The government of India, Ministry of Earth Sciences addressed Unstarred Question No. 555 regarding cloud seeding operations, to be answered on Wednesday, 3rd December 2025. Ms. Mahua Moitra inquired about the cessation of cloud seeding operations in various parts of the country, including Kanpur, due to declining atmospheric humidity. She also requested details on reasons for humidity reduction, total expenditure incurred, assessment of cloud seeding experiments, and future plans.
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, responded that the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is not involved in ongoing cloud seeding operations. However, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) conducted a study on rain enhancement through cloud seeding in India's rain shadow region from 2017-2019 via the CAIPEEX Program. Details of the study are available at https://www.tropmet.res.in/~lip/Publication/Technical-Reports/CAIPEEX-Report-July2023.pdf.
Questions (b)-(e) do not apply in this scenario.
Key Entities Referenced
Cloud Seeding Operations: The primary topic of the parliamentary question, concerning the status, effectiveness, and future plans for cloud seeding activities.
Ministry of Earth Sciences: The government ministry to which the parliamentary question is addressed, regarding cloud seeding operations.
Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX) Program: A research program conducted by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology related to rain enhancement through cloud seeding.
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM): The research institute under the Ministry that conducted the CAIPEEX program.
Kanpur: A location mentioned in the question concerning the stopping of cloud seeding operations due to declining atmospheric humidity.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 555
TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 3RD DECEMBER, 2025
CLOUD SEEDING OPERATIONS
555. MS. MAHUA MOITRA:
Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that the ongoing cloud seeding operations in various parts of the
country including Kanpur and nearby regions have been stopped due to a decline in
atmospheric humidity;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons for such reduction in humidity levels;
(c) the total expenditure incurred on cloud seeding operations so far during the current
year;
(d) whether the Government has assessed the effectiveness and outcomes of these cloud
seeding experiments; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and findings of such assessment along with the future plan for
similar operations?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is not involved in the ongoing cloud seeding
operations in various parts of the country. However, the Indian Institute of Tropical
Meteorology (IITM) under the Ministry had conducted a research study on rain
enhancement through cloud seeding in the rain shadow region of India during the
period 2017-2019 through the Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation
Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX) Program. Details of this research project and
the outcome of the study are available at
https://www.tropmet.res.in/~lip/Publication/Technical-Reports/CAIPEEX-Report-
July2023.pdf.
(b)-(e) The question does not applicable in this scenario.
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