UPSC DAW 24th October 2025 Mains Answer Writing - 2026

UPSC DAW 24th October 2025 Mains Answer Writing - 2026

Question

Discuss the concept of cloud seeding and evaluate its applications, challenges, and environmental concerns. (150 Words, 10 Marks). 

Model Answer

Approach: Introduction: 

  • Explain Cloud seeding. 

Body: 

  • State its applications. 

  • List the challenges and suggest ways in which they can be tackled. 

Conclusion: 

  • Give holistic conclusion. 

 Introduction: 

  •  Context: With worsening air pollution and erratic rainfall, cloud seeding has drawn policy attention as a possible weather-modification and pollution-control measure. Recently, Delhi authorities explored the use of artificial rain to disperse smog, but experts have cautioned that cloud seeding is not a viable solution in Delhi’s dry winter conditions. 

  • Cloud seeding is the process of dispersing substances such as silver iodide, dry ice, or salts into clouds to stimulate precipitation. 

  • There are three main methods: 

  1. Hygroscopic seeding – dispersing salts via flares to grow water droplets. 

  2. Static seeding – introducing silver iodide to act as a condensation nucleus. 

  3. Dynamic seeding – enhancing vertical air currents to intensify rainfall. 

   Body: 

Applications:  

  • Agriculture: Helps alleviate drought. Example: Project Varshadhari (Karnataka, 2017). 

  • Hydropower: Enhances reservoir inflows; Tasmania’s hydroelectric programme has benefited over decades. 

  • Water Pollution Control: Increases river flows to dilute effluents. 

  • Fog Dispersal & Hail Suppression: Project Sky Water (U.S.A., 1962) aimed to reduce hail damage and modify storms. 

  • Air Pollution Mitigation: Artificial rainfall can temporarily wash out suspended pollutants — explored in Delhi’s pollution crisis (2025) by CPCB and IITM. 

  • Tourism Support: Rain enhancement in arid tourist destinations (e.g., UAE, Thailand).  

 Challenges and Environmental Concerns: 

  • Meteorological Dependence: Requires clouds with adequate moisture and vertical development — rare in Delhi’s dry winter atmosphere. 

  • Short-Term Impact: Only temporary relief from air pollution; does not address root causes like emissions or stubble burning. 

  • Chemical Side-Effects: Residues of silver iodide may accumulate in soil and water; potential toxicity for flora and fauna. 

  • Climatic Disturbance: Uncontrolled or frequent seeding may alter local rainfall distribution, causing drought elsewhere. 

  • Economic Costs: Aircraft operations, chemical procurement, and monitoring are expensive and resource-intensive. 

  • Uncertain Efficacy: Scientific studies show success rates below 30%, making it a risky investment. 

 Way Forward:  

  • Scientific Research: Strengthen studies through IITM and IMD for region-specific validation. 

  • Policy Framework: Create national guidelines under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. 

  • Holistic Strategy: Focus on emission control and green measures; use cloud seeding only as support. 

  • Global Learning: Adapt best practices from nations like China and the UAE. 

 Conclusion: 

  • Enhance research via IITM and IMD for region-based validation; frame national guidelines under the Ministry of Earth Sciences; adopt a holistic strategy focusing on emission control and sustainability; and draw on global best practices from China and the UAE.