Cloud-seeding

Congress slams Delhi govt's cloud seeding experiment, calls it 'cruel joke'

The Congress on Sunday took a swipe at the Delhi government over its cloud seeding experiment for improving air quality and said getting slight improvement in a limited area for a day or two as is now being claimed is a "cruel joke". Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the Delhi government has spent Rs 34 crore on the winter cloud seeding experiment in order to improve air quality. On December 5, 2024, the Union Minister of State of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, had answered a question in the Rajya Sabha saying that three specialised agencies -- the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCT, the Central Pollution Control Board, and the Indian Meteorological Department -- had clearly advised against winter cloud seeding to improve air quality in Delhi, Ramesh said. Then on October 31, 2025 --- that is just the day before yesterday -- the well-known and prestigious Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at IIT Delhi issued a detailed report

Cloud seeding essential for Delhi to tackle pollution: CM Rekha Gupta

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday said that cloud seeding is essential for the national capital as it could play a key role in controlling rising pollution levels during the winter season. Speaking about a successful test run of the experiment carried out on Thursday, Gupta said, Cloud seeding is something that has never happened before. We want to carry out this trial over the city as it could help reduce air pollution. We believe this technology will be successful. It can be used to tackle environmental challenges in the future, especially those faced during the winter months, she added. On Thursday night, Gupta said in a post on X that a successful trial of the project was conducted in the Burari area. For the first time in Delhi, preparations have been completed to induce artificial rain through cloud seeding, marking a significant technological milestone in the capital's fight against air pollution. Experts on Thursday successfully conducted a trial test in the Burari

Cloud seeding likely within a week if clouds appear: Manjinder Sirsa

Sirsa said that they had received all necessary permissions and that pilots and planes are ready

Delhi's first cloud seeding trial likely after Diwali, awaiting IMD nod

Delhi's much-anticipated first trial of artificial rain through cloud seeding will be held after Diwali, once the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) gives a green light, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said. During a media briefing on Wednesday, Sirsa said that pilots have already completed trial flights over the area where the cloud seeding operation is planned. The aircraft have been fully equipped for the process and the crew is trained and familiar with the region, he added. "The entire setup is ready from permissions to pilot training. The aircraft are fitted with cloud seeding equipment, and pilots have flown over the target areas to prepare. Now, we are just waiting for the IMD's approval," he said. The first trial is expected to take place the day after Diwali or shortly thereafter, depending on suitable weather conditions. The Delhi government's cloud seeding project -- a major commitment by the BJP-led administration -- has been postponed multiple times d

Can cloud seeding be the answer to India's growing problem of uneven rains?

According to the IITM report, cloud seeding is a technique in which cloud-forming particles are used to increase rainfall

China offers cloud-seeding tech to drought-hit Maharashtra

China has over the years used the cloud seeding rockets tipped with silver iodide to cause precipitation