After two failed attempts last October, Delhi may see another attempt at cloud seeding this summer, an official familiar with the matter told PTI. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and the Ministry of Environment, Delhi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 25 September 2025.
According to an NDTV report, IIT Kanpur has sought permission from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to conduct cloud deployment trials. If approved, cloud seeding could occur between April and June 2026.
Last year, in October, two attempts were made in the state capital. However, the experiment did not produce any rain in the city.
In a statement, IIT Kanpur attributed the failure to low humidity in the clouds. The Institute of Technology also mentioned that observations from the October trials will enhance planning for future operations and help them determine ideal conditions.
“While it was not possible to trigger rain yesterday as humidity levels were around 15 to 20 percent, the study yielded valuable insights,” he said.
In last year’s experiment, eight chemical flares each containing silver iodide and iodized salt and rock salt were released into the clouds to induce precipitation in the capital and deposit pollutants.
After the experiments, the Delhi government released a report claiming that the cloud seeding trails helped reduce particles at the target locations.
In order to conduct the exams in the summer of 2026, IIT Kanpur has approached the DGCA for renewal of permission for the next exam.
“IIT Kanpur is going through the findings and studies they got from the last two exams after which another exam could be scheduled this summer, though the final timing will be decided by IIT Kanpur. The institution will share the final findings with the government at a later stage,” the official said.
The Delhi Economic Survey 2025-26, released on March 23, also said that further cloud seeding tests will be conducted in consultation with the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The tests were intended as part of a short-term emergency measure to artificially generate precipitation to disperse and reduce ambient air pollution levels, the survey said.
What is cloud seeding?
Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique designed to increase the potential of a cloud to produce precipitation. It involves scattering substances such as silver iodide and other compounds into clouds to trigger changes and promote the formation of ice crystals or raindrops.
