Delhi’s failed experiment with artificial rain is more than just a technical disappointment ~ it is a sobering reflection of the city’s long-standing dependence on gimmicky short-term fixes for a crisis that demands structural change. The attempt to induce rainfall through cloud seeding, using silver iodide and sodium chloride to trigger condensation, offered a fleeting hope of washing away the toxic haze that has once again smothered the capital. But when the skies refused to open, the futility of expecting scientific interventions to replace environmental governance became painfully clear.

The failure, as scientists explained, was caused by insufficient moisture in the clouds. In meteorological terms, that makes perfect sense. Yet, in policy terms, it signals something deeper. Delhi’s fight against air pollution has repeatedly faltered not because of the absence of technology, but because of the absence of resolve. Over the years,........

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