The Supreme Court has granted limited permission to residents of Delhi-NCR to celebrate Diwali with green firecrackers, subject to strict conditions. According to the court’s directions, people will be allowed to burst only approved green firecrackers on November 7 and 8, ahead of and on Diwali. The permitted timings are from 6 am to 7 am and 8 pm to 10 pm on both days. A complete ban on firecrackers will come back into effect from November 9, 2026.
The court has also introduced restrictions to protect people from noise and air pollution. Firecrackers will not be allowed within 300 metres of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health centres, old-age homes, educational institutions and notified silence zones. These areas will be marked as ‘No-Cracker Zones’ to ensure compliance.
The Supreme Court has further directed that only green crackers certified by CSIR-NEERI and approved by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) can be manufactured and sold. Manufacturers with valid certification have been permitted to produce approved green crackers between November 2 and November 6. The manufacture and sale of traditional firecrackers, including long chains of crackers known as ‘ladis’, have been prohibited. Crackers containing barium and products without the required green-cracker approval will also remain banned.
The decision comes amid growing concerns over deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR ahead of the festival. The court has directed authorities to prevent the sale and circulation of illegal and conventional firecrackers and ensure that all restrictions are followed.
