Silver Iodide Cloud Seeding Project 2025

Delhi is preparing for its first-ever Silver Iodide Cloud Seeding operation, scheduled between August 30 and September 10, 2025. This landmark initiative aims to reduce air pollution by inducing artificial rain using silver iodide and other seeding agents.

The project was postponed from July following expert recommendations by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune.

This blog provides an SSC-oriented explanation of Silver Iodide Cloud Seeding, its working, purpose, benefits, challenges, and environmental impact—perfect for current affairs and general awareness preparation.

What is Silver Iodide Cloud Seeding?

Silver Iodide Cloud Seeding is a modern weather modification technique. It involves injecting cloud-seeding chemicals like silver iodide, dry ice, or salt particles into clouds to encourage rainfall. These substances act as nuclei, helping moisture in clouds to condense and form raindrops.

This process is also known as rainmaking or artificial rain technique, and it can increase rainfall by 5–15%, provided there are existing, moisture-rich clouds.

Silver iodide is a key component in this process because of its structural similarity to ice crystals, making it effective in converting supercooled water into snow or rain.

Why is Delhi Conducting Silver Iodide Cloud Seeding?

Delhi’s air pollution crisis has worsened in recent years. During winter 2024–25, the city recorded an average PM2.5 level of 175 µg/m³, well beyond the WHO's safe limit. This level of pollution is linked to a life expectancy reduction of up to 12 years.

To counter this, the government is turning to Silver Iodide Cloud Seeding in Delhi 2025 as a temporary solution. The goal is to use artificial rain, using silver iodide in India, to clean the air by washing pollutants down to the ground.

Project Highlights and Execution Plan

The Rs 3.21 crore Silver Iodide Cloud Seeding project will be implemented with the help of:

• Five modified Cessna aircraft

• Each sortie covers 100 square kilometers

• 90-minute flights

• Seeding agents include silver iodide aerosol, iodised salt, and rock salt

• Technology developed under the IIT Kanpur Silver Iodide Cloud Seeding Project

The operation will focus on northwest and outer Delhi, areas that fall under low-security air zones.

This cloud seeding using silver iodide and salt mixture aims to enhance rainfall and reduce pollution levels for short-term relief.

Why Was the Cloud Seeding Postponed?

The operation was initially scheduled for early July 2025, but experts from IMD and IITM Pune advised delaying it. The main reason: monsoon cloud seeding needs stable, moisture-laden clouds, which were not present in July.

The new window between late August and early September is expected to offer optimal cloud conditions, improving the effectiveness of Silver Iodide Cloud Seeding.

Limitations of Silver Iodide Cloud Seeding

While Silver Iodide Cloud Seeding has gained attention, experts caution that:

• It is only a stopgap measure

• It does not address the root causes of air pollution

• The timing during the monsoon may not reflect peak pollution conditions in winter

• Long-term impact is still scientifically uncertain

Hence, this initiative should be seen as one of many tools rather than a complete solution.

Environmental and Health Concerns

Many people ask: Is silver iodide safe for the environment?

Scientific studies suggest that small-scale use of silver iodide poses minimal risk, but long-term and large-scale applications could affect:

• Soil and water quality

• Weather patterns

• Local ecosystems

The effects of silver iodide on weather patterns and human health require ongoing monitoring, especially if this technology is to be scaled up across India.

Important Facts for SSC Aspirants

Final Thoughts

The Silver Iodide Cloud Seeding project in Delhi marks a bold step toward innovative solutions for tackling urban air pollution. While it offers temporary relief through artificial rain, it cannot replace long-term strategies like reducing emissions at the source.

For SSC aspirants, understanding this technology's science, execution, and environmental impact is crucial for both prelims and mains. The initiative also highlights India's growing investment in weather control technologies. However, its cost-effectiveness, scalability, and environmental safety remain under review.

As Delhi becomes a testing ground, this experiment may set a precedent for similar actions in other polluted cities across India.