Supreme Court forms high-powered expert panel to re-examine Aravalli definition

Why in News?

The Supreme Court has constituted a high-powered committee to conduct an independent review of the Centre’s report on the definition and delineation of the Aravalli hill range. The Court observed that there are “critical ambiguities” in the findings and directed the committee to submit a comprehensive report by 31 August 2026.

About the Committee

• The committee is headed by Kanchan Devi, Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE).
• It has been tasked with examining the scientific, geographical, and ecological aspects of the Aravalli range and providing an independent assessment.

About the Aravalli Range

• The Aravalli Hills are among the oldest geological formations in India.
• They extend from Delhi through Haryana and Rajasthan into Gujarat.
• Historically, the range has been recognized across 37 districts by state governments.

• The Aravallis form a distinct central ridge, with the Thar Desert to the west and the Malwa Plateau to the east.
• They act as a natural barrier against the eastward expansion of desertification from the Thar Desert.
• The range plays a crucial role in biodiversity conservation and groundwater recharge.
• The Aravalli system serves as the source of several rivers, including: Banas River, Luni River, Sakhi River and Sabarmati River.
• The highest peak of the Aravalli Range is Guru Shikhar, which rises to 1,722 metres near Mount Abu.

Geological Importance

• One of the World’s Oldest Mountain Systems.
• The Aravallis are regarded as the most ancient mountain chain of the Indian subcontinent.
• They preserve an almost continuous geological record spanning nearly 3 billion years (3 Ga) of Precambrian evolution, covering the period from approximately 3.6 billion to 0.6 billion years ago.

Rock Types

The range comprises all three major rock groups:

• Igneous rocks – formed through the cooling and solidification of magma.
• Sedimentary rocks – formed by the deposition and compaction of sediments.
• Metamorphic rocks – formed when existing rocks are transformed by heat and pressure.

Malani Igneous Suite

• The region hosts the Malani Igneous Suite, India’s largest felsic igneous province.
• It is dated to around 750 million years ago.
• It is considered the third-largest felsic volcanic province in the world.

Residual Mountains

• Due to billions of years of weathering and erosion, the Aravallis are classified as residual (relict) mountains.
• Unlike young fold mountains such as the Himalayas, the Aravallis have been extensively worn down over geological time.

Sources: TH, DTE & Mongabay India