Supreme Court Allows Green Crackers in Delhi-NCR on 7 and 8 November, in Two Time Slots; Full Ban Returns on 9 November

The Supreme Court has allowed certified green firecrackers to be burst in Delhi and the National Capital Region on 7 and 8 November, the two days around Diwali, which falls on 8 November this year. The relaxation is narrow: crackers may be used only from 6 am to 7 am and from 8 pm to 10 pm on those days, and the year-round ban will come back into force on 9 November 2026.

The order was passed on 29 October by a bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale and was made public on 2 November.

Conditions laid down

• No-go zones: no fireworks within 300 metres of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health centres, old-age homes and notified silence zones.
• Certified makers only: green crackers may be made only by manufacturers holding valid CSIR-NEERI and PESO certification, and only products uploaded on the CSIR-NEERI website between 2 and 6 November qualify.
• Banned items: “ladis” (crackers joined in a series), garlands, crackers containing barium and anything not approved by CSIR-NEERI as green cannot be made or sold.
• Enforcement: authorities in Delhi-NCR must stop the entry and sale of illegal and conventional firecrackers.

Court’s view on a total ban

During the hearings, the court remarked that a blanket ban on firecrackers may look ideal, but noted that there is not enough data to show that such a ban by itself solves the region’s air pollution problem.

The order comes as Delhi’s air has already slipped into the “very poor” category and Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan is in force across the NCR.

Featured image: A chakri spinning during Diwali celebrations (representative photo). Photo: Ministry of Culture, GODL-India (source).

Sources

• SC allows green crackers in Delhi-NCR for two days, sets time slots; ban returns Nov 9 – The Tribune
• Supreme Court Daily Round-Up: November 2, 2026 – LiveLaw