In 2025, people across India raised strong voices against mining and deforestation. Protests took place from Kancha Gachibowli in Hyderabad to Aravalli Hills in Rajasthan and Hasdeo forest in Chhattisgarh. The key trigger was the Supreme Court’s new environmental rules and government policies seen as harmful to fragile ecosystems. In December, the Supreme Court approved a new definition of Aravalli Hills, protecting only hills over 100 metres tall. This sparked protests in Rajasthan, Delhi, and Haryana. Protesters worry smaller hills will lose protection from mining threats. Students in Hyderabad protested the planned auction of 400 acres of the Kancha Gachibowli forest. They said the land belongs to University of Hyderabad. Environmentalists noted lack of permissions and no Environmental Impact Assessment, which is mandatory. The Supreme Court stopped cleaning work in April and ordered protection for wildlife, saying the government cannot allow "high-rises in the company of deer." In September, BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, Congress member Karan Singh, and environmentalists asked the Supreme Court to review a 2021 ruling that allowed widening Himalayan roads for the Chardham project. They said it damages the fragile hill ecosystem and worsens landslides and floods. In November, the Supreme Court reversed its earlier ban on retrospective environmental clearances for illegal constructions. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan dissented strongly, calling it a failure to uphold environmental principles. In September, the government exempted public consultations for atomic mineral mining projects, citing national security, causing concern in Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin urged Prime Minister Modi to withdraw this exemption. In August, Chhattisgarh approved forest clearance for mining in the Hasdeo Aranya region, risking 4.5 lakh trees. Locals and environmentalists protested the decision. The Chhattisgarh High Court dismissed a petition that challenged the cancellation of community forest rights in Hasdeo, where Adani's coal mines operate. Arunachal Pradesh villagers protested against the 11,000 MW Siang Upper Multi-Purpose Project in May, fearing loss of land and livelihood. In December, violence broke out in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district as villagers opposed the Amera extension coal mining project, fearing loss of farmland. In October, over 70 experts warned against the ₹92,000-crore Great Nicobar Island mega project due to severe environmental damage. They accused officials of ignoring tribal rights and ecological concerns in the project approvals. The year 2025 revealed a rising clash between development projects and environmental rights, marked by widespread protests and legal battles.