Centre bans new mining leases across the entire Aravallis; ICFRE to widen no-mining zones
The Union Environment Ministry on 24 December 2025 directed states to grant no new mining leases anywhere in the Aravalli Range and asked ICFRE to identify more areas where mining should be prohibited.
Summary
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 24 December 2025 directed states to impose a complete ban on granting any new mining leases across the entire Aravalli Range, which stretches from Gujarat to the National Capital Region. The Ministry asked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to identify additional zones where mining should be prohibited while preparing a science-based Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the whole Aravalli region, to be placed in the public domain for consultation. Mines already operating must strictly follow environmental safeguards and the Supreme Court's order; the Ministry cited the Aravallis' role in preventing desertification, conserving biodiversity and recharging aquifers.
Key facts
- Date
- 24 December 2025
- Direction
- No new mining leases anywhere in the Aravallis
- Extent
- Continuous ridge from Gujarat to the NCR
- ICFRE task
- Identify more no-mining zones; prepare Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM)
- Existing mines
- Strict safeguards, in line with the Supreme Court's order
- Why
- Prevent desertification, conserve biodiversity, recharge aquifers
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Which body has the Environment Ministry asked to identify additional no-mining zones and prepare a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining for the Aravallis (December 2025)?
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Correct answer: A — Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education
PIB 2208234: MoEF&CC directed ICFRE to identify additional areas where mining should be prohibited while preparing the MPSM for the entire Aravalli region.
As described by the Environment Ministry in December 2025, the Aravalli Range stretches between:
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Correct answer: A — Gujarat and the National Capital Region
PIB 2208234: the Aravallis form a continuous geological ridge extending from Gujarat to the National Capital Region.
Consider the following statements about the Centre's December 2025 directions on the Aravallis: 1. States must not grant any new mining leases anywhere in the Aravallis. 2. All mines already operating in the Aravallis must close immediately. 3. The Management Plan for Sustainable Mining will be placed in the public domain for consultation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 3 only
PIB 2208234: the ban covers grant of new mining leases and the MPSM will be placed in the public domain. Existing mines are to be regulated stringently in line with the Supreme Court's order, not closed, so statement 2 is wrong.