The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted permission for the sale and use of green firecrackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region between October 18 and 21, in a move aimed at striking a balance between festive traditions and environmental concerns. 

A bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran imposed strict conditions: only designated point-of-sale outlets may sell QR-coded green crackers (no e-commerce), and bursting hours will be limited to 6–7 a.m. and 8–10 p.m. on Diwali and the preceding day. The court also directed that no firecrackers manufactured outside the NCR be supplied in the region, and that police and pollution boards conduct surveillance and sampling to ensure compliance.

The ruling follows pressure from the Delhi government, which had backed allowing only green crackers, and echoes the 2018 Arjun Gopal judgment’s framework of “green Diwali.” While environmentalists caution about enforcement and residual pollution, the Court called this a temporary trial measure to see whether limited relaxation can coexist with cleaner air goals.