NEW DELHI: The Delhi Government may conduct another round of cloud-seeding trials this summer after two unsuccessful attempts in October last year. The move is being considered to tackle rising air pollution levels in the coming months, official familiar with the matter said.
The earlier trials were conducted under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Delhi Environment Department and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, signed on September 25. However, the experiment failed to induce rainfall in the city. IIT Kanpur attributed the failure primarily to low moisture levels in the clouds, which are essential for successful cloud seeding.
Despite the setback, the institute said observations from the trials would help refine planning for future operations and identify suitable atmospheric conditions. Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique aimed at enhancing a cloud’s ability to produce rainfall by dispersing substances such as silver iodide and other compounds, which promote the formation of ice crystals or raindrops.
During last year’s trials, eight chemical flares containing silver iodide and sodium chloride were released in each attempt. Following the exercise, the Delhi government reported that the trials contributed to a reduction in particulate matter levels at targeted locations, even though rainfall was not achieved.
IIT-Kanpur has now approached the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for fresh permission to conduct another trial. An official said the institute is currently reviewing data and findings from previous attempts, after which a decision on conducting another experiment this summer will be taken. The final schedule will be determined by the institute, and detailed findings will be shared with the government later.
The Economic Survey of Delhi 2025–26 also noted that further cloud-seeding trials would be undertaken in consultation with the India Meteorological Department. It described such trials as a short-term emergency measure to generate artificial rainfall and help disperse air pollution, especially during peak pollution periods.
IIT-Kanpur reviewing data of earlier attempts
IIT-Kanpur has now approached the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for fresh permission to conduct another trial. An official said the institute is currently reviewing data and findings from previous attempts, after which a decision on conducting another experiment will be taken.