New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday allowed residents of Delhi-NCR to burst certified green firecrackers on November 7 and 8, but only within tightly fixed hours. The court also stressed the need for strict enforcement, public cooperation and awareness, warning authorities not to let its annual directions on firecracker use become ineffective.

When you can burst crackers

The relaxation is temporary. According to reports, the blanket restrictions on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR return into force from November 9.

The key rules

• Only certified green crackers are permitted. Other firecrackers remain banned.
• No-cracker zones. Firecrackers are banned within a 300-metre radius of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health centres, old-age homes and notified silence zones. These areas, along with educational institutions, must be declared, marked and publicised as “No-Cracker Zones.”
• The October 2025 framework applies. The new order follows the conditions the court set in its order of October 15, 2025, when it first allowed green crackers on a limited basis. That framework required:
  • sale only from designated points;
  • regular checks and patrols on manufacturers;
  • QR codes on green crackers, uploaded to official websites, so that they can be traced;
  • no entry of crackers from outside the NCR;
  • immediate suspension of manufacturers’ licences if they are found dealing in fake or non-compliant products;
  • monitoring of air and water quality by pollution control boards.

The court’s warning

The court’s message was as much about implementation as about permission. It cautioned that its yearly directions risk losing their force if they are not enforced on the ground, and it called for public cooperation and awareness. In last year’s order, the bench also acknowledged that crackers are smuggled into the region and can cause more harm than the certified ones, and that no relaxation could be permanent unless pollution from green crackers is shown to be minimal.

What are green crackers?

Green crackers are firecrackers designed to emit less particulate matter and harmful gases than conventional ones, and they are certified by government-linked research bodies. They are not pollution-free. Researchers at Delhi Technological University found in 2022 that even green crackers release ultrafine particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs, and some environmental experts argue that any relaxation worsens Delhi’s winter air.

The balancing act

The order reflects a long tug-of-war that has played out in court for years.

• For relaxation: The government, the industry and many residents argue that festive traditions matter, that a total ban encourages smuggling and illegal sale, and that thousands of livelihoods, including those of manufacturers in Sivakasi, depend on the trade.
• For restriction: Doctors, activists and environmental groups point to Delhi’s severe winter pollution, the risk to children, older people and patients with respiratory illness, and the difficulty of checking whether crackers are actually green.

The court’s approach in both years has been to allow a narrow window with enforcement conditions, and to treat it as a test.

What residents should keep in mind?

1. Check for the QR code and certification on any cracker you buy, and buy only from authorised sellers.

2. Stay within the allowed hours, as violations can attract penalties.
3. Avoid bursting crackers near hospitals, schools, and silence zones.
4. Keep children, older people and anyone with breathing problems in mind, and consider low-pollution ways of celebrating, such as lights and sweets.

What to watch

• How effectively the Delhi Police and municipal agencies enforce the limits and the ban on non-green crackers.

• Air quality readings in the days after Diwali and the pollution control boards’ reports.
• Whether fake QR codes or smuggled crackers surface in seizures.
• Any further directions from the court.

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