National Shipping Board (NSB) | Black Rain in Tehran | Proton Accelerator Facility to Come up in Visakhapatnam

National Shipping Board (NSB)

Governance

News

• The government held a high-level interaction with the National Shipping Board (NSB) to address emerging challenges in India’s shipping sector amid evolving global geopolitical dynamics.

National Shipping Board (NSB)

• It is India’s apex advisory body on shipping and maritime matters, constituted under Section 23 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.
• It works under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• Objective – Its primary role is to advise the central government on shipping policies and maritime development.
• Its chairperson is appointed by the Central Government.

Black Rain in Tehran

Environment

Context

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of “black rain” and toxic air pollution in Tehran, following attacks on oil facilities.

Black Rain

• It refers to rainfall contaminated with soot, ash, oil particles, and chemical pollutants that are released into the atmosphere after large fires or explosions.
• Instead of clear water droplets, the rain carries dark, oily particles, giving it a black or grey appearance.
• Such rain usually occurs when massive fires release pollutants into the air and rainfall absorbs these particles before reaching the ground.
• Historically, similar phenomena were observed after the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, when radioactive soot and debris mixed with rainwater.

Proton Accelerator Facility to Come up in Visakhapatnam

Science and Technology

News

• Andhra Pradesh will host a high-energy proton accelerator in Visakhapatnam as part of India’s long-term nuclear research programme.
• A proton is a subatomic particle with a positive electrical charge. It is found in every atomic nucleus of every element.

About the Project

• The high-energy proton accelerator in Visakhapatnam will generate high-energy neutrons for converting thorium into uranium fuel.
• The facility benefits from Visakhapatnam’s technological ecosystem and sea access for cooling.

Significance – The proton accelerator is being developed as part of India’s long-term nuclear programme.