A pilot project to create artificial rain using drones was launched on Tuesday in Jaipur with the aim of reviving Ramgarh Lake and improving water availability in drought-hit areas of Rajasthan.
The initiative, led by Agriculture Minister Dr Kirori Lal Meena, is the first in India to combine drone-based cloud seeding with artificial intelligence (AI).
The technology, developed by US and Bengaluru-based firm Gen X AI, uses an AI-powered platform called “Hydro Trace” to identify suitable clouds for seeding using real-time data, satellite images and sensors.
Once the right conditions are detected, drones release small amounts of seeding agents such as sodium chloride to help form raindrops.
The 60-day mission will involve around 60 test flights, with drones expected to fly four to five times a month, depending on weather conditions.
Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) will be processed to time the seeding precisely.
The project has approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Agriculture Department, Meteorological Department and local administration.
On the first day, the trial did not go as planned. The GPS signal was disrupted due to heavy mobile usage by the large crowd present, preventing the drone from reaching its target altitude.
In one attempt, it failed to lift off properly, and in another, it became stuck in bushes near the dam.
The situation briefly caused tension between onlookers and police, but was brought under control. The technical team said future trials will have restricted public access and measures to avoid signal disruption.
According to Gen X AI founder Rakesh Agarwal, earlier cloud seeding efforts in India used aircraft over large areas, but drones allow precision targeting of small regions.
This could make artificial rain possible in specific locations, such as farms affected by dry spells despite monsoon clouds. The team has been monitoring weather patterns in Jaipur for the past 20 days.
Chief Climate Engineer Dr N Sai Bhaskar Reddy of Excel-1, a partner in the project, said that Tuesday’s plan was to fly the drone up to 400 feet, but current cloud formations are higher than that. The trial, originally scheduled for July 31, was postponed due to heavy rain warnings.
Dr Meena assured that the chemicals used are safe for people, animals and crops, and meet international standards. If successful, the project could help raise lake and groundwater levels, improve farm irrigation, and increase crop yields.
The experiment is being funded by Gen X AI, which will share its findings with the Rajasthan government after two months.
If the trial works, similar operations could be launched in other drought-prone areas of the state and across India.
Senior scientist Kalyan Chakraborty said such drone-based precision cloud seeding has been used in the US before, but this is the first attempt in India.
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