In a landmark step toward combating the national capital&rsquo;s worsening air pollution, the Delhi government is set to conduct its first-ever artificial rain through cloud seeding on October 29. 
The move follows a successful trial run carried out in the Burari area on Thursday, according to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
&ldquo;The preparations for inducing artificial rain through cloud seeding have been completed, marking a significant technological milestone in Delhi&rsquo;s fight against air pollution,&rdquo; Gupta said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). 
&ldquo;Experts successfully conducted the trial test in Burari today. According to the weather department, cloudy conditions are expected on October 28, 29, and 30.&nbsp;If the weather remains favourable, Delhi will likely witness its first artificial rain on October 29.&rdquo;
Calling the initiative &ldquo;technologically historic,&rdquo; Gupta said the experiment represents a scientific approach to addressing Delhi&rsquo;s chronic air quality crisis. 
&ldquo;The government aims to clean the capital&rsquo;s air and restore environmental balance through this innovation,&rdquo; she added.
The artificial rain project is a joint effort between the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and the Delhi government. 
It aims to explore artificial rainfall as a method to reduce particulate pollution levels, particularly during the post-Diwali smog season when air quality reaches hazardous levels.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Gupta and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their support in securing timely approvals. 
&ldquo;A trial seeding flight was conducted from IIT Kanpur to Delhi via Meerut, Khekra, Burari, Sadakpur, Bhojpur, and Aligarh, before returning to Kanpur,&rdquo; Sirsa shared on X. 
&ldquo;Cloud-seeding flares were fired between Khekra and Burari and over the Badli area using pyro techniques.&rdquo;
He added that the flight served as a proving mission to test the system&rsquo;s performance, aircraft endurance, and coordination among participating agencies.
Initially planned for July 4, the artificial rain experiment was postponed and later revived after the Delhi government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IIT Kanpur for five cloud-seeding trials. 
These are expected to take place in northwest Delhi.
The project has been approved by 23 departments, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). 
Funding has been released to IIT Kanpur, which will use its own Cessna 206-H aircraft (VT-IIT) for the operation.
According to DGCA guidelines, the operations will be carried out under visual flight rules, without remuneration, and only after clearances from state and local authorities. 
The cloud-seeding activities are authorised between October 1 and November 30, under strict safety, security, and air traffic control protocols, in line with Rule 26(2) of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.
The project is being conducted in coordination with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD), ensuring scientific precision and safety in execution.
If successful, the artificial rain project could mark a historic turning point in Delhi&rsquo;s long battle with toxic air, offering a new hope for cleaner skies during one of the most polluted periods of the year.

Aircraft releases flares for Delhi cloud seeding

IIT Kanpur and Delhi govt complete trial; first cloud seeding likely on October 29

Delhi Ready For First Artificial Rainfall Trial

IIT Kanpur and Delhi govt complete trial; first cloud seeding likely on October 29

October 24, 2025 | 10:35 IST