Skymet's Jatin Singh says Delhi's artificial rain plan faces tough hurdles

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Jatin Singh, founder and chairman of Skymet Weather Services, believes the possibility of artificial rain over North India is limited due to the region’s dry winter conditions and lack of rain clouds. He pointed out that although such experiments can sometimes “extract a small amount of rain from ambient moisture”, they are unlikely to produce significant results in the absence of strong cloud systems.

According to Singh, India’s latest cloud seeding efforts, including in Delhi, should be seen as initial experiments rather than immediate solutions. He said it would take four to five years of repeated trials to really determine whether cloud seeding could work effectively here.

India has a long history of using artificial rain, he said, including efforts in the 1980s and extensive state-led programs in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

The science behind cloud seeding involves spreading silver or potassium iodide into clouds to encourage rain formation, and although it works in theory, its success at scale remains a subject of debate.

Singh said countries like the US, China and Australia have tried cloud seeding with mixed results. “It probably works in specific circumstances where you have thunderstorms and you can figure it out,” he said, adding that success largely depends on timing, weather patterns and local conditions.

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He also highlighted the high cost and logistical complexity of such operations, which require aircraft, pilots, radar, chemicals and trained meteorologists, with state tenders in the past costing ₹20-30 crore per season.

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Singh stressed the need for transparency and reliable data to assess recent cloud seeding results, urging agencies to publish rain gauge and air quality index (AQI) data for scientific assessment.

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He further warned that India’s changing rainfall trends could hide deeper climate concerns. Over time, he said, the number of rainy days has decreased, winters have become shorter, and overall rainfall averages have declined – a worrying sign of changes in climate patterns.