{"id":30232,"date":"2026-09-23T17:45:53","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T12:15:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=30232"},"modified":"2026-09-23T17:45:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T12:15:53","slug":"aravalli-range","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/aravalli-range\/","title":{"rendered":"Aravalli Range, Salient Features, Importance, Initiatives"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Aravalli Range <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">stretches from Gujarat in the southwest to Delhi in the northeast. It is among the oldest mountain systems in the world. These hills are shaped by ancient geological processes and are rich in minerals and biodiversity. They support dry deciduous forests, wildlife habitats, and important river systems.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><b>Aravalli range<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is steeped in history, with many forts, temples, and palaces built by Rajput kingdoms like Mewar and Marwar. Today, however, the range faces growing threats from mining, deforestation, and urbanisation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Aravalli Range About<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><b>The Aravalli Range<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is one of the oldest fold mountains on Earth. It extends over 800 kilometres from Gujarat in the southwest to Delhi in the northeast, passing through Rajasthan and Haryana.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Geographical Division:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The Aravalli Range is divided into two main sections: the Sambhar\u2013Sirohi range, the taller part that includes Mount Abu, and the Sambhar\u2013Khetri range, consisting of discontinuous ridges.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Rock composition: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The range is made of ancient granite, gneiss, quartzite, marble, and schist, preserving some of the earliest records of Earth\u2019s geological history.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Natural Barrier: The Aravalli Range Mountains<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> act as a natural shield, protecting the fertile plains of eastern Rajasthan from the westward spread of the Thar Desert.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Climate:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The terrain includes rocky ridges, hills, valleys, plateaus, and forested tracts, with an arid to semi-arid climate that varies with rainfall, elevation, and proximity to the desert.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Aravalli Range Formation<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><b>The Aravalli Range<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> formation happened during the Proterozoic Eon, over 1.8 billion years ago, through tectonic collisions between the Bundelkhand and Marwar cratons.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Origin:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Its origin began around 2.2 billion years ago with the rifting of the Bhilwara Gneissic Complex, forming basins that accumulated sediments and volcanic material, eventually giving rise to the Aravalli Supergroup.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Formation Process:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> During the Aravalli Orogeny (~1.8 billion years ago), these sediments were compressed and uplifted, while later tectonic activity during the Delhi Orogeny (~1.1 billion years ago) further shaped the northern Aravalli rocks of the Delhi Supergroup.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Current Form: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Over millions of years, erosion and weathering have reduced its peaks to the low ridges and hills seen today.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Aravalli Range Salient Features<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><b>The Aravalli Range Mountains <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">comprise irregular hills and ridges, generally ranging from 300 to 900 metres in elevation. The<\/span><b> highest peak of the Aravalli Range<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is Guru Shikhar in Mount Abu (1,722 metres). It hosts a diverse flora comprising predominantly dry deciduous and thorny scrub forests, with important tree species.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Flora: The Aravalli Range<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is dominated by dry deciduous forests and thorny scrub. Common tree species include Dhok, Babool, Neem, Khejri, Salai, and Kareel, while flowering plants such as roses, bougainvillaea, and hibiscus add to its botanical diversity.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Fauna: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These forests support a variety of mammals, including leopards, striped hyenas, jackals, nilgai, hares, civets, mongooses, and porcupines.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Birds such as peafowl, barbets, babblers, bee-eaters, cuckoos, drongos, and migratory species like the Indian pitta are abundant.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The region also hosts reptiles and amphibians, including cobras, kraits, monitor lizards, and frogs.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Wildlife Corridors: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Key corridors, including the Sariska\u2013Delhi and Northern Aravalli Leopard Corridors, connect Rajasthan to the Delhi Ridge, covering areas like Ferozpur Jhirka\u2013Nuh, Faridabad\u2013Gurugram, and Farrukhnagar.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Rivers: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The range is drained by seasonal rivers, including the Luni, Banas, and Sahibi, and contains important lakes like Sambhar, Sultanpur, Pushkar, Fateh Sagar, and Jaisamand.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Minerals: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It is also rich in mineral resources such as zinc, lead, silver, marble, gemstones, gypsum, and building stone.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Aravalli Range Importance<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><b>Aravalli Range Mountains<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> are not only one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world but also a lifeline for north-western India. Their significance lies in their ecological, climatic, hydrological, and historical roles, which make them indispensable for both people and the environment.