Environment / Science & Technology
Delhi is set to carry out its first cloud seeding operation between August 30 and September 10, 2025, with the aim of inducing artificial rainfall to mitigate air pollution. The move follows guidance from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, which had earlier advised deferring the originally planned July timeline due to weather conditions.
Key Details:
Budget: ₹3.21 crore
Aircraft: 5 modified Cessna planes
Target Area: Northwest and Outer Delhi
Objective: Trigger rainfall to wash out airborne pollutants
What is Cloud Seeding?
Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique that involves dispersing substances like silver iodide, dry ice, or salt into clouds. These particles act as cloud condensation or ice nuclei, encouraging the formation of larger droplets that fall as rain or snow.
Effectiveness:
Requires pre-existing clouds.
Can increase rainfall by 5–15% under suitable conditions.
Also used for drought mitigation, hail suppression, and fog dispersal.
Significance:
Marks a first-of-its-kind pollution-control initiative in India’s capital.
Represents a scientific approach to urban air quality management.
Raises broader debates on the ethics, environmental impact, and long-term sustainability of weather modification.
If successful, this project could offer a replicable model for other polluted cities, while also inviting scrutiny on the balance between technological interventions and natural ecological cycles.
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