Delhi Set for First-Ever Artificial Rain to Combat Air Pollution: Cloud Seeding Initiative Between July 4-11
In an unprecedented move aimed at addressing the capital’s chronic air pollution, Delhi is preparing to witness artificial rain for the first time in its history, with the operation expected to take place between July 4 and July 11, 2025.
The cloud seeding experiment, a collaborative scientific effort spearheaded by IIT Kanpur, has been undertaken to reduce the alarming levels of air pollution in the city, especially in the pre-monsoon period when dust and smog remain trapped in the atmosphere due to low wind speeds and high humidity.
The flight plan for the operation has already been submitted by IIT Kanpur to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) headquarters in Pune for expert coordination, airspace clearance, and technical assistance.
The project will be implemented under a broader initiative titled ‘Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as an Alternative for Delhi NCR Pollution Mitigation’, and is being hailed as a groundbreaking experiment in the field of climate intervention and environmental engineering.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Delhi’s Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed that meteorological conditions are currently unfavorable for the cloud seeding operation until July 3, due to insufficient moisture in the atmosphere.
However, a potential flight window between July 4 and 11 has been proposed for the experiment’s execution, pending the fulfillment of all technical and regulatory clearances.
Sirsa also noted that a formal proposal has been submitted to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), requesting clearance for aircraft operations in designated low-security air corridors over the northwest and outer regions of Delhi.
These zones have been specifically selected to minimize airspace disruption while maximizing coverage over highly polluted sectors.
“Our objective is very clear — to ensure every resident of Delhi gets access to clean and breathable air,” Sirsa said, highlighting that air quality is a fundamental right and that the government is committed to pursuing every viable solution to combat toxic pollution levels that continue to pose serious public health risks.
“This initiative reflects our resolve to explore innovative and science-backed solutions. Artificial rain is not just a bold step — it is a necessary one. We are optimistic that it will help bring some tangible relief to the people of Delhi,” the minister added.
The move comes amid a political back-and-forth over pollution control measures, with AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj earlier accusing the BJP-led Central Government of obstructing efforts and ridiculing the cloud seeding proposal, especially during the high-pollution winter months.
Responding to these allegations, Minister Sirsa clarified the Delhi government’s role in pioneering the project, stating: “We were the first to act decisively.
We signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), released the required funds to IIT Kanpur, and pursued all necessary approvals with urgency.
While others only talked about artificial rain, we have taken it to the implementation stage — and all of this has happened within just four months of forming the government.”
The technical operation will involve five aircraft sorties, each lasting around 90 minutes, covering nearly 100 square kilometers per sortie.
The specially equipped aircraft, a modified Cessna, will disperse a carefully engineered cloud-seeding mixture into moisture-laden clouds using flare-based delivery systems.
The seeding compound, developed in IIT Kanpur’s advanced environmental laboratories, comprises a mix of silver iodide nanoparticles, iodised salt, and rock salt.
These elements are scientifically proven to serve as nuclei for cloud condensation, helping moisture droplets to coalesce more quickly and fall as precipitation.
The resulting artificial rain is expected to help ‘wash down’ airborne pollutants, particularly PM2.5 and PM10 particles, which are among the most dangerous to human health.
Environmental scientists believe that if successful, this project could pave the way for regular seasonal cloud seeding operations in urban centers suffering from acute pollution.
It may also open avenues for emergency interventions during pollution spikes, while fostering greater public and scientific interest in weather modification technologies.
The Delhi government sees this initiative as an investment in sustainable and science-driven governance, with the long-term goal of making the capital a cleaner and healthier place to live.
As the countdown to the first flight begins, all eyes will be on the skies of Delhi, hoping they may soon open up — this time, by human effort — to cleanse the air of one of the world’s most polluted cities.
