The Supreme Court has delivered a significant and much-discussed order providing relief regarding the bursting of firecrackers on the occasion of Diwali in the National Capital Region of Delhi-NCR. The apex court has granted permission for the bursting of certified green crackers for a period of two days subject to strict and designated conditions. However, this relaxation will be for a limited timeframe, allowing citizens to burst green crackers exclusively on November 7 and November 8, 2026. Immediately following this, the complete ban on firecrackers across Delhi-NCR will be re-imposed and enforced effectively starting from November 9, 2026. This landmark relaxation has been granted by the Supreme Court with the objective of striking a careful and practical balance between the persistent severe air pollution situation in the Delhi-NCR region and the traditional cultural observances and sentiments of the people during the festival of Diwali.
Bench Directives and Time Restrictions
M. Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B. Varale, in an order issued on October 29, explicitly stated that the manufacture, sale, and use of only certified green crackers is permitted for a strictly limited duration. According to the court directives, firecrackers can only be burst on November 7 and November 8, 2026, during two specific windows: from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM in the morning and from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM at night. Bursting crackers outside these designated time slots will remain strictly prohibited to maintain some level of control over air pollution levels and to provide controlled observance.
Strict Bans in Sensitive Zones
In adherence to the court instructions, bursting firecrackers will remain strictly banned within a 300-meter radius of hospitals, nursing homes, healthcare centers, old age homes, educational institutions, and all notified silent zones. These specific areas are mandated to be declared as no-cracker zones. Stringent monitoring will be enforced around these zones to ensure that patients, elderly citizens, and students don't face any severe inconvenience or health complications due to noise and smoke.
Total Ban on Online Sales and Regulatory Rules
The Supreme Court has made it categorically clear that only green crackers certified by CSIR-NEERI and approved by PESO will be permitted for manufacture. The manufacturing of these specialized green crackers will take place exclusively between November 2 and November 6. Each individual cracker packet must mandatorily feature a product and batch-specific QR code, which will provide comprehensive details regarding the manufacturer, official registration, and testing certificates. The sale of these firecrackers will be restricted exclusively to locations designated by the local administration between November 4 and November 6. Online sales through any platform will face an absolute and total prohibition. Plus, the sale and use of barium-based crackers, joined firecracker series (series crackers or laris), and conventional traditional crackers will remain strictly restricted and banned. The court has directed authorities to take strict legal action, including the immediate cancellation of licenses, against manufacturers and traders found violating these stipulated rules.
Air Quality Monitoring and Compliance Reporting
The Supreme Court has issued explicit instructions to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and respective state pollution control boards to conduct rigorous monitoring of air quality from November 2 to November 30 and compile detailed reports. Also, authorities have been directed to collect data regarding the number of pollution-related patients visiting hospitals and potential fatalities following the conclusion of Diwali. The court reiterated that the pre-existing complete ban on firecrackers will regain full legal effect from November 9, 2026. All concerned state governments are required to submit compliance reports to the court by December 14, while the next hearing on the matter is scheduled for December 16.
Understanding Green Crackers and Previous Judicial Stance
The Supreme Court has clarified that the permission granted applies solely and exclusively to certified green crackers, meaning conventional firecrackers will derive no benefit from this exemption, while once the absolute ban is restored on November 9, restrictions concerning the manufacture, storage, sale, distribution, and use of all regular firecrackers will remain in full force as before. For context, green crackers are specially formulated firecrackers engineered with the primary objective of emitting substantially lower levels of polluting particulate matter compared to conventional firecrackers, while they involve Importantly reduced use or complete elimination of harmful hazardous chemicals. Nevertheless, it's essential to note that green crackers still emit pollution to a certain extent, and consequently, their usage remains governed by strict administrative conditions. Earlier on September 30, the Supreme Court had considered the possibility of permitting limited-time firecracker usage during Diwali in Delhi-NCR instead of a total prohibition. The court had observed at the time that while environmental protection remains a paramount duty, it's equally important to respect the religious and cultural sentiments of the general public. The court had previously emphasized that permissions for bursting crackers couldn't be granted for the entire day and required precise scheduling and categorization. Now, the Supreme Court has officially permitted certified green crackers for two specific days on Diwali while mandating the resumption of the complete ban starting November 9.