Schools and junior colleges across Maharashtra will administer a pollution-free Diwali pledge to students and encourage them not to burst firecrackers, following directions issued by the state education authorities after a Bombay High Court order on noise and environmental pollution.
The initiative follows the court’s suo motu public interest petition No. 1 of 2026, in which an order was issued on October 15, 2026, directing awareness efforts among school students. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board subsequently wrote to the education authorities on October 22, prompting the Directorate of Education to circulate instructions across the state.
The directions have been issued under the authority of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Director Dr Mahesh Palkar. Regional deputy directors of education, primary and secondary education officers in zilla parishads, and education departments of municipal corporations have been asked to ensure that the instructions reach schools and junior colleges in their jurisdictions.
Schools may use the time allocated for their regular assembly to administer the pledge. Students will be encouraged not only to avoid bursting firecrackers themselves but also to persuade friends, relatives and family members to do the same. The pledge also includes a commitment to celebrate festivals and public events throughout the year in ways that do not cause pollution.
The education authorities’ communication identifies air and noise pollution from firecrackers as a concern for young children, senior citizens, patients, birds and other animals. The school-based campaign is intended to make students more aware of these effects and to encourage them to adopt a pollution-free approach to Diwali.
The instructions place regional education officials and local education authorities at the centre of implementation. They are required to bring the government’s directions to the notice of headmasters and principals of schools and junior colleges under their administrative control. The supplied report does not specify a separate monitoring mechanism, enforcement process or compliance deadline for the pledge.
