In a major decision announced on October 15, 2025, the Supreme Court of India has relaxed the blanket ban on fireworks in the National Capital Region (NCR) by allowing the sale and bursting of green firecrackers — subject to strict safeguards.
This move aims to strike a balance between the public’s festive sentiments and the pressing need to protect air quality during and after Diwali.
Key Conditions & Limitations
The Supreme Court has laid down a detailed framework under which green crackers may be sold and used. Some of the main stipulations are:
| Condition | Detail / Restriction |
|---|---|
| Allowed period | Only from October 18 to October 21, 2025 |
| Bursting timings | Permitted only between 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM |
| Certified products only | Only green crackers approved by NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) are allowed. |
| Licensed traders & designated sale points | Sales must be through licensed traders and from designated locations identified by district collectors in consultation with the police. |
| QR codes, traceability & checks | Products must carry QR codes linked to registered manufacturers. Authorities will monitor and randomly sample products. |
| No e-commerce sales | Sale via online or e-commerce platforms is expressly prohibited. |
| No crackers from outside NCR | Import or sale of firecrackers from outside the NCR region is disallowed. |
| Enforcement & monitoring | Patrol teams (in coordination with police and pollution control boards) will keep vigil on sales points, enforce seizure of unauthorized crackers, and monitor air quality (AQI) starting October 14. |
| Penalty for violations | Licenses may be revoked or cancelled for non-compliance; seized crackers will be confiscated. |
The court emphasized that this is a temporary measure, to be evaluated in light of on-ground results and environmental impact.
Rationale & Concerns
- The bench reasoned that smuggled conventional crackers often enter Delhi and cause greater pollution damage than certified green crackers.
- It referred to its earlier 2018 Arjun Gopal judgment, which first allowed limited use of green crackers under controlled conditions, as the guiding precedent.
- At the same time, environmental experts caution that green crackers, though lower in emissions, are not entirely harmless. Their use must be closely regulated to prevent undoing gains in air quality.
- Enforcement, especially in densely populated or sensitive zones (schools, hospitals, religious sites), will be a challenge, according to critics.
Implications & Takeaways
- Festive relief for citizens and traders: After years of strict bans, people will again be able to celebrate Diwali with light and sound — albeit in a constrained way.
- Testing ground for policy: The court seems to treat this as an experiment to see whether regulated cracker use can coexist with environmental protection.
- Potential for expansion or rollback: Depending on the results (AQI data, compliance, health impact), the court or governments may expand, revise or revoke this permission in subsequent years.
- Increased burden on enforcement agencies: Police, pollution boards, and local administration will have to ensure compliance, monitor sales, crackdown on violations, and submit reports as directed.
- Messaging for citizens: The onus will also be on citizens to respect the rules — using only certified crackers, within allowed hours, and supporting enforcement.
