Supreme Court Allows Green Crackers in Delhi-NCR for Diwali on November 7 and 8

The Supreme Court of India on Monday permitted the manufacture, sale and bursting of approved green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR for a limited period ahead of Diwali, while directing the restoration of the complete firecracker ban from November 9, 2026. The ruling was delivered by a bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B. Varale, which set safeguards for the manufacture, storage, sale and bursting of approved crackers.

A note on the bursting hours

Reports of the order differ on the exact hours when crackers may be burst. Live Law reported one set of hours for November 7 and 8, while Nation Press and the Daily Jagran, carrying ANI and PTI inputs, reported a different set of two short windows on both days. Because the reports conflict, this article does not state a bursting hour. Readers in Delhi-NCR should follow the court order and the local notices issued for their area.

Who may make and sell them

Only manufacturers with valid certification from CSIR-NEERI and licences from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation, known as PESO, may manufacture green crackers listed on the CSIR-NEERI website, between November 2 and 6, according to Live Law. Conventional crackers, crackers containing barium, and joined series crackers known as ladis or garlands are prohibited.

The licences of traders whose licences had been cancelled were temporarily restored from November 4 to 6, so they can sell approved green crackers bought from CSIR-NEERI certified manufacturers. A licence will be cancelled immediately on any violation.

Sale is prohibited online and at all locations other than designated sale locations identified by District Collectors or Commissioners with District Superintendents of Police.

Rules at the point of sale and on the street

Every green cracker box must be sealed and carry a product specific QR code showing the manufacturer, NEERI registration, PESO or District Magistrate licence, formulation and test certificate. QR codes are non-transferable.

No firecrackers may be burst within a 300 metre radius of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health centres, old-age homes, educational institutions and notified silence zones. Those areas are to be declared No-Cracker Zones, and are to be marked and publicised.

Police patrolling teams must inspect designated sale locations, verify QR codes, confiscate illegal crackers, and check vehicles entering Delhi-NCR. All firecracker manufacturers and traders in Delhi-NCR must furnish a substantial monetary security deposit, which stands forfeited immediately on a violation.

Air quality checks after Diwali

The Central Pollution Control Board, with State Pollution Control Boards, must prepare daily air quality reports for November 2 to 6, November 7 to 8, and November 9 to 30. State machineries must file compliance affidavits by December 14, 2026, with a further compliance review on December 16.

Green crackers were developed by CSIR-NEERI and emit 30 percent less pollution than traditional crackers, the Daily Jagran reported with PTI inputs. The complete ban returns on November 9, the day after the two permitted days end.