The Union government struggled for over a year to define the Aravalli hills, which stretch across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. Despite three committees with satellite data and expert input, no uniform criteria emerged. The crisis escalated when the Supreme Court threatened contempt proceedings against senior Environment Ministry officials. In August 2025, a new sub-committee shifted focus from strict definition to balancing ecology and mining, citing the 2019 National Mineral Policy that pushes mining critical minerals for economic growth. Environmentalists raised alarms that the proposed definition only protects hills taller than 100 meters, leaving most of the 700 km range open to risky mining and degradation. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav responded, saying no new mining licenses will be granted until the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education completes a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining. This Supreme Court-ordered plan must clearly mark areas where mining is banned and where limited mining may occur. Earlier, illegal mining caused slope damage in several hill areas, triggering court action. In 2024, a Supreme Court committee formed with multiple agency representatives tried to create a scientifically sound, nationwide Aravalli definition. Along with technical sub-committees, the group worked through 2025, but experts could not agree on criteria due to varying terrain. The Forest Survey of India noted that using only slope and elevation would wrongly include non-Aravalli hills. The 2010 Rajasthan-specific definition identified Aravalli hills as those with over 3-degree slope plus a 100-meter buffer for stability, but this did not apply to the full range. The Survey of India and FSI opposed relying solely on slope and relief, recommending local geological factors be included. On August 12, 2025, the Supreme Court ordered a swift policy decision, warning of contempt action. The committee then adopted a balanced approach, recognizing the area's critical mineral wealth including tin, lithium, and rare earths. The report stated: “The ecological and environmental integrity of the Aravalli Hills and Ranges must remain the foremost priority,” while allowing environmentally sustainable mining for strategic minerals. The new definition uses elevation relative to local relief, as Rajasthan already follows, to manage Aravalli conservation. The Supreme Court’s November 20, 2025 order aims to protect this precious natural range while supporting India’s development needs.