Another Diwali, another pollution emergency: How prepared is the government?

India's annual battle with air pollution is entering another difficult phase. As Diwali approaches, the national capital is once again struggling with deteriorating air quality, while several other Indian cities are also reporting worrying pollution levels. The difference, however, is in the scale of the crisis. Delhi is already breathing air that falls in the 'very poor' category, even before the festival's celebrations have begun.

On November 7, a day before Diwali, Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 364 at 9 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The city's 24-hour average had stood at 382 on Friday. More concerningly, 18 of Delhi's 59 monitoring stations recorded 'severe' air quality on Saturday morning. The Air Quality Early Warning System also warned of a possible deterioration into the severe category.

The question is no longer simply how polluted Delhi will become after Diwali. It is whether the measures introduced by authorities can prevent an already serious situation from becoming worse.

Delhi is not the only city struggling

Although Delhi remains the centre of India's winter pollution debate, the problem extends well beyond the national capital.

A comparison of six major Indian cities published by NDTV Profit on November 6 showed considerable differences in their air quality.

Delhi recorded an AQI of 373, placing it in the 'very poor' category. Kolkata followed with 185, while Mumbai recorded 169. Both cities fell in the 'moderate' category. Hyderabad registered 110 and Chennai 131, also placing them in the moderate category. Bengaluru performed relatively better, with an AQI of 74, classified as 'satisfactory'.

These figures offer a snapshot rather than a permanent ranking. AQI readings change throughout the day depending on emissions, weather conditions and the movement of pollutants. Nevertheless, the comparison makes one thing clear: air pollution is a national concern, even though its intensity varies considerably between cities.

For Kolkata and Mumbai, moderate air quality does not mean the absence of a pollution problem. It means the immediate situation is less severe than Delhi's at that particular time.

Why does Delhi become so polluted every winter?

Delhi's pollution problem cannot be explained by one source or one festival.

According to a report of expert analysis considered by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in February 2026, secondary particulate matter accounted for an estimated 27 per cent of Delhi-NCR's winter PM2.5 pollution. Transport contributed 23 per cent, biomass burning 20 per cent, dust 15 per cent and industries, including thermal power plants, nine per cent.

These estimates demonstrate why blaming Diwali alone would be misleading.

Vehicle emissions, industrial activities, construction dust, waste burning and agricultural residue burning across the wider region all contribute to the problem. Some pollutants also travel across state boundaries, making it difficult for one city's administration to tackle the crisis independently.

Weather conditions make matters worse. During winter, lower temperatures, weaker winds and atmospheric conditions that restrict the vertical movement of air can prevent pollutants from dispersing. Instead of moving away, pollution accumulates closer to the ground.

This is why Delhi can experience a dramatic deterioration in air quality even without a major change in local emissions.

How prepared is the government this Diwali?

Authorities have introduced several measures, but the deteriorating AQI suggests that the challenge remains considerable.

On November 6, the Commission for Air Quality Management invoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR. The decision came after Delhi's average AQI reached 382, with forecasts indicating further deterioration.

Stage III brings restrictions on several dust-generating construction and demolition activities, including excavation, demolition and certain roadwork. Mining and stone-crushing activities are also required to stop.

Restrictions have been imposed on the movement of certain older vehicles. BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers, or vehicles below these emission standards, face restrictions in Delhi and specified NCR districts, subject to exemptions.

Schools have also been directed to offer hybrid classes for students up to Class 5. The arrangement allows children to attend either physical or online classes, wherever the facility is available. The measure has also been extended to several neighbouring NCR districts.

The government has additionally emphasised dust control, road cleaning and pollution monitoring.

Delhi's Environment Department has also been conducting an anti-firecracker campaign, encouraging residents, schools and residential associations to celebrate without conventional fireworks.

These measures indicate that authorities have activated their emergency response. However, GRAP is largely a response to deteriorating pollution levels. Its restrictions can help prevent further deterioration, but they cannot independently address the sources responsible for Delhi's year-round emissions.

What has the Supreme Court decided about firecrackers?

Firecracker regulations in Delhi-NCR have changed several times over the years.

On October 29, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a fresh order, temporarily relaxing the restrictions on certified green firecrackers for Diwali.

The court permitted the sale of approved green crackers at designated locations from November 4 to November 6. Their use has been permitted only on November 7 and 8, between 6 am and 7 am and between 8 pm and 10 pm.

The relaxation is temporary. The complete ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR is scheduled to return from November 9.

The court has also prohibited fireworks within 300 metres of hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health centres, old-age homes, educational institutions and notified silence zones.

Importantly, this permission does not extend to conventional firecrackers. Only products certified by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research's National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), along with the necessary approvals from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), are covered.

The order also prohibits firecrackers containing barium and those joined together in series, commonly known as garlands or 'ladis'. Approved packaging must remain sealed and carry product-specific QR codes.

The Supreme Court's decision is particularly significant because it has recognised a problem that goes beyond the existence of restrictions: their implementation.

The court observed that previous measures had not produced the desired results. It also expressed concern that conventional firecrackers continued to be sold under the label of green crackers. The court noted that authorities had failed to provide adequate data to establish whether the earlier complete ban had significantly improved air quality.

Are green crackers actually environment-friendly?

The term 'green crackers' can be misleading if it creates the impression that these products are harmless.

Developed with scientific support from CSIR-NEERI, green crackers use modified chemical formulations designed to reduce emissions compared with conventional firecrackers.

According to CSIR-NEERI, these formulations can reduce particulate matter emissions by at least 30 per cent, with further reductions in certain gaseous pollutants, depending on the product and its formulation.

They are also designed to avoid certain harmful chemicals used in conventional fireworks. Some formulations use alternative materials to reduce the environmental impact of their emissions.

However, reduced emissions do not mean zero emissions.

Green crackers can still release particulate matter, including PM2.5 and PM10, alongside gases such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These pollutants can worsen existing air pollution, particularly in cities already experiencing poor air quality.

PM2.5 is especially concerning because these extremely fine particles can travel deep into the lungs. Exposure to polluted air can aggravate respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, with children, older people and those with existing health problems being particularly vulnerable.

Therefore, green crackers are better understood as a relatively lower-emission alternative, not an environmentally harmless product.

Their actual benefits also depend on whether manufacturers follow the approved formulations and whether authorities can prevent unauthorised products from entering the market.

The real problem goes beyond one night

Delhi's Diwali pollution debate often returns every year with familiar announcements, restrictions and court interventions. Yet the larger problem remains unresolved.

The CAQM's own assessment shows that transport, biomass burning, secondary pollutants, dust and industrial emissions are significant contributors to winter pollution. Addressing these sources requires sustained coordination between the Centre, state governments, local administrations and neighbouring states.

Temporary restrictions can reduce immediate exposure, but cleaner public transport, stricter industrial emission controls, better construction dust management, effective waste disposal and alternatives to agricultural residue burning require consistent attention throughout the year.

Diwali may add another layer to an already polluted atmosphere, but it did not create Delhi's pollution crisis.

The real test of preparedness is not simply how many restrictions are announced before the festival. It is whether authorities can enforce them effectively and continue working after the celebrations are over.

Green crackers may reduce some of the damage, but they cannot turn a polluted city into a clean one overnight. And until India's approach moves beyond seasonal emergency measures, the winter haze will continue to return.