On September 13, 2024, the Indian government announced the ambitious “Mission Mausam,” aiming to develop advanced weather modification techniques, including the ability to enhance or suppress rain, hail, and lightning within five years. This project, spearheaded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), received initial funding of ₹2,000 crore, emphasizing a transformative approach to weather forecasting and climate resilience in India.
Scientists propose that, with sufficient research and technology, they could control precipitation as needed. For instance, suppressing rain during national celebrations like Independence Day or managing excessive rainfall during floods is a noted objective of this mission. Many argue that this mission is failing since the technology used to modify the weather has resulted in extreme weather conditions and floods.
“Cloud seeding and cloud modification is a complex process. We have done a lot of experiments with cloud seeding to enhance rain. But not much has been done on cloud suppression,” Madhavan Rajeevan, former MoES secretary, told TOI.
Cloud Seeding Developments in India
23 JULY 2025: The Indian government, through the Ministry of Earth Sciences, had provided insights into the current status, applications, and future plans regarding cloud seeding technology in response to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha.
Current Status of Cloud Seeding Capabilities
- The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) has its research study, Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX), conducted between 2018 and 2019. This study focused on the rain shadow region of the Indian peninsula.
- IITM has developed research and technological capabilities crucial for cloud seeding, including:
- A 16-meter-tall cloud chamber
Collaboration with industry partners for the development of cloud seeding drones, materials, and dispensers.
The government says that Mission Mausam also focuses on enhancing the accuracy of short- and medium-range weather forecasts by 5-10%, addressing the need for more reliable predictions amid climate variability.
A notable component of the mission includes the creation of ‘Mausam GPT‘, an application akin to ChatGPT, intended to provide users with rapid and accessible weather information in both written and audio formats.
Similar weather modification techniques, primarily cloud seeding, have seen implementation in countries such as the USA, Canada, China, Russia, and Australia. Experts suggest that India can also leverage these techniques, albeit recognizing the current knowledge gaps and complexities involved in the science of weather modification.
Technical Components
To support these initiatives, the mission will utilize next-generation radars, satellite systems with advanced sensors, and high-performance supercomputers. Improved Earth system models and GIS-based automated Decision Support Systems will enable real-time data dissemination, essential for effective weather management.
India already has pilot projects testing cloud seeding techniques, particularly through the Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX). These experiments aim to deepen the understanding of cloud physics and refine the methods used for artificial rain enhancement.
“HE WHO CONTROLS THE WEATHER, CONTROLS THE WORLD.”
While the initial ₹2,000 crore allocation covers the first two years, further funding is expected as the mission progresses and its needs increase (2024-2026 mission cloud seeding)
Government Will Have the Power to Control the Weather By 2030
Operational Defenses through Weather Control in 2030
“Advances in technology are beginning to bring weather phenomena under our control. Greatly increased computing power and micronized delivery systems will allow us to create specific perturbations in local atmospheric conditions.”
April 2009 | by Michael C. Boger, Major, United States Air Force |
Ref:
- https://www.moes.gov.in/sites/default/files/628English.pdf
- https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-88shrg34084/pdf/CHRG-88shrg34084.pdf
- Boger, Michael C. “Operational Defenses through Weather Control in 2030.” Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB AL, (2009).
https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA539515.pdf - YouTube, Facebook
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