to unchecked mining and ecological destruction.
India Today's Special Correspondent Amit Bhardwaj reports on Sonia Gandhi's latest opinion piece regarding the air pollution crisis. Gandhi terms the situation a 'slow motion public health tragedy' and cites an estimate of 34,000 annual deaths in 10 cities. She also criticizes the dilution of Aravali protection laws, calling it a 'death warrant' for the hills that act as a barrier against desertification for the Gangetic plains.
