Green Crackers | 17 Oct 2025

Source:TH 

The Supreme Court of India has relaxed the year-long blanket ban on fireworks in Delhi-NCR, allowing the sale and use of green crackers approved by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) during Deepavali 2025.  

• The court called it a “test case” to balance festivals with pollution control, noting blanket bans led to smuggling and use of harmful fireworks.  
• Green Crackers: Designed to reduce air pollution by modifying traditional formulations. They achieve this through smaller shell sizes, elimination of ash, reduced raw material use, and addition of dust suppressants. 
  • They ensure at least 30% reduction in particulate matter (PM) or 20% PM reduction plus 10% reduction in gaseous emissions (SO₂ and NO₂) compared to conventional crackers.
  • Green crackers can be of two types:
    • Improved Fireworks: Modified existing crackers with cleaner compositions. 
    • New Formulation Fireworks: Developed with new materials and compositions to further cut emissions.
  • In Arjun Gopal vs Union of India (2018), the Supreme Court banned non-certified firecrackers with barium salts and allowed only PESO-approved green crackers meeting reduced-emission standards.