Rajasthan will on Tuesday conduct India’s first drone-based artificial rain experiment at the Ramgarh Dam, marking a shift from traditional aeroplane-assisted cloud seeding to unmanned aerial vehicles. The initiative, involving around 60 drones, is a joint project between the state agriculture department and technology firm GenX AI, headquartered in the US and Bengaluru. The drones will disperse special chemicals into rain-bearing clouds to stimulate the formation of water droplets, potentially triggering rainfall. The public will be allowed to witness the launch event. Originally slated for July 31, the trial was postponed due to heavy rain alerts. Scientists have since carried out multiple tests in Jaipur to ensure operational readiness. Approvals for the project have come from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the India Meteorological Department, district authorities, and the agriculture department. Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meena told ANI last month, “For the first time, artificial rain will be done via drone. For this, American scientists came here, and all departments related to the environment discussed this… The drones will take a very high altitude, and then this will be done via cloud seeding in Ramgarh Dam.” Cloud seeding — a decades-old weather modification technique — involves dispersing particles such as silver iodide into clouds to accelerate the formation of ice crystals or water droplets. While studies suggest the method can enhance rainfall by up to 20%, its effectiveness varies widely and remains under scientific scrutiny.
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