Aravalli

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.