In a controversial move, the National Capital Territory of Delhi government proceeded with a cloud-seeding project estimated at ₹34 crore, despite clear warnings from three key expert agencies—the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD)—that the initiative would be unviable in Delhi’s dry winter climate. 

According to the agencies’ December 2024 written advice, Delhi’s winter air is too dry and cloud cover too shallow for effective rain-induction; seeding in those conditions, they warned, would yield negligible results and might carry environmental risks. Nonetheless, the trials commenced. The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-Kanpur) partnered for sorties on October 28, releasing silver iodide flares over parts of Delhi even though moisture levels hovered around 10-15 %, far below the “≥50%” sought for success.