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Supreme Court Rejects Full Diwali Firecracker Ban for 2026

By Drooid · Oct 29, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

India’s Supreme Court said it will not impose a complete firecracker ban for Diwali on October 29, 2026.
Delhi’s 24-hour AQI reached 353 on October 22, 2026, staying in the ‘very poor’ category.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati announced a ban on non-BS-VI vehicles from November 1, 2026 and deployment of 608 anti-smog guns.
Amicus curiae warned Delhi residents lose 4.7 years of life from PM2.5 and that green crackers cut emissions only 30%.

History

In 2016 Delhi’s Great Smog spiked PM2.5 to 999 µg/m³, prompting a ban on diesel vehicles over ten years old. Recurrent winter peaks—AQI 465 in November 2021 and 491 in November 2024—kept air-quality litigation active. The 2026 Supreme Court ruling limiting firecrackers follows this pattern of incremental judicial steps to curb the capital’s haze.

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In 2016 Delhi’s Great Smog spiked PM2.5 to 999 µg/m³, prompting a ban on diesel vehicles over ten years old. Recurrent winter peaks—AQI 465 in November 2021 and 491 in November 2024—kept air-quality litigation active. The 2026 Supreme Court ruling limiting firecrackers follows this pattern of incremental judicial steps to curb the capital’s haze.

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