Ministry data shows firecrackers, not farm fires, drove Delhi's post-Diwali PM2.5 spike?

checkthis · automated fact-check · How we check · Reel by @timesnow

Times Now accurately reported Ministry of Earth Sciences data showing firecrackers were the top PM2.5 polluter in Delhi on Diwali night and the following morning. Data from the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology confirms that firecrackers accounted for 43.4% of Delhi's PM2.5 on Diwali night (Nov 8) and over 70% to 80% on Nov 9. By contrast, farm fires contributed just 3.6% on Nov 8. Times Now's reporting on the official source-apportionment findings is accurate, as reported by Indian Express, Business Standard, and Times Now.

6 claims checked
4 sources
Checked 11 Nov 2026
Main source: Firecrackers caused 71% of Delhi's PM2.5 pollution on Diwali night: IITM | India News - Business Standard

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The Reel we checked

@timesnow

Pataka, not parali, the big Diwali pollutant? Data reveals Delhi's PM2.5 contributions: - On Diwali: 43.4% contribution from crackers - From 5.6% on Nov 7 to…

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What we checked

According to Earth Science Ministry RTSA data, firecrackers contributed 43.4% to Delhi's PM2.5 levels on Diwali night (Nov 8).“According to the assessment by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, firecrackers contributed 43.4 per cent of Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution between 1 am and 9 am on November 8, the day”Firecrackers caused 71% of Delhi's PM2.5 pollution on Diwali night: IITM | India News - Business Standard + 1 more

According to Earth Science Ministry RTSA data, firecrackers' share in Delhi's PM2.5 was 5.6% on Nov 7 and 80.2% on Nov 9.“According to the assessment by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, firecrackers contributed 43.4 per cent of Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution between 1 am and 9 am on November 8, the day”Firecrackers caused 71% of Delhi's PM2.5 pollution on Diwali night: IITM | India News - Business Standard + 2 more

The contribution of farm fires to Delhi's PM2.5 pollution was 3.6% on November 8th according to Ministry of Earth Sciences data.“Their contribution stood at 43.4 per cent on November 8”Firecrackers Account For 71% Of Delhi's PM2.5 Pollution Post Diwali, Biggest Contributor For 3 Days | Times Now

Out of the top 100 most polluted places in the world at the time of broadcast, 89 were in India.No reliable source found for this yet.

Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge stated 'India becoming vishwaguru in pollution'.No reliable source found for this yet.

Delhi leader Kapil Mishra stated 'Deliberate Punjab farm fires to choke Delhi'.No reliable source found for this yet.

What we couldn't check

We couldn't find the full original video, so we can't say what was said just before or after this clip.

Our read of the video

A real news broadcast from Times Now showing anchor Shreya Dhondiyal and reporter Kritika Tiwari discussing official pollution data.

An AI assessment from the footage alone; watch the video and judge for yourself.

What the Reel doesn't tell you

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) Air Quality Warning and Integrated Decision Support System for Emissions (under the Ministry of Earth Sciences) published real-time source-apportionment data showing firecrackers accounted for 43.4% of Delhi's PM2.5 between 1 am and 9 am on Nov 8, rising to 71.1% (and up to 80.2% on the AIRWISE portal) on Nov 9, as reported by Indian Express, Business Standard, and Times Now.
The same data showed stubble burning contributed only 3.6% to PM2.5 on Nov 8, with no farm fire data recorded for Nov 9 and 10, as reported by Times Now and Outlook.

Short version

✅ TRUE 👉 Firecrackers, not farm fires, were the primary driver of Delhi's post-Diwali PM2.5 spike. 👉 Ministry of Earth Sciences data shows firecrackers caused up to 80% of PM2.5 on Nov 9, while farm fires contributed just 3.6% on Diwali night. 📰 Sources: Business Standard, Times Now 🔎 Full check: send this Reel to @checkthis.chat