What is cloud seeding? Delhi to get artificial rains soon, says CM Rekha Gupta

Dark clouds seen in the sky before heavy rains, in New Delhi. (PTI/file Photo)

Delhi is set to experience its first artificial rainfall as the Delhi Government is preparing to implement cloud seeding in the capital. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta said on Tuesday that the state government is working with organisations to explore cloud seeding possibilities in order to reduce pollution in the national capital.

The chief minister informed that the state government is looking to sign partnerships with leading research organizations to explore cloud seeding technologies in order to fight plummeting AQI levels in the capital. The chief minister said, "Very soon, Delhi will have its first artificial rain through cloud seeding."

"To reduce and eliminate pollution, we will sign MoUs (memorandum of understanding) with all our science organisations, which will use their latest innovations and help the Delhi government in its fight against pollution," she added.

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"For example, the Delhi government has signed an MoU with IIT Kanpur, which is based on cloud seeding and artificial rain, which we have approved to start as a pilot project and very soon Delhi will have its first artificial rain through cloud seeding," Gupta explained.

Government officials have stressed that the pilot project will serve as a testing ground for evaluating the effectiveness of artificial rains in combating pollution in the city.

What is cloud seeding? How are artificial rains created?

The process of cloud seeding to create artificial rainfall utilizes either specialized aircraft or ground-based systems that spray nucleating agents like silver iodide, sodium chloride, or dry ice into clouds that are hovering over the region.

These chemicals serve as condensation nuclei, which encourage water vapour to condense into droplets that can then precipitate in the form of rainfall.

Cloud seeding requires accurate meteorological analysis and forecast to determine ideal conditions for artificial rains.

Scientists consider factors like humidity levels, temperature rise and fall, wind patterns, and prevalent cloud structures before conducting cloud seeding activities.

Spraying these chemicals through aircraft is the most commonly used method to seed clouds. Firstly, these specially-equipped planes fly directly into cloud formations at predetermined altitudes. Then the pilots release precise quantities of seeding chemicals while flying through the pre-decided atmospheric levels that have been identified by meteorologists and weather scientists.

#WATCH | Delhi CM Rekha Gupta says, "Very soon, Delhi will have its first artificial rain through cloud seeding.""To reduce and eliminate pollution, we will sign MoUs with all our science organisations, which will use their latest innovations and help the Delhi government in pic.twitter.com/1yLHJ1JLzT
ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2025

Weather permitting, ground-based systems can operate non-stop and seed clouds consistently over longer periods of time than aircraft — which are more expensive to run.

Artificial rains after cloud seeding depend heavily on atmospheric conditions and dispersal of chemicals into the clouds at the most opportune times.

Experts have said that, if successful, cloud seeding can result in rainfall increases of 10 to 20 percent above normal levels, although results can vary based on environmental factors and seeding techniques that are utilised.