India Supreme Court Orders Detailed Air-Quality Data After Limited Green Firecracker Trial
On 2 November, the Supreme Court of India said the limited improvement in Delhi’s air-quality index after a two-day allowance for certified green firecrackers was insufficient and ordered all states to submit detailed AQI and health impact reports. The court had earlier warned that pollution would spike after Diwali and that existing firecracker bans were frequently ignored, urging stronger enforcement and public-awareness campaigns that included celebrities such as cricketer Virat Kohli. It also permitted the sale and bursting of certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR on 7-8 November under strict time slots and restrictions near hospitals and schools, while reinstating a full ban thereafter.