The Supreme Court has allowed certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR for Diwali 2026 — but only for two days, only at fixed hours, and only under strict conditions. The order was passed on 29 October 2026 by a Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Prasanna B. Varale in the long-running case Arjun Gopal and Others v. Union of India. The complete ban on firecrackers comes back into force from 9 November 2026.

When you can burst crackers

  • Saturday, 7 November 2026: 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
  • Sunday, 8 November 2026 (Diwali): 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM

No bursting is allowed outside these two windows on these two days. The Court was clear that the relaxation is temporary — it covers only 7 and 8 November, and the earlier complete ban is restored with effect from 9 November.

Only green crackers — and only the approved ones

The permission covers only CSIR-NEERI-approved green crackers. These are crackers designed to cause less pollution than conventional ones, with reduced emissions. The rules are:

  • Manufacturers holding valid CSIR-NEERI certification and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) licences could manufacture only the green crackers listed on the CSIR-NEERI website, between 2 and 6 November.
  • Crackers must be packed in sealed boxes carrying product and batch-specific QR codes showing the manufacturer, registration, licence, formulation and test certificate.
  • Firecrackers joined in series (ladis) and garlands are prohibited.
  • Crackers containing barium are prohibited, as are all crackers not approved by CSIR-NEERI as green crackers.
  • Manufacturers and traders must furnish a substantial security deposit, fixed by the authorities, which will be forfeited for violations.

Where and how you can buy them

  • Sale is allowed only from 4 to 6 November, and only at designated locations. The licences of traders whose licences had been cancelled were temporarily restored only for 4 to 6 November, and will be cancelled immediately on any violation.
  • Online sale is prohibited. Sales must happen only at the designated spots, and police will inspect them.
  • Do not buy loose crackers, crackers without QR codes, or crackers sold outside the designated locations — they are not the approved green crackers the Court allowed.

No-cracker zones

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. These areas are marked as No-Cracker Zones.

Why the Court kept the limits tight

Delhi’s air is already in the “very poor” category — the 24-hour average AQI was 389 on the morning of 6 November, with 18 of 59 monitoring stations in the severe band — and the forecast says it will turn severe over the Diwali weekend. The Court directed the Central Pollution Control Board, with the State Pollution Control Boards, to prepare daily air-quality reports for 2 to 6 November (pre-Diwali), 7 and 8 November (Diwali) and 9 to 30 November (post-Diwali). Authorities must file compliance reports, supported by affidavits, by 14 December 2026, and the matter will be heard again on 16 December.

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