Question map
With reference to 'Agenda 21', sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements : 1. It is a global action plan for sustainable development. 2. It originated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
The correct answer is option A (1 only).
**Statement 1 is correct:** Agenda 21 is a declaration signed by world leaders in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which aims at achieving global sustainable development.[1] It is an agenda to combat environmental damage, poverty, disease through global co-operation on common interests, mutual needs and shared responsibilities.[1] It was adopted as an unprecedented global plan of action for sustainable development at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio.[2]
**Statement 2 is incorrect:** Agenda 21 originated at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, not at the 2002 Johannesburg Summit. The Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002) merely affirmed UN commitment to "full implementation" of Agenda 21[3], which had already been established a decade earlier. The Johannesburg Summit reaffirmed commitment to an existing framework rather than originating it.
Therefore, only statement 1 is correct, making option A the right answer.
Sources- [1] NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 1: The Rise of Nationalism in Europe > Agenda 21 > p. 4
- [2] https://www.bbc.com/worldservice/people/features/ihavearightto/four_b/casestudy_art25.shtml
- [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agenda_21
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a textbook 'Sitter' sourced directly from NCERT Class X Geography. It tests the fundamental timeline of environmental history. If you confuse Rio (1992) with Johannesburg (2002), you are missing the skeleton of the Environment syllabus.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Explicitly states Agenda 21 was signed by world leaders at the 1992 UNCED (Rio) and 'aims at achieving global sustainable development'.
- Describes Agenda 21 as an agenda to combat environmental damage, poverty and disease through global cooperation, linking it directly to sustainable development goals.
- Directly labels Agenda 21 as 'an action plan of the United Nations (UN) related to sustainable development'.
- Identifies Agenda 21 as an outcome of the UN Conference, confirming its origin and purpose.
- Describes Agenda 21 as a non-binding action programme and a comprehensive guide for nations into the 21st century.
- Lists sustainable-development topics covered (energy, climate change, poverty, financing), showing its substantive focus on sustainable development.
- Clearly states Agenda 21 was adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, not in Johannesburg 2002.
- Notes the 2002 Johannesburg summit produced a Plan of Implementation to build on Agenda 21, implying Agenda 21 predated Johannesburg.
- Says the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (2002) affirmed commitment to "full implementation" of Agenda 21, indicating Agenda 21 already existed.
- Links the 2002 summit to implementation and reaffirmation rather than origination of Agenda 21.
Explicitly states that Agenda 21 was an action plan framed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit) held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992.
A student could compare the date/location given here (Rio, 1992) with Johannesburg 2002 to judge whether Agenda 21 could have originated in 2002.
Says Agenda 21 is the declaration signed by world leaders in 1992 at UNCED in Rio de Janeiro, describing its aims and origin.
Use the explicit year and venue (1992, Rio) as a factual anchor to reject Johannesburg 2002 as the origin unless other evidence shows a re-originating event.
Describes the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio and states the summit 'ended with the declaration of 27 principles which came to be known as Agenda 21', linking Agenda 21 to Rio 1992.
A student can note the language tying Agenda 21 to the 1992 summit and cross-check summit names/dates to test the 2002-origin claim.
Notes that the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (2002) affirmed commitment to 'full implementation' of Agenda 21, implying Agenda 21 already existed by 2002.
A student can infer from the Johannesburg document's need to 'implement' Agenda 21 that Agenda 21 predates 2002 and then verify earlier records (e.g., Rio 1992).
Summarizes that Earth Summit delegates met in Rio in 1992 and an action plan called Agenda 21 was framed there, reinforcing the 1992 origin association.
A learner could use this repeated association (Rio 1992 -> Agenda 21) to discount Johannesburg 2002 as the origin unless contradicted by primary sources.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hit from NCERT Class X Geography, Ch 1, Page 4. No advanced reference book needed.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The 'Genealogy of Global Summits'—tracking the evolution from Stockholm 1972 to Rio 1992 to Johannesburg 2002.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Rio Trio' outcomes: 1) Rio Declaration, 2) Agenda 21, 3) Forest Principles. Contrast with the 'Rio Sisters' (Legally Binding): CBD, UNFCCC, and UNCCD. Know that Johannesburg (Rio+10) produced the 'Plan of Implementation', not the original Agenda.
