Cloud Seeding in India – Delhi’s Artificial Rain Trial
Delhi and IIT Kanpur begin cloud seeding trials to fight pollution. Learn about its benefits, risks, global use, and why artificial rain is no silver bullet.
Context
The Delhi government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Kanpur to conduct cloud seeding trials as an emergency measure to combat hazardous air pollution. The initiative marks an important step in exploring artificial weather modification technologies in India.
What is Cloud Seeding?
Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique designed to stimulate rainfall from existing clouds. It works by dispersing substances such as silver iodide or potassium iodide into the atmosphere through aircraft, rockets, or ground-based generators.
These substances act as condensation nuclei, attracting water vapour which clusters around them to form raindrops. If conditions are favourable, this process increases rainfall.
Potential Advantages of Cloud Seeding
1. Air Pollution Control
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Artificial rain can wash down pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, smoke, and dust particles, temporarily improving air quality.
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Particularly useful during Delhi’s winter smog episodes, when stagnant air worsens pollution.
2. Water Resource Management
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Cloud seeding can enhance rainfall in drought-prone and arid regions.
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It may help recharge reservoirs, rivers, and groundwater, strengthening water security.
3. Agricultural Benefits
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By improving soil moisture during cropping seasons, artificial rain may protect yields from rainfall variability.
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Could be valuable in regions dependent on monsoon rains.
4. Disaster Mitigation
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Cloud seeding is sometimes used to reduce hailstorm intensity by triggering smaller raindrops instead of damaging hailstones.
Challenges and Concerns
1. Temporary and Uncertain Results
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Cloud seeding offers only short-lived relief from pollution, as pollutant levels often rebound within days.
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Its success depends on pre-existing cloud cover—the technique cannot create rain in cloudless skies.
2. High Costs
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Each operation costs crores of rupees.
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The Delhi trial is estimated at ₹3.5 crore, sparking debate on whether funds would be better spent on long-term emission reduction strategies.
3. Environmental and Health Risks
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Silver iodide use raises concerns about soil and water contamination.
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While scientific studies suggest minimal risks when regulated, there is limited long-term ecological data.
4. Governance and Coordination Issues
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Cloud seeding requires approvals from multiple agencies, including aviation, defence, and meteorology authorities.
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Previous attempts in Delhi were delayed due to bureaucratic hurdles.
5. Ethical and Geopolitical Concerns
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Large-scale weather modification may trigger transboundary impacts, raising questions of equity and ownership of rainfall.
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Who controls artificial rain, and who benefits, could become a diplomatic issue in regions sharing water resources.
Global Experiences with Cloud Seeding
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China has used cloud seeding extensively, including during the 2008 Beijing Olympics to ensure clear skies.
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United States has applied cloud seeding in states such as Colorado and Nevada to enhance snowpack for water supply.
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UAE has invested heavily in cloud seeding projects to address chronic water scarcity.
These international cases demonstrate potential benefits but also highlight that results are often inconsistent and unpredictable.
Way Forward for India
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Pilot-Based Learning
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Delhi’s experiment should be treated as a scientific trial, not a permanent solution.
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Results must be rigorously studied before scaling up.
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Integration with Broader Pollution Control
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Cloud seeding can only complement, not replace, structural reforms such as emission control, sustainable transport, and crop stubble management.
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Transparency and Data Sharing
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Public reporting of outcomes, costs, and ecological impacts is essential to build trust.
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Regulation and Safety
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India needs clear regulatory guidelines on the chemicals used, environmental monitoring, and cross-departmental coordination.
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Research and Indigenous Technology
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Partnerships between research institutes, meteorological agencies, and state governments can help refine technology and reduce costs.
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Conclusion
Cloud seeding represents a scientifically promising but practically uncertain tool in the fight against pollution and water scarcity. Delhi’s trials with IIT Kanpur could provide important data on its feasibility in Indian conditions.
However, artificial rain is no silver bullet. At best, it can offer temporary relief during critical pollution episodes or water shortages. Long-term solutions require systemic changes in emission control, sustainable agriculture, and urban planning.
If treated as part of a broader climate adaptation and environmental management strategy, cloud seeding could serve as a useful supplementary measure in India’s policy toolkit.
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The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH
