Overview

• Only NEERI‑approved green firecrackers with QR codes may be sold from October 18 to 20 at designated sites identified by district authorities.
• Use is limited to the day before Diwali and Diwali itself, confined to 6–7 am and 8–10 pm, with police patrolling and random sampling to enforce compliance.
• E‑commerce sales, series crackers (laris), barium‑based products and non‑certified items remain prohibited, with seizure and licence suspension for violations.
• CPCB and state pollution boards must track air quality from October 14 to 25 and also sample water and sand at high‑use locations, reporting back to the court.
• The temporary order applies across NCR districts in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan and has drawn mixed reactions from leaders and public‑health voices.