News Desk: Soumyajyoti Mandal:Ahead of Diwali celebrations, the Supreme Court of India has granted a limited relaxation on the use of firecrackers in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), allowing people to burst certified green firecrackers on November 7 and 8, 2026.
The decision comes as a temporary relief for residents ahead of Diwali, which falls on November 8 this year. However, the court has made it clear that the permission will be subject to strict conditions aimed at controlling air and noise pollution.
According to the court's directions, green firecrackers can be burst only during two designated time slots on both days — from 6:00 am to 7:00 am and from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The complete ban on firecrackers across Delhi-NCR will be reinstated from November 9, 2026.
A bench comprising Justices M. M. Sundresh and Prasanna B. Varale also imposed restrictions on the use of firecrackers near sensitive locations. No fireworks will be permitted within a 300-metre radius of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health centres, old-age homes and notified silence zones. Educational institutions will also be covered under the restrictions.
The court has further clarified that only green firecrackers certified by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), along with the necessary approvals from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), will be permitted.
Conventional firecrackers, crackers containing barium and those not approved as green crackers will remain prohibited. The manufacture and sale of firecrackers joined in series, commonly known as 'ladis' or garlands, will also not be allowed.
To prevent violations, authorities have been directed to monitor the manufacture, sale and distribution of firecrackers and ensure that unauthorised products do not enter the market. The court has also emphasised strict enforcement of its directions.
The Supreme Court's decision seeks to strike a balance between allowing people to celebrate the festival of Diwali and addressing the growing concerns over air pollution in the national capital region.
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