India’s First Drone-AI-Powered Artificial Rain Trial Conducted over Jaipur’s Ramgarh Dam.
National
In August 2025, Jaipur (Rajasthan) became the site of India’s first pilot experiment using AI-controlled drones to induce artificial rain. The initiative, conducted over the Ramgarh Dam, is being hailed as a pioneering step in precision cloud seeding and climate intervention technologies.
- This trial is a collaboration between the Rajasthan Agriculture Department and GenX AI, a tech firm based in Bengaluru with U.S. connections. It marks the country's first use of drones, guided by AI systems, for cloud seeding.
- Approximately 60 drone flights are planned to conduct precise cloud seeding over the Ramgarh Dam and its immediate surroundings. This limited-area spread contrasts with the broader coverage typical of traditional aircraft-based seeding.
- The project has received clearances from the Agriculture Department, Meteorological Department, District Administration, and DGCA. Heavy rain warnings had initially postponed the trial from the scheduled July 31, 2025 to early August. In the interim, scientists have conducted test runs in Jaipur.
Main Point :- (i) The drones will disperse seeding agents—such as silver iodide, sodium chloride, or dry ice—into moisture-laden clouds. These particles act as nuclei around which water droplets form and eventually precipitate as rain.
(ii) Ramgarh Dam, built in the early 20th century, once supplied Jaipur with drinking water and even hosted a boating event during the 1982 Asian Games. However, it has remained dry since 2005 due to encroachments and environmental degradation. The current trial aims to rejuvenate this vital reservoir.
(iii) If successful, the drone-AI seeding method could become a scalable solution to deliver targeted artificial rain in arid and drought-prone areas of Rajasthan—helping conserve water, support agriculture, and mitigate prolonged dry spells.
About Rajasthan
Chief minister: Bhajan Lal Sharma
Governor: Haribhau Bagade
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