Cloud seeding, a weather modification technique, involves dispersing substances such as silver iodide or salts into clouds to stimulate precipitation. Globally, it has been deployed to combat droughts and enhance snowfall, with countries such as the United States, China, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia experimenting with diverse applications ranging from rainfall augmentation to marine cloud brightening. In India, its use has attracted attention both for addressing water scarcity and as a proposed intervention against Delhi’s severe winter pollution. It was found from the controlled experiments during CAIPEEX in Solapur that rainfall can be enhanced by up to ≅ 46±13 per cent at some locations, as indicated by the Automatic Rain Gauges, and on average, and ≅ 18±2.6 per cent in a 100 square kilometres (km2) area downwind of the seeding location. This highlights its promise for drought-prone regions. Yet experts caution that Delhi’s dry winter atmosphere makes cloud seeding scientifically unfeasible for pollution control, and while concerns exist about the ecological risks of dispersing substances like silver iodide, no conclusive evidence of widespread harm due to cloud seeding has been documented. This article examines the science, applications, and limitations of cloud seeding, arguing that while it may play a role in water resource management, it cannot serve as a sustainable solution to urban air pollution. Those topics warrant more research into applications.

The dialogue explores critical issues of sustainability through the lens of Earth system science, hazards in the Himalayas, coastal vulnerabilities, and the broader interaction between science and society. It highlights the urgent need for improved knowledge of the Himalayan ecosystem as an interconnected system involving geology, hydrology, cryosphere, atmosphere, and biology. Concerns about inadequate preparedness for earthquakes, landslides, and floods are examined alongside the socio-economic pressures that drive hazardous construction in vulnerable zones. The article also interrogates the idea of sustainability at global, social, and individual levels, emphasizing responsible consumption, governance, and public awareness. Further, it addresses challenges along India’s coastline, including erosion and sea level rise, and discusses the effectiveness of existing early warning systems. Finally, it presents an optimistic perspective on human adaptability to environmental change, grounded in historical resilience and technological advancement.

The Deep Ocean Mission (DOM), approved by the Government of India in 2021 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), represents a strategic step in realizing Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14: Life Below Water)1 and advancing the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. In this episode of GnY Live, we participate in a discussion with Dr. M. Ravichandra, Secretary to the Government of India for the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The conversation presents insights highlighting the overarching framework, technological advancements, and policy implications of the Deep Ocean Mission. Structured around its six thematic components, the discussion foregrounds India’s indigenously developed submersible (Matsya 6000), ocean climate services, biodiversity mapping and non-living exploration, water and energy from the ocean, and marine biotechnology initiatives. It provides analytical clarity on the mission’s role in augmenting the Blue Economy, addressing environmental risks, and situating India within the global deep-ocean research landscape. The discussion concludes by noting the Deep Ocean Mission’s contribution to sustainable marine resource utilization and its alignment with national developmental priorities.