Cracker conundrum: On need for strict enforcement of cracker ban
The Hindu - Editorial · Published 10 November 2026 · Last updated
The Supreme Court's temporary relaxation of the firecracker ban during Deepavali resulted in severe air quality deterioration across north Indian cities, highlighting the severe enforcement challenges and limitations of green cracker certification.
Key points
- The Air Quality Index (AQI) in several north Indian cities deteriorated to 'severe' on Deepavali night following the Supreme Court's temporary relaxation of the firecracker ban.
- Air sensors maintained by various organisations reported PM2.5 levels exceeding 1,000 in Delhi and its outskirts by Deepavali night.
- Delhi's five-day average AQI rose from approximately 298 before Deepavali to 358 afterwards in 2024, 259 to 315 in 2025, and 350 to 376 in 2026.
- Market inspections by outlets like the Hindustan Times revealed that markets in the Capital sold every kind of cracker, including licensed, unlicensed, QR code-bearing, and non-QR code varieties in November 2026.
- The Supreme Court noted in November 2026 that it lacked adequate quantitative evidence on the health and environmental effects of emissions from Deepavali celebrations to justify a permanent absolute ban.
- CSIR-NEERI, the developers of low-emission crackers, underlined that such products under stringent lab conditions only reduce emissions by 30% to 45%.
- The Supreme Court was informed during hearings that an absolute ban would encourage illegal crackers brought in from across the border.
- Vendors in markets like Sadar Bazaar were found taking home-delivery orders despite the ban on online sales and displaying green boxes while selling conventional crackers upon request.
Background
- The Supreme Court instituted temporary relaxations and alternative regulatory windows for firecrackers in preceding years, shifting away from total bans due to widespread flouting and the growth of illicit markets.
- Constitutional provisions protecting the right to life and health have historically been weighed against religious observations involving firecrackers during festive seasons.
Prelims facts and Mains angle for this issue are in the full SWAदेSH note.
Original report: The Hindu - Editorial