Supreme Court allows limited green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR for Diwali 2025

On 15 October 2025, the Supreme Court of India allowed the sale and use of so-called green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR, the National Capital Region that covers Delhi and neighbouring towns. The permission applied only for a short period around Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, and only during fixed hours in the morning and evening.

Green crackers are designed to release fewer particles and harmful gases than conventional ones, and only certified products could be sold. The court also asked authorities to enforce the rules, including checks against banned firecrackers and against sales from outside the approved channels. The order came after the Delhi government and firecracker traders had asked for relief from a long-running ban on such sales in the capital region.

The decision was closely watched because Delhi's air quality typically worsens sharply in October and November. Cooler weather, slow winds, vehicle emissions and crop-stubble burning in nearby states all add to the smog. Supporters of the order said a limited, regulated exemption balanced tradition and public health, while environmental campaigners and doctors warned that even green crackers add to pollution and could worsen conditions for people with breathing problems.