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When studying summits, create a 'Birth Certificate' for every major document: Name, Year, City, and Binding Status. UPSC loves swapping the 'City of Origin' (e.g., putting Paris Agreement in Kyoto).
References identify Agenda 21 explicitly as a non‑binding UN action plan focused on sustainable development.
High‑yield for polity/environment questions: distinguishes between legally binding treaties and voluntary action plans; connects to questions on international environmental governance and implementation challenges. Learn core definitions, legal status, and examples through NCERT and standard environment texts.
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Legislations > the Five Earth Summit agreements > p. 6
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > Agenda zr > p. 389
Multiple references tie Agenda 21 to the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development and list it among summit outcomes.
Frequently tested topic linking international summits to concrete outcomes (Agenda 21, Rio Declaration, conventions). Useful for questions on genesis of global environmental regimes and comparative analysis with later initiatives (Rio+20, SDGs). Revise summit timelines and outcome documents.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > CHAPTER SUMMARY > p. 606
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > THE EARTH SUMMIT > p. 597
Evidence notes a major objective is for every local government to draw its own 'Local Agenda 21'.
Important for questions on decentralised implementation of global frameworks and urban/local governance in sustainability. Shows how global plans translate into local action; study examples of Local Agenda 21 and institutional mechanisms for implementation.
- NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 1: The Rise of Nationalism in Europe > Agenda 21 > p. 4
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > Definition > p. 27
Multiple references identify Agenda 21 as the action plan framed and adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Earth Summit) in 1992.
High-yield fact: UPSC often asks which global conferences produced key environment instruments and action plans. Knowing event → outcome pairings (Rio 1992 → Agenda 21; conventions on climate change, biodiversity, desertification) helps answer polity/environment questions and compare follow-up summits. Prepare by memorising major UN conference outcomes and dates from NCERTs and standard texts.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > THE EARTH SUMMIT > p. 597
- NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 1: The Rise of Nationalism in Europe > Agenda 21 > p. 4
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Legislations > Earth SummIt. > p. 5
References show the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg 2002) produced the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation which reaffirmed commitment to Agenda 21, rather than originating it.
Important to distinguish 'origin' from 'reaffirmation/implementation' in international diplomacy questions. Many UPSC questions hinge on whether a summit created, amended, or reaffirmed a document. Study summit follow-ups and implementation documents (e.g., Johannesburg Plan) and contrast them with original instruments.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > The Johannesburg Summit > p. 390
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > Historical Perspective > p. 28
Evidence describes Agenda 21 as a comprehensive, non‑legally binding action programme covering sustainable development themes (biodiversity, poverty, energy, water, etc.).
Knowing whether an instrument is binding vs non‑binding and its substantive areas helps in questions about international law, implementation challenges, and national policy responses. Connects to study of environmental conventions and national action plans; revise contents and legal status from core environmental texts.
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Legislations > the Five Earth Summit agreements > p. 6
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > Definition > p. 27
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > Environment action Plan > p. 50
The 'Commission on Sustainable Development' (CSD) was created specifically to monitor the implementation of Agenda 21 in 1992. It was later replaced by the 'High-level Political Forum' (HLPF) in 2013. A future question may ask about the body responsible for monitoring Agenda 21.
Use 'Nomenclature Logic': 'Agenda 21' stands for 'Agenda for the 21st Century'. Logically, a plan *for* the upcoming century is drafted *before* the century begins (i.e., 1990s). Originating it in 2002 (when the 21st century had already started) makes the title redundant. This points to 1992.
Connect this to GS-2 (International Relations) under 'Soft Law'. Agenda 21 is 'Soft Law' (Non-binding norms) which paved the way for 'Hard Law' (Binding Treaties like Kyoto). This evolution from voluntary agendas to binding commitments is a key theme in Global Governance.