On 23 November 2025, police arrested 22 to 23 people at an air-pollution protest at India Gate in Delhi, alleging pepper spray attacks on officers and pro-Maoist slogans. A month later, protests under #SaveAravalli over a new 100-metre definition of the Aravalli hills led the Supreme Court, on 29 December 2025, to put its own November ruling in abeyance. An expert committee formed in 2026 must report by 30 November 2026.
Key takeaways
- On 23 November 2025, Delhi Police arrested 22 to 23 people at an air-pollution protest at India Gate, saying some protesters used pepper spray on officers and raised slogans supporting slain Maoist commander Madvi Hidma.
- Defence lawyers called the police allegations about the India Gate protesters "misleading and false", and Patiala House Court granted nine accused bail on 28 November 2025.
- On 20 November 2025 the Supreme Court accepted a definition under which an Aravalli hill must rise 100 metres or more above local relief, and two or more such hills within 500 metres form a range.
- Congress and environmentalists claimed the 100-metre Aravalli definition would strip protection from more than 90% of the range, while Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said no Forest Survey of India study supported that claim.
- After #SaveAravalli protests, a Supreme Court bench led by CJI Surya Kant put its own November 2025 Aravalli directions in abeyance on 29 December 2025.
- Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said a complete ban stays on new mining leases and renewals of old leases in the Aravallis while the definition is re-examined.
- A Supreme Court expert committee on the Aravalli definition, chaired by the Director General of ICFRE and formed in June 2026, must report by 30 November 2026 after the court refused to extend the deadline to February 2027.
India Gate, 23 November 2025
Delhi's air had stayed in the "severe" category for days. The Delhi Coordination Committee for Clean Air said the government was relying on water sprinklers and cloud seeding rather than long-term fixes. A similar protest had been held at the same spot on 9 November. ETV Bharat
Police account Police said protesters jumped barricades and blocked the C-Hexagon road for over an hour, and that when asked to leave, some used pepper spray on officers, which an officer called "unusual and rare". Injured officers were taken to RML Hospital. Police said India Gate is not a designated protest site. At least 22 people were arrested under two FIRs at Sansad Marg and Kartavya Path police stations. Tribune
Claim · Delhi Police Police said the accused raised slogans and showed posters supporting slain Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, pepper-sprayed about 10 officers, and supported the banned Radical Student Union. They added BNS Section 197, on acts against national integration. Statesman ETV Bharat Six accused were sent to three days of police custody. Deccan Herald
Claim · Defence Defence lawyers said the accused had no links to any banned group, that the police allegations were "misleading and false", and that slogans against the government cannot justify detention. On 28 November, Patiala House Court granted nine accused bail on a ₹20,000 surety each. ETV Bharat The student group SFS distanced itself from the slogans, and the ABVP demanded action. Careers360
The Aravalli definition
On 20 November 2025 the Supreme Court accepted a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills recommended by an Environment Ministry committee. ETV Bharat Under it, an "Aravalli Hill" is a landform in designated districts rising 100 metres or more above local relief, and an "Aravalli Range" is two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other. The court also told the Centre to prepare a management plan for sustainable mining before any new mining. LiveLaw
Claim · Congress and environmentalists They said more than 90% of the range would lose protection and could be opened to mining and other activity in Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat. Claim · Bhupender Yadav, Environment Minister He said no Forest Survey of India study supported that claim. The Week
Protests spread under #SaveAravalli, and the Youth Congress ran an "Aravalli Satyagraha Yatra". The Week False A video of a protest against a cement plant in Chhattisgarh was shared as a Save Aravalli protest. Factly
The court pauses its own ruling
