With Diwali around the corner, firecrackers are once again at the centre of a legal debate in the national capital. The Supreme Court has allowed the use of certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR for two days during Diwali, while directing that a complete ban on firecrackers be restored from November 9. However, these approvals come with strict timings.
Under the permitted schedule, the Supreme Court of India has authorised the bursting of certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR on November 7 and November 8:
- November 7, 2026: 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- November 8, 2026: 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale directed that there shall be no bursting of fireworks within a 300-metre radius of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health centres, old-age homes, and any notified silence zones.
The court made it clear that the relaxation remains in force only for these two days, with a complete ban on firecrackers set to be restored from November 9. This permission is limited exclusively to certified green firecrackers, which are designed to cause less pollution than conventional ones.
"Needless to state that the complete ban on the firecrackers, as imposed earlier, shall be restored with effect from November 9, 2026," the bench said in its October 29 order, which was made available on Monday.
The Court has directed that manufacturers possessing valid green cracker certification from CSIR-NEERI and licences from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) are permitted to manufacture only those green crackers uploaded on the CSIR-NEERI website between November 2 and 6.
Furthermore, the court directed that manufacturers must hold valid licences from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) alongside their CSIR-NEERI certification. It also ordered that there shall be no manufacture or sale of firecrackers joined in series ('ladis') and garlands.
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The bench said that the use of firecrackers containing barium and those not approved by CSIR-NEERI as green crackers is strictly prohibited. It directed authorities in Delhi-NCR to take immediate steps to halt the flow of illegal and conventional firecrackers.
What Are Green Crackers?
Green crackers are environmentally friendly fireworks created by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) in India. Their purpose is to minimise air and noise pollution by eliminating toxic substances such as barium and incorporating additives that help control dust and emit water vapour.
These eco-friendly crackers are engineered to cause less environmental harm and are available in three main variants: SWAS (Safe Water Releaser), STAR (Safe Thermite Cracker), and SAFAL (Safe Minimal Aluminium).
In contrast, traditional firecrackers are the regular fireworks commonly used during celebrations and festivals like Diwali, weddings, and New Year events. They are made using chemicals and metals that produce bright colours, loud sounds, and smoke when ignited.
Conventional firecrackers rely on chemicals like barium nitrate, aluminium, and potassium nitrate, all of which release toxic gases, heavy metals, and fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) when ignited.