As Delhi's air became unbreathable again, the city's search for quick solutions took a skyward turn this year. In late October 2025, the Delhi government and IIT-Kanpur undertook an estimated ₹3.2 crore cloud-seeding experiment, seeking to induce artificial rain and wash out particulate matters suffocating the metropolis. 

The results, however, were disappointing: low atmospheric moisture (about 15-20%) meant that the clouds never truly cooperated. For millions gasping beneath an AQI of 400 or more, the experience provided both a glimpse of technological ambition and a reminder of nature's limits.

India's Patchy Record With Cloud Seeding 

India has been experimenting with weather modification since the 1950s, from early efforts in Delhi and Tamil Nadu to more recent state-level operations in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Rajasthan. Between 2017 and 2019, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology led the Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX), which showed that under ideal conditions, warm cloud seeding could boost rainfall by 18–46%. 

However, Delhi's experience highlights a reoccurring issue: the strategy is only effective if clouds are already moisture-laden and vertically dense. The atmosphere is usually too dry during the post-monsoon months, when the city's pollution is at its highest. Experts at IIT-Kanpur point out that artificial rain cannot be "made out of nothing"; at best, it enhances existing clouds. The Indian Meteorological Department acknowledges that cloud seeding is a conditional instrument, not a magic wand. 

Even when it succeeds, the results are temporary. Artificial rain can temporarily lower particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) by up to 40-50%, but air quality returns within days unless emission sources such as vehicle exhaust, stubble burning, and industrial smoke are controlled. 

Lessons from China's Experience 

India's small pilots stand in stark contrast to China's decades-long mastery of weather modification technology. China has the world's largest cloud-seeding network, deploying aircraft, drones, and rockets over millions of square kilometres. According to Stanford University's 2023 analysis of 27,000 Chinese operations, suitable weather circumstances can boost rainfall considerably (by up to 10-20%). 

A 2025 drone experiment in Xinjiang used one kilogramme of silver iodide to increase rainfall by over 4% over 8,000 km²—equivalent to 70,000 cubic metres of water, or over 30 Olympic swimming pools. Other regional studies, such as in Hunan and Jiangxi provinces, show improvements ranging from 20% to 170% under optimal conditions. Satellite data from ScienceDirect and MDPI publications show that seeding leads to small changes, like turning water droplets into ice particles and creating measurable rainfall soon after the process is done. 

However, even China's prosperity has limitations. The approach does not form new clouds, and its widespread use has been criticised as "rain theft" from surrounding regions. Environmental scientists are still studying the long-term impacts of silver iodide dispersal, although current research suggests minimal large-scale toxicity. Crucially, China's strength is in precise planning—integrating weather modelling, radar tracking, and AI-based decision systems rather than political urgency. 
How Sustainable is the Move?

The question of return on investment (ROI) is whether the efforts are based on scientific principles or merely symbolic gestures. 

In Delhi, each sortie can cost approximately Rs. 1–3 crore and typically result in minimal rainfall. Economically, the return on investment is uncertain: a few millimetres of rain versus crores of rupees in spending. In contrast, real improvements in agriculture and hydropower justify China's large-scale projects. However, pollution emergencies, rather than long-term economic benefits, primarily motivate India's pilots. 

Artificial rain can reduce respiratory irritants and hospital admissions during harmful pollution episodes, but its advantages are short-lived. Without fundamental reforms—clean fuel transitions, emission control, and waste management—the ROI is primarily psychological: the reassurance that "something is being done." 

Artificial rain: Tool Rather Than Solution 

India's move into cloud seeding shows both scientific curiosity and political frustration. The data, from Delhi's aborted drizzle to China's controlled downpours, indicates that cloud seeding may increase rainfall, but only when nature permits. For the smog-choked plains of North India, real rain must come from long-term environmental policies, not silver iodide blasted into dry skies. Artificial rain may clean the air for a day, but only cleaner governance will keep it clear.