Overview

• Authorities report 168 temporary licences for NEERI-approved stock in Delhi, with the three-day retail window running October 18–20 and some applications still under review.
• Use is restricted to 6–7 am on both days and 8–10 pm on October 19 and 20, with only QR-coded, PESO-verified products allowed and chain ‘ladi’ crackers banned.
• District teams led by SDMs with police, fire and DPCC officials have begun inspections and patrols, and police say illegal consignments have been seized.
• Reporters found conventional crackers and fake QR labels widely on sale across Delhi-NCR as buyers faced limited supply, higher prices and confusion over verification.
• Delhi’s 24-hour AQI was 268 on Saturday and forecasts indicate a shift to the severe category by Tuesday, with experts cautioning that green crackers still emit pollutants.