Delhi Prepares for First Cloud Seeding Trials as Pollution Worsens
Delhi’s first cloud seeding trial starts October 2025, aiming to reduce air pollution with artificial rain but experts stress the need for broader solutions in tackling the city’s toxic winter smog.
Delhi to Begin Cloud Seeding Trials to Combat Severe Air Pollution
Delhi is set to trial cloud seeding from October 7–9, marking the megacity’s first attempt to induce artificial rainfall to tackle its chronic air pollution. The initiative is in collaboration with IIT Kanpur and involves up to five airborne tests using a Cessna aircraft approved under DGCA flight permits. Terrain Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Principal Minister Rekha Gupta indicated that test runs will focus on north and northwest Delhi, depending on suitable weather conditions.
Cloud seeding disperses chemicals, often silver iodide, into clouds to encourage rainfall. Delhi frequently experiences ‘severe’ air quality levels during late autumn, worsened by stubble burning, meteorological stagnation, and urban emissions. While the trial aims for temporary particulate reduction, experts caution that such measures are not a long-term solution and cannot replace sustained efforts in cutting industrial, vehicular, and agricultural emissions.
The trial, extending through November, will assess the effectiveness and safety of cloud seeding, helping shape future policy. Authorities emphasize a multi-pronged approach, including electric mobility, emission reduction, and green infrastructure, to address Delhi’s persistent air pollution crisis.
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