The Supreme Court has allowed the bursting of certified “green” firecrackers in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) on November 7 and 8, 2026, but only during limited morning and evening windows and under tight restrictions.
A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Prasanna B. Varale ruled that green firecrackers may be burst solely between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. and between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on both days. The limited relaxation aligns with the court’s earlier order of October 15, 2025. The complete ban on all firecrackers will resume from November 9.
The court prohibited the bursting of any firecrackers 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, will be designated as “No-Cracker Zones.” Authorities have been directed to clearly mark and publicise the zones.
The judges reiterated that only CSIR-NEERI-approved green firecrackers are permitted. Firecrackers containing barium, or those lacking CSIR-NEERI green certification, remain banned. Conventional and illegal firecrackers are also prohibited. Only manufacturers holding valid certification may produce approved green crackers. The court further barred the manufacture and sale of series-joined firecrackers (“ladis”) and garlands.
The order comes as Delhi’s air quality has already deteriorated, with the Air Quality Index entering the “very poor” category. The court has stressed the need for strict enforcement by authorities to ensure the limited relaxation does not undermine ongoing efforts to control pollution.
The permission is temporary and applies only to certified green firecrackers on the two specified days and within the designated time slots.