• Isthmus of Perekop links the Ukrainian mainland to the Crimean Peninsula.
• It is only 3 miles wide at one point.
• Crimea is a peninsula in Eastern Europe, surrounded by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
• It is located in the southern part of Kherson, Ukraine, and the western part of Kuban, Russia.
• Syvash is a large, shallow, and salty system of lagoons that is separated by a small strip of land known as the Arabat Spit.
• The Autonomous Republic of Crimea was established as Ukraine's constituent entity.
• The Crimean legislature declared conditional independence on May 5th, 1992.

On July 22, China launched its Mars mission.

Known as Tianwen-1, the mission name is loosely translated to “questions to Heaven.” 

Key points you should know:

• China’s first Mars probe is called Tianwen-1 (formerly Huoxing 1).
• The spacecraft consists of an orbiter, a lander and a rover.
• Launched on a Long March 5 rocket from Xichang, China.
• Landing site: Somewhere in Utopia Planitia, a vast plain in Mars’ northern latitudes and the same place NASA’s Viking 2 mission landed in the 1970s.
• Tianwen-1 will reach the Red Planet’s orbit in February 2021. The rover will land on Mars in May.
• If the mission is successful, China will become the third country to achieve a Mars landing after the USSR and the United States.

• The elevated temperature typically decreases the level of dissolved oxygen of water. Therefore statement 1 is correct.
• This can harm aquatic animals such as fish, amphibians and other aquatic organisms.
• Thermal pollution may also increase the metabolic rate of aquatic animals, as enzyme activity, resulting in these organisms consuming more food in a shorter time than if their environment were not changed.
• Mixing of nutrients and oxygen in between water layers is very much dependent on water temperatures.
• The high temperature at the top layer prevents proper mixing of water. Therefore statement 2 is correct.
• This can lead to increased bacteria levels when there is ample food supply.
• Many aquatic species will fail to reproduce at elevated temperatures.

• Article 75 of the Indian Constitution specifies that the council of ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People.
• A Motion of No-Confidence can be introduced in the Lok Sabha only. Therefore statement 2 is correct.
• Article 118 of the Indian Constitution permits both houses (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) of Parliament to make its own rules for its functioning.
• There is no mention of "no-confidence" motion in the Articles of Indian Constitution. Therefore statement 1 is correct.
• Rule 198 of Lok Sabha mentions the procedure for a motion of no-confidence.
• Once a notice is given, the speaker reads it in the House and asks those who are in favour of it.
• In case there are 50 MPs in favour, a date for discussing the motion is assigned.
• The vote has to take place within 10 days of the notice, if the majority of the members vote in favour of the motion then the motion is passed and the government in power has to vacate the office.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG):

• It has a high auto-ignition temperature (540 °C), and a narrow range (5–15 percent) of flammability. So, it is less likely to ignite on hot surfaces.
• It has a higher calorific value than diesel and petrol. 
• CNG mixes well with air and disperses quickly clearing the area of the fire. 

Finance Commission, a constitutional body, forms the basis of a fair vertical devolution by its recommendations and criteria for fund distribution between centre and states.

Statement 1: In many senses Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi thought about education in similar ways.

• There were, however, differences too. Gandhiji was highly critical of Western civilisation and its worship of machines and technology. Tagore wanted to combine elements of modern Western civilisation with what he saw as the best within Indian tradition. So, statement 1 is correct.

Statement 2: Tagore emphasised the need to teach science and technology at Santiniketan, along with art, music and dance.

• Tagore was of the view that creative learning could be encouraged within a natural environment. So, clearly statement 2 is wrong.

• These species are not naturally found anywhere else other than the areas where they are endemic.
• A particular type of animal or plant may be endemic to a zone, a state or a country.
• For e.g. Sal and Wild mango are two endemic species of Panchmarhi biosphere reserve.
• Bison, Indian giant squirrel and flying squirrel are endemic fauna of this area.
• Note that a species can be endemic to more than one area, for e.g. Olive Ridley Sea Turtles are endemic to Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans all. 

• Gibberellins are plant hormones that regulate various developmental processes, including stem elongation, germination, dormancy, flowering, flower development, and leaf and fruit senescence.
• The role of gibberellin:- Seed germination and seedling growth.
• Gibberellins induce hydrolytic enzymes that break down macromolecules in the endosperm to provide nutrients for the embryo and they stimulate the growth of the embryo directly.

India's forests are governed by two main laws, the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

The former empowers the government to declare any area to be a reserved forest, protected forest, or village forest.

The latter allows any area to be constituted as a "protected area", namely a National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, Tiger Reserve, or Community Conservation Area.

The tribal communities of India have had an integral and close-knit relationship with the forests and have been dependent on the forests for livelihoods and existence.

Under these laws, the rights of people living in or depending on the area to be declared as a forest or protected area are to be "settled" by a "forest settlement officer.

However, rights were rarely recognized by the authorities and in the absence of real ownership of the land, the already marginalized local dwellers suffered. To address this, FRA 2006 was enacted.

Major provisions are:

• Title rights - ownership to land that is being farmed by tribals or forest dwellers, subject to a maximum of 4 hectares; ownership is only for land that is actually being cultivated by the concerned family as of that date, meaning that no new lands are granted.
• Use rights - to minor forest produce (also including ownership), to grazing areas, to pastoralist routes, etc.
• Relief and development rights - to rehabilitation in case of illegal eviction or forced displacement; and to basic amenities, subject to restrictions for forest protection.
• Forest management rights - to protect forests and wildlife.