Delhi's Cloud Seeding Trial: A Conditional Scientific Pilot Amidst Pollution Crisis
Delhi conducted its first cloud seeding trial in October 2025 aiming to reduce air pollution by inducing artificial rain using silver iodide dispersed by aircraft. The effort, led by the Delhi government and IIT Kanpur, failed to produce significant rain due to inadequate cloud presence and moisture in the atmosphere. Experts caution it offers only temporary relief and cannot replace fundamental pollution control.
Delhi's unprecedented attempt in October 2025 to ease severe air pollution involved cloud seeding, an atmospheric technique introducing silver iodide particles into clouds to trigger rainfall and wash away pollutants. Despite its long history dating back to the 1940s, success depends heavily on suitable cloud conditions, which Delhi lacked during the trial with humidity levels of 15-20%, well below the 50-60% required for effective rainfall. The trial’s modest effect underscores that cloud seeding is probabilistic, not guaranteed, and offers only brief pollution relief without addressing root causes like vehicular emissions and crop burning. Environmental concerns include the accumulation of silver iodide and ethical challenges like potential 'cloud stealing.' India lacks a comprehensive regulatory framework for weather modification, highlighting the need for standards on safety, monitoring, and public transparency. While some global efforts in China and Thailand show moderate success, controlled long-term studies in Israel and the US indicate no statistically significant rainfall increase. Experts emphasize cloud seeding should complement, not replace, systemic emission controls such as stricter vehicle norms and agricultural residue management. Delhi's government signed a memorandum with IIT Kanpur for a winter-long series of trials costing ₹3.21 crore, emphasizing scientific rigor and transparent evaluation rather than policy reliance. Ultimately, the trial reveals the scientific and political complexities in tackling air pollution through meteorological interventions.
