India’s Supreme Court has allowed limited use of green fireworks
for two days during Diwali in Delhi, even as the city’s air quality hovers near hazardous levels.
The court’s decision, described as a temporary measure,
permits certified green fireworks to be burst only on November 7 and 8, 2026, during restricted morning and evening hours. Under this mandate, fireworks imported from outside the National Capital Region cannot be sold, and their use is limited to two brief periods: 6am to 7am and 8pm to 10pm on both dates. A complete ban will be in effect from November 9.
What Are ‘Green’ Fireworks?
The so-called green fireworks are marketed as lower-emission alternatives to conventional fireworks. They were developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI). Only fireworks carrying a QR code and certification from CSIR-NEERI are permitted for sale.
However, scientists and doctors remain sceptical about their real-world impact. Green fireworks have not been studied well,
Dr Manoj Kumar, from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, told The Indian Express. And there’s no way for a user to know whether a cracker is truly ‘green’.
While green fireworks may emit less smoke in controlled tests, they still release fine and ultrafine particles, such as PM2.5 and PM10, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream
, Dr Syed Abdul Aleem, senior pulmonologist in southern Hyderabad city, told The Business Standard.
Activists argue the court’s decision ignores established health concerns. Bhavreen Kandhari, founder of Warrior Moms, an organisation fighting for clean air, said the ruling ignores what science, medicine, and even past judgments have already established, that there is nothing green about them
.
Legally, this is a step back from Article 21 of the constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to life and clean air. Medically, it’s a blow to children, the elderly and those with respiratory illnesses,
she told The Independent.
Debate Over Effectiveness and Enforcement
Enforcing the rules presents another challenge. Fireworks have been banned in Delhi since 2020, but residents have continued to defy the prohibition. Former Delhi Pollution Control Committee official Mohan George told The Indian Express that it was a failure when green crackers were tested experimentally in 2018
. QR codes and stickers didn’t help. It’s very difficult for the police to differentiate between green and conventional crackers.
The court itself stressed the need for proper implementation on the ground. There is no point in passing orders and issuing directions unless they are implemented on the ground. It becomes a mere mockery then,
the court stated, as reported by Jagranjosh. The court also indicated it is not in favour of a complete ban.
We are not inclined to completely ban it but please do not push us to take a very hard stand on this matter,
it added. You have to really regulate it. Every year we are trying to balance it out but unless there is cooperation from everyone it can’t be done.
Delhi’s Persistent Pollution Crisis
Delhi is one of the world’s most polluted megacities. Some districts saw air quality index levels reach a peak of 640 in 2023, which is more than 10 times the WHO’s safe threshold. This year, Delhi government has already announced its Winter Action Plan, which is in place from 1 November to 28 February to cover the months when pollution usually spikes.
The festival of Diwali, which will be celebrated on November 8 this year, coincides with the start of Delhi’s winter smog season, when cold air and crop-burning in neighbouring states trap pollutants near the ground.
Meteorologists expect favourable winds to delay the worst smog in 2026, but the city’s air remains among the most polluted in the world. According to findings from the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, Delhi’s air pollution reduces the average life expectancy of its inhabitants by 11.9 years when measured against WHO guidelines.
Earlier coverage: Diwali Celebrations in India Amid Rising Air Pollution Concerns
