Karnataka is preparing to begin cloud-seeding operations within two days to tackle a significant rainfall deficit and reduce the risk of water shortages in the coming months. The ₹27-crore initiative, led by the Water Resources Department, is planned across the state’s four revenue divisions and will run for around 60 days, involving nearly 200 hours of flying operations.
Water Resources Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy said the government has already held two preparatory meetings and instructed department secretaries to accelerate the process. Three committees, including experts from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD), will oversee the operation. The minister said Karnataka’s previous cloud-seeding attempts recorded an 18–20% success rate, while the government is now targeting 30%.
Racing Against Rainfall
The decision comes as Karnataka faces a prolonged shortfall in monsoon rainfall, raising concerns about drinking water, agriculture and preparations for the summer months. The government plans to operate flights between 8 am and 6 pm, but only when suitable clouds are present. According to Cheluvarayaswamy, rainfall from a seeding operation is expected within an estimated 15-kilometre radius of the targeted area. The operation will therefore depend heavily on real-time weather conditions rather than following a fixed schedule or route.
The minister said the government was turning to cloud seeding because weather forecasts suggested that rainfall, even if received, may not be continuous enough to address the state’s concerns. “If we achieve a success rate of 30 per cent, the entire project will be worthwhile,” Cheluvarayaswamy said. Karnataka has undertaken cloud seeding three times previously, with the minister putting the average success rate of those efforts at 18–20%. The government is now hoping for better results from the latest intervention.
The timing is also significant. September is expected to offer more favourable cloud conditions for the operation, while cloud cover is likely to become less intense in October. This has prompted the state to move quickly rather than wait for the monsoon situation to improve on its own.
Science Behind Seeding
Cloud seeding is a weather-modification technique in which substances are introduced into suitable clouds to encourage the formation and growth of water droplets or ice particles, with the aim of increasing rainfall. However, it cannot create rain from clear skies. The presence of moisture-rich clouds and suitable atmospheric conditions is essential for the process to work.
This limitation is particularly important when assessing Karnataka’s stated 30% success target. It does not mean that rainfall across the entire state will increase by 30%. Scientific assessments can measure the effectiveness of cloud seeding in different ways, including comparing rainfall in seeded and unseeded clouds or measuring rainfall over specific areas. Research from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s CAIPEEX experiment found that rainfall enhancement varied depending on the location and atmospheric conditions, underlining why cloud quality matters as much as the technology itself.
Karnataka’s earlier experience also provides context. The state previously used cloud seeding during Operation Varshadhare, including an exercise in 2017. The government has cited an 18–20% average success rate from its earlier attempts, while officials are now aiming to improve that outcome. The latest programme will be monitored through three committees: a Monitoring Committee, a Technical Committee and a Field Operations and Evaluation Committee. The technical committee will draw on expertise from IISc, IIT and the IMD, while field teams will assess operations and rainfall impact.
Preparing For Summer
Beyond cloud seeding, the Karnataka government says it is taking precautionary steps to reduce the impact of a possible water crisis. Cheluvarayaswamy said the state is working to fill lakes and ponds and support agriculture in dryland areas, while prioritising drinking water for people and livestock. He stressed that the government was prepared to bear the financial burden if necessary to ensure water availability in the coming months.
The scale of the rainfall deficit has heightened the urgency. Reports on August 26 put Karnataka’s monsoon deficit at around 31%, with 175 of the state’s 240 taluks affected. The government has therefore framed cloud seeding as one part of a broader effort to prevent water scarcity rather than as a guaranteed solution to the rainfall shortage.
The ₹27-crore expenditure will also make transparency and evaluation important. Since cloud seeding depends on naturally occurring clouds, its results can vary considerably from one operation to another. Independent assessment of rainfall outcomes, operational costs and the actual benefits to farmers and water bodies could help determine whether the intervention offers value for money and whether it should be considered again in future years.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Karnataka’s decision reflects the growing pressure that unpredictable rainfall and changing weather patterns are placing on communities, farmers and governments. There is value in exploring scientific interventions when water security is at stake, but cloud seeding should be viewed as a supplementary measure rather than a substitute for long-term water management.
The success of this ₹27-crore project should be measured not simply by the number of seeded clouds, but by transparent evidence of additional rainfall and meaningful benefits for communities. At the same time, conserving water, restoring lakes and ponds, improving groundwater recharge and supporting climate-resilient agriculture must remain central to the state’s response. As Karnataka looks to the skies for relief, what other long-term steps should governments take to ensure communities are better prepared for an increasingly uncertain monsoon?
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ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಉಂಟಾಗಿರುವ ಮಳೆ ಕೊರತೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಬರ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಸಮರ್ಥವಾಗಿ ನಿಭಾಯಿಸಲು ನಮ್ಮ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಮಹತ್ವದ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಇಟ್ಟಿದೆ. ರಾಜ್ಯದ ನಾಲ್ಕೂ ಕಂದಾಯ ವಿಭಾಗಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ₹27 ಕೋಟಿ ವೆಚ್ಚದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೋಡ ಬಿತ್ತನೆ (Cloud Seeding) ಕಾರ್ಯ ಆರಂಭವಾಗಲಿದೆ.
— N Chaluvarayaswamy (@NChaluvarayaS) August 26, 2026
ಯೋಜನೆಯ ವಿವರ: 60 ದಿನಗಳ ಅವಧಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಿತ್ಯ ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ 8 ರಿಂದ ಸಂಜೆ 6 ಗಂಟೆಯವರೆಗೆ… pic.twitter.com/pVbxOIByXA
