• Delhi will conduct artificial rain trials between 9–11 October 2025 in a bid to counter its recurring winter pollution. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced that IIT-Kanpur will carry out cloud seeding operations using a Cessna aircraft from Hindon Airbase.
• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved the plan on 23 September 2025, with strict conditions: ATC clearance before each sortie, no entry into restricted/prohibited zones, no aerial photography/surveying, and no foreign crew involvement.
•  The plan allows up to five sorties, each lasting at least 90 minutes, covering 100 sq. km of non-sensitive zones. Cloud seeding involves dispersing chemicals like silver iodide into clouds to trigger rainfall. Rainwater samples will later be tested to ensure safety.
•  The trials aim to bring temporary relief by settling dust particles and reducing PM2.5 levels, which peak in November–December due to stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and industrial pollutants. If successful, this project could pave the way for large-scale artificial rain deployment in India.
•  Experts note that cloud seeding has been used in countries like China and the UAE, and India’s experiment—its most advanced yet—could mark a breakthrough in combating the national capital’s chronic air quality crisis.