Delhi Diwali 2026: Which green crackers can you burst and when are they allowed?

Can you buy firecrackers for Diwali in Delhi this year? Yes, but not just any crackers, and certainly not whenever you want. The Supreme Court has allowed a limited window for certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR, with restrictions on their sale, use and location.

The decision comes as the capital battles worsening air quality ahead of the festival. But there is another question behind the relaxation: do green crackers actually make a meaningful difference to pollution, or is the label simply a more reassuring name for fireworks?

Delhi Diwali 2026: When can you buy and burst green crackers?

Under the Supreme Court's November 2 order, certified green crackers can be sold from November 4 to 6. Their use is permitted only on November 7 and 8, in two daily windows: 6 am to 7 am and 8 pm to 10 pm. The complete ban on firecrackers across Delhi-NCR will return from November 9. Delhi Police have also said that buyers must check for QR codes on cracker boxes to verify certification and batch details.

The court has made clear that only products approved by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), with the necessary licences, can be sold. Online sales are prohibited, and physical sales are restricted to designated locations.

There are other restrictions. Firecrackers joined in series, commonly called laris, and crackers containing barium are not permitted. Each box must carry a product-specific QR code that allows buyers to check details such as the manufacturer, NEERI registration, licence information, formulation and test certificate.

Delhi's no-cracker zones: Where are fireworks prohibited?

Even during the permitted hours, residents cannot burst crackers everywhere. The Supreme Court has prohibited fireworks within 300 metres of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health centres, old-age homes, educational institutions and notified silence zones.

These areas must be marked and publicised as no-cracker zones. The restrictions are intended to protect patients, elderly residents, children and others who may be particularly affected by noise and air pollution.

Are green crackers really less polluting? What CSIR-NEERI says

The word 'green' can be misleading if it is understood to mean harmless. Green crackers still release pollutants when they explode. The difference lies in their chemical formulations, which are designed to reduce emissions compared with conventional fireworks.

According to CSIR-NEERI, certified green crackers are developed using modified formulations and more efficient combustion processes. The institute's standards specify a reduction of at least 30 per cent in particulate matter emissions, or a reduction of at least 20 per cent in particulate matter along with a 10 per cent or greater reduction in gaseous emissions, compared with conventional crackers of the same category.

The institute has developed formulations including SWAS, STAR and SAFAL. SWAS uses a polymer hydrogel intended to capture particulate matter released during bursting. STAR uses iron oxide to improve combustion efficiency, while SAFAL reduces aluminium use through zeolite-based materials.

Some formulations have achieved reductions beyond the minimum thresholds. For instance, its STAR-F Flower formulation recorded reductions of 35.6 per cent in PM2.5 and 45.5 per cent in PM10 emissions.

Do green crackers mean a cleaner Diwali for Delhi?

Not necessarily. These figures refer to emissions from tested products compared with conventional equivalents. They do not mean that Delhi's overall pollution will fall by the same percentage.

Firecrackers remain one contributor to an already complex pollution problem involving vehicles, construction dust, industry, crop-residue burning and weather conditions. Even certified green crackers release pollutants, which can add to the existing burden.

The Supreme Court has therefore opted for a tightly regulated, temporary window rather than unrestricted celebrations. For buyers, the message is straightforward: check the QR code, follow the timings and respect no-cracker zones. A green label is not a licence to ignore the rules, or the air everyone has to breathe.

(With inputs from ANI)