Aravalli Hills definition and expert committee conservation mandate
Source:The Hindu ↗
Why It Matters
The Aravalli Range is ecologically vital for North India, acting as a barrier against the eastward expansion of the Thar Desert and playing a key role in groundwater recharge. Ambiguities in its definition have been exploited for illegal mining. This development is important for UPSC aspirants as it touches upon GS1 (Geomorphology/Indian Geography) and GS3 (Environmental Conservation, Impact of Mining), highlighting the role of the judiciary (Supreme Court, CEC) in environmental governance.
Summary
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has endorsed a 10-member expert committee, initially proposed by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and mandated by the Supreme Court, to clearly define the Aravalli Hills and ranges. The committee's primary task is to resolve "critical ambiguities" in the current definition, including criteria like a 100-meter elevation and a 500-meter gap between hills. Establishing a clear, legally binding definition is crucial for protecting the Aravallis—one of the world's oldest fold mountain ranges—from rampant illegal mining, deforestation, and ecological degradation.
Key Points
- The Supreme Court directed the formation of an expert committee to define the Aravalli Hills and ranges to resolve critical ambiguities.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has endorsed a 10-member panel proposed by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).
- The committee includes experts from the Forest Survey of India, Geological Survey of India, and Survey of India, alongside academicians and bureaucrats.
- The panel will address ambiguities in defining the Aravallis, such as criteria involving a 100-metre elevation and a 500-metre gap between hills.
- A precise legal definition is essential to protect the ecologically sensitive Aravalli region from rampant illegal mining and environmental degradation.
Important Terms
Central Empowered Committee (CEC)
A permanent statutory body under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, that monitors environmental compliance and assists the Supreme Court in matters concerning forest conservation and illegal mining.
UPSC context
GS II (Governance) & III (Environment); relevant for judicial activism and the transition of court-appointed bodies into statutory regulatory entities.
Aravalli Range
One of the world's oldest fold mountain systems, stretching across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat; it acts as a critical climate regulator and a barrier against the Thar Desert's expansion.
UPSC context
GS I (Geography); essential for studying Indian geomorphology, groundwater recharge zones, and regional environmental conservation efforts.
Forest Survey of India (FSI)
A premier agency under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, responsible for the biennial assessment and mapping of India's forest cover and forest resources.
UPSC context
GS III (Environment); vital for monitoring deforestation, analyzing State of Forest Reports (ISFR), and evaluating national biodiversity targets.
Geological Survey of India (GSI)
An organization under the Ministry of Mines that conducts geological mapping, mineral resource assessments, and geoscientific research to aid national planning and disaster management.
UPSC context
GS I (Geography) & III (Economic Geography); tests knowledge of India’s mineral wealth, geological history, and scientific survey infrastructure.
Survey of India (SoI)
India's national mapping agency under the Department of Science and Technology, providing the cartographic and topographical framework for development, defense, and environmental resource mapping.
UPSC context
GS III (Geography & Security); critical for understanding GIS applications, territorial boundaries, and official geospatial data management in India.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
The apex administrative body for planning and overseeing the implementation of environmental policies, wildlife acts, and international conventions on climate change in India.
UPSC context
GS II (Governance) & III (Environment); focuses on executive leadership in environmental legislation and national climate strategy.
Prelims Trap
The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) is an ad-hoc judicial body functioning directly under the supervision of the Supreme Court of India.
The CEC was originally an ad-hoc SC committee but was reconstituted in 2023 as a permanent statutory body under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Static Concepts Connected
What are the key geographical features of the Aravalli Range?
- Geological Origin: It is a system of relict (residual) mountains and one of the oldest fold mountain systems in the world, originating in the Proterozoic Era.
- Geographical Extent: Spans approximately 670 km diagonally from Palanpur (Gujarat) through Rajasthan and Haryana, ending at the Delhi Ridge.
- Ecological Role: Acts as a major water divide between the Indus and Ganga river basins and serves as a barrier preventing the eastward expansion of the Thar Desert.
- Highest Peak: Guru Shikhar (1,722 m) located on Mount Abu in Rajasthan.
What is the legal status and mandate of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC)?
- Judicial Origin: Initially constituted in 2002 by the Supreme Court as an ad-hoc body to monitor compliance of its orders in the T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad (forest) case.
- Current Legal Status: Notified by the MoEFCC in 2023 as a permanent statutory authority under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- Mandate: Monitors the implementation of SC orders regarding forests, addresses environmental grievances, and oversees eco-sensitive zones and illegal mining issues.
Cross-Topic Patterns
Judicial genesis of statutory environmental bodies
Both the CEC and the compensatory afforestation fund (CAMPA) originated from Supreme Court directions in the landmark T.N. Godavarman case before eventually being institutionalized by the executive via statutory backing.
Aravalli degradation and UNCCD desertification targets
Degradation of the Aravalli range directly undermines India's UNCCD targets (restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030), as the range is the primary physical barrier checking the Thar desert's eastward spread.
Expect a paired 2026 question testing Aravalli's physical geography against the EPA 1986 mandate of the newly institutionalized CEC.
Linked PYQs · 3
Linked PYQs · 3
- 2025MainsGS3
Mineral resources are fundamental to the country's economy and these are exploited by mining. Why is mining considered an environmental hazard? Explain the remedial measures required to reduce the environmental hazard due to mining.
- 2013MainsGS3
What are the consequences of Illegal mining ? Discuss the Ministry of Environment and Forests' concept of GO AND NO GO zones for coal mining sector.
- 2001PrelimsGS1
The approximate age of the Aravalli’s range is
