Overview

• The Supreme Court has reserved its order on whether to allow green firecracker sales in Delhi-NCR and has signalled possible permission, with a verdict expected soon.
• Hindustan Times spot checks in Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar and near Jama Masjid found open and discreet firecracker sales, including non-green varieties, despite the blanket ban.
• Street vendors described hiding larger stock, charging high margins, and earning heavily around Diwali as police largely focus on crowd control, according to on-the-ground accounts.
• Manufacturers and traders say legalising certified green crackers would formalise sales and curb black markets, while environmental advocates argue any relaxation risks unleashing conventional fireworks.
• CSIR-NEERI reports roughly 20–30% particulate cuts for green crackers under lab conditions, but independent studies highlight persistent ultrafine pollutants and past enforcement failures that led Delhi to impose annual blanket bans since 2020.