In June 2025, the Delhi Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister(CM) Rekha Gupta, has approved to launch its first artificial rain pilot project through cloud seeding to combat air pollution. New Delhi (Delhi) based Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has extended formal support, validating the feasibility of cloud seeding over the National Capital Region (NCR).
- The Rs.3.21 crore initiative is fully funded by the Department of Environment, Government of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.
- Cloud-seeding operations will begin as soon as favourable weather conditions, particularly the presence of moisture-laden clouds, are observed.
About Artificial Rain Pilot Project :
i.The pilot project titled, “Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as an Alternative for Delhi NCR Pollution Mitigation,” is being led by Uttar Pradesh (UP) based Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur.
- It will handle the scientific, technical, and operational aspects of the project.
ii.IIT Kanpur will deploy specially equipped Cessna aircraft with flare-based seeding systems using a proprietary formulation of silver iodide nanoparticles, iodized salt, rock salt and a free-flowing agent that combines hygroscopic and glaciogenic cloud-seeding capabilities.
iii.The pilot phase includes five flight sorties, targeting low-security, non-sensitive airspaces in outer and northwest Delhi.
- Each sortie will last up to 90 minutes and cover approximately 100 square kilometres (sq kms).
- ‘Sortie’ refers to a single mission flown by an aircraft, starting from takeoff and ending with a full landing.
iv.The real-time weather data provided by the IMD, including cloud height, type, wind direction, and dew point, which will be used to determine optimal flight timings.
v.Strict safety protocols will be observed, with restricted zones such as Rashtrapathi Bhawan, Prime Minister (PM)’s residence and Parliament house are excluded from operations.
vi.The ideal cloud formation for the operation is Nimbostratus (Ns), where clouds are located between 500 to 6,000 metres(m) above ground with at least 50% moisture content.
vii.To assess the environmental impact of the artificial rain, real-time air quality monitoring will be carried out across Delhi.
- The focus will be on key pollutants like Particulate Matter (PM)2.5 and PM10, measured through Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS), installed across Delhi.
Note: IIT Kanpur, which has previously carried out seven successful cloud seeding operations in drought-affected regions, is now applying the technique for the first time to address urban air quality.
Need of Artificial Rain:
i.Delhi experiences hazardous air pollution, particularly during winter. The main contributors include vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, construction dust, and burning of biomass.
ii.Weather conditions like low wind speeds and temperature inversion trap pollutants close to the ground, worsen the air pollution.
iii.Artificial rain will reduce air pollution in the region.
About Artificial Rain:
i.Artificial rain or cloud seeding, is a weather modification technique used to create rainfall by dispersing certain chemical substances like silver iodide(AgI), Potassium iodide(KI), or dry ice(CO2) into clouds.
ii.These chemicals help water droplets in the cloud to form and grow bigger, eventually causing them to fall as rain.
iii.It requires moisture-laden clouds and suitable weather conditions to work effectively.
iv.The United States of America(USA) became the first country to successfully conduct artificial rain (cloud seeding) experiments in 1946.
About National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi:
Chief Minister (CM) – Rekha Gupta
Lieutenant Governor – Vinai Kumar Saxena
Capital – New Delhi
Airport – Indira Gandhi International Airport