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Ecological Barrier:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The encroaching Thar Desert is repelled by the green shield of the Aravallis. By blocking desert winds and limiting the spread of sand, they help to prevent widespread desertification in Delhi, Haryana, and the Indo-Gangetic plains.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Water Security: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Aravalli range supports rivers including the Sahibi, Banas, and Luni, and serves as a vital groundwater recharge area. These water systems sustain downstream <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/ecosystem\/\" target=\"_blank\">ecosystems<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, drinking water supplies, and agriculture. Water shortages in already arid areas would worsen in the absence of the Aravallis.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Climate Regulation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Aravallis play an important role in shaping the climate of northwest India and nearby regions. During the monsoon, they guide clouds eastwards towards Shimla and Nainital, which helps nourish sub-Himalayan rivers and supports the fertile north Indian plains.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In winter, the range acts as a barrier, protecting the Para-Indus and Gangetic valleys from cold winds coming from Central Asia.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">By controlling wind and reducing dust storms, they also improve air quality in cities like Delhi and Gurugram, earning the name \"green lungs\" of the region.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Biodiversity Hotspot: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Aravallis serve as a wildlife corridor that connects disparate habitats and provides habitat to a wide range of species, including rare plants, hyenas, and leopards.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Historical and Cultural Value: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The ranges are a part of India's geological and cultural legacy since they maintain remnants of past mining practices, ancient villages, and sacred locations like Mount Abu and Mangar Bani.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Aravalli Range Conservation Initiatives<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><b>Aravalli Range<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> protection and restoration are going through several efforts, including court rulings, government policies, and community-based initiatives. These focus on inclusively protecting the Aravalli range mountains to revive biodiversity and strengthen the ecosystem\u2019s resilience.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Aravalli Green Wall Initiative:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The initiative started on World Environment Day 2025 and aims to rejuvenate a 700-km stretch of the Aravalli by restoring 1.1 million hectares of degraded land by 2027.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Aravalli Landscape Restoration Action Plan:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The action plan emphasises science-based, community-driven restoration to enhance soil health, water availability, and climate resilience through coordinated efforts of states and local communities.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>State-Level Interventions: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Aravali Safari Park Project in Haryana is adding strength to broader conservation efforts. Haryana has created perennial water sources for wildlife by linking village pipelines to ephemeral pits.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900, and the Indian Forest Act provide statutory protection to its forested areas.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Judicial Intervention:<\/b> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/supreme-court-of-india\/\" target=\"_blank\">Supreme Court of India<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> rulings, such as T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad (1996), extend forest protection to all forest lands, including unnotified areas.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Aravalli Range Related Concerns<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><b>The Aravalli Range Mountains <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">are under mounting ecological and developmental stress. Rampant mining, deforestation, and unchecked urban expansion have negatively impacted these ranges. Weak enforcement and policy gaps have deepened the crisis.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Environmental Degradation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mining, forest loss, and rapid urbanisation, especially near Delhi\u2013Gurugram, have reduced soil fertility, increased desertification risk, and altered local climate, aiding the eastward spread of the Thar Desert.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Loss of <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/biodiversity\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Biodiversity<\/b><\/a><b> and Human-Wildlife Conflict: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Shrinking habitats force leopards, hyenas, and jackals into settlements, while rare plant species are also disappearing.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Water Depletion: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once key groundwater recharge zones, the Aravallis are losing water-holding capacity.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Over-extraction of groundwater in Jaipur and Alwar and the drying of rivers like the Sahibi and Banas worsen scarcity.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Policy and Implementation Gaps:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Despite repeated Supreme Court interventions, illegal mining and encroachments continue. Fragmented institutions and the absence of a dedicated authority have left conservation measures ineffective.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest fold mountain ranges in India, located in northwestern India. Check out more about the Aravalli Range, salient features, etc.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":30268,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,24],"tags":[2058,40,620],"class_list":["post-30232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-upsc-notes","category-upsc-geography-notes","tag-aravalli-range","tag-quest","tag-upsc-geography-notes"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30232"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30232\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30273,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30232\/revisions\/30273"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}