Documented The court took up the issue on its own. On 29 December 2025 a vacation bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices J.K. Maheshwari and A.G. Masih put its November directions in abeyance, saying the committee report and its observations were being misconstrued and needed clarification. It said the stay would remain "till constitution of the Committee". LiveLaw
The court listed questions to examine: whether the definition created a "structural paradox" that widened non-Aravalli areas; whether mining could happen in the 500-metre gaps between hills; and whether it was correct that only 1,048 of 12,081 hills meet the 100-metre test. The Solicitor General said states had been told to stop further mining. LiveLaw
Both sides welcomed the pause. Yadav said the government would assist in protecting the range and that "a complete ban on mining stays with regard to new mining leases or renewal of old mining leases". Congress's Jairam Ramesh called it a "flicker of hope", said the Forest Survey of India, the Central Empowered Committee and the amicus had opposed the redefinition, and demanded Yadav's resignation. ETV Bharat
The expert committee
In June 2026 the court formed a committee chaired by the Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. Members include a former Forest Survey of India chief and a former Geological Survey of India director. It must review the 100-metre and 500-metre tests and whether they could cause irreversible ecological harm. LiveLaw The report was first due on 31 August 2026. In September the court refused the committee's request to extend to February 2027 and set 30 November as the deadline. Moneylife
Timeline
Court accepts 100 m definition
Based on an Environment Ministry committee. ETV Bharat
India Gate arrests
22-23 held after pepper spray clash. Tribune
Nine get bail
Patiala House Court. ETV Bharat
Ruling put in abeyance
After #SaveAravalli protests. LiveLaw
Expert committee formed
ICFRE chief to lead. LiveLaw
Extension refused
Report due 30 November. Moneylife
Both accounts
Protesters' account
Air quality is a health emergency the government is treating with cosmetic measures, and the India Gate arrests used Maoist allegations to shift attention. The 100-metre test would strip protection from most of the Aravallis. ETV Bharat The Week
Police and government account
Protesters at a non-designated site assaulted officers with pepper spray and backed a Maoist commander. On the Aravallis, the 90% claim has no FSI study behind it, and new mining leases remain banned. Tribune ETV Bharat
Outcome
- India Gate: 22-23 arrested, nine bailed on 28 November; the case continues.
- Aravallis: November ruling in abeyance; no new mining leases or renewals.
- Pending: The expert committee's report, due 30 November 2026.
Questions people ask
What is the 100-metre Aravalli definition?
A landform counts as an Aravalli hill only if it rises at least 100 metres above local terrain; two or more such hills within 500 metres form a range. The Supreme Court accepted it in November 2025, then paused it.
Is it true 90% of the Aravallis lost protection?
That is a claim by Congress and environmentalists. The Environment Minister said no study supports it. The court is examining whether only 1,048 of 12,081 Rajasthan hills meet the test.
Is mining allowed in the Aravallis now?
The Environment Minister said a complete ban stays on new mining leases and renewals, and states were told to stop further mining while the issue is examined.
Why were India Gate protesters arrested?
Police say they blocked a road, pepper-sprayed officers and raised pro-Maoist slogans. The defence calls these allegations false. Nine were bailed on 28 November 2025.
Sources
- Tribune: Arrested for using pepper spray on Delhi Police during air pollution protest, 24 Nov 2025
- Statesman: India Gate protest, Delhi Police add BNS Section 197, Nov 2025
- Deccan Herald: India Gate protest, 6 accused sent to police custody, Nov 2025
- ETV Bharat: Nine accused in India Gate protest get bail, 28 Nov 2025
- Careers360: SFS distances itself from slogans backing Madvi Hidma, Nov 2025
- LiveLaw: Supreme Court keeps Aravalli definition directions in abeyance, 29 Dec 2025
- The Week: Aravalli row, Supreme Court steps in as protests mount, 28 Dec 2025
- ETV Bharat: SC stay on Aravallis order welcomed by govt and Congress, 29 Dec 2025
- Factly: Chhattisgarh cement plant protest video falsely shared as Save Aravalli
- LiveLaw: Supreme Court constitutes expert committee on Aravalli definition, Jun 2026
- Moneylife: SC rejects committee's plea for extension, orders report by 30 November, Sep 2026