Days after two cloud seeding attempts in Delhi failed to produce artificial rainfall, a new report from IIT Delhi has highlighted the limitations of such interventions in the capital, particularly during the winter months. The study warns that Delhi’s winter atmosphere is climatologically unsuitable for consistent cloud seeding due to a lack of sufficient moisture, and even if successful, artificial rain would offer only a brief respite from air pollution.

The report, prepared by IIT Delhi’s Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, is based on a decade-long analysis of climatological data from 2011 to 2021. It notes that while cloud seeding is theoretically feasible under certain atmospheric conditions, in practice, Delhi’s winter climate rarely provides the necessary conditions. These conditions, when they do occur, often coincide with natural rainfall, further limiting the marginal benefit of cloud seeding as an air quality intervention.

“While cloud seeding is theoretically feasible under specific atmospheric conditions, during Delhi’s winter, its practical utility as a consistent and reliable air-quality intervention is constrained. The necessary atmospheric conditions are rare and frequently coincide with natural rainfall, limiting the potential marginal gain,” the report stated.

The IIT Delhi study also highlighted the temporary nature of relief that cloud seeding could provide. Even when successful, induced rainfall would likely improve air quality for only one to three days before pollution levels rebound. Considering the high operational costs, scientific uncertainties associated with aerosol-laden urban environments, and the fact that cloud seeding does not address the underlying sources of pollution, the report concluded that it cannot be recommended as a primary or strategic measure for Delhi’s pollution management.

“Given these constraints, cloud seeding cannot be recommended as a primary or reliable strategy for Delhi’s winter air pollution management. It should be viewed, at best, as a potential high-cost, emergency short-term measure, contingent on stringent forecasting criteria,” the report said.

The study described cloud seeding as a “high-cost, tactical intervention” that may only be appropriate during declared air-quality emergencies, and emphasized that long-term, sustained emission reduction remains the most effective solution to Delhi’s chronic pollution crisis.

The report comes in the wake of two cloud seeding trials conducted on October 28, 2025, which largely failed to yield the desired results. Further trials that were scheduled for the week were put on hold due to low moisture content in the clouds, underscoring the challenges of implementing such measures in Delhi’s winter climate.

Earlier in May, the Delhi government had approved a cloud seeding project in collaboration with IIT-Kanpur, allocating ₹3.21 crore for five trials. The state had planned a total of ten trials aimed at inducing artificial rainfall to help reduce pollution levels in the city. However, with IIT Delhi’s findings highlighting the limited effectiveness of the method, the authorities may need to reassess the strategy and focus more on reducing emissions at the source.

The report reinforces a key point for policymakers: while technological interventions such as cloud seeding can provide temporary relief, long-term solutions to air pollution require sustained efforts to curb emissions from vehicles, industry, and other major sources. The IIT Delhi study suggests that without addressing these root causes, measures like cloud seeding will remain a stopgap, providing only fleeting improvements in air quality.

In conclusion, the IIT Delhi report cautions against relying on artificial rain as a primary tool for air pollution management in Delhi’s winter months. Instead, it recommends that cloud seeding be reserved for emergency scenarios and that sustained emission reduction strategies remain central to tackling the city’s persistent air quality challenges.