Supreme Court action on Chambal riverine sanctuary and illegal sand mining

Direct fact

In May 2026, the Supreme Court summoned officials from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh over illegal sand mining in the Chambal sanctuary, which spans Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and is India’s first and only tri-State riverine protected area.

Key specifics

• Chambal sanctuary covers 3 States: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• The protected area is described as India’s first and only tri-State riverine protected area.
• The Supreme Court issued summons in May 2026 to officials of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
• The issue before the Court was illegal sand mining inside a riverine protected area.
• The case links environmental protection with inter-State administration across 3 States.

Exam lens

Environment and governance question type: identify the protected area, States involved, and the Court’s intervention; TNPSC may ask which sanctuary is India’s first tri-State riverine protected area.