India has voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution encouraging wider use of equal-area world map projections, saying such maps can present the relative size of continents more accurately. The resolution, titled “Correct the Map: Rebalancing Global Cartographic Representation and Promoting Equitable Representation of the World’s Regions, Particularly Africa”, was adopted on September 4 with 164 countries voting in favour, one — the United States — voting against, and six abstaining. India supported the broader principle of more accurate cartographic representation but clarified that its vote should not be interpreted as endorsing the Equal Earth projection or any other specific map.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also stressed that the resolution does not deal with political cartography, international boundaries or disputed territories. India’s sovereign territory, including the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, must continue to be depicted according to the country’s official map, with any inaccurate or misleading representation considered unacceptable.
India Clarifies Position
India’s clarification came after the General Assembly adopted the resolution, with New Delhi making its position clear through an explanation of vote delivered by First Secretary Raghoo Puri at the UN. India said maps influence how societies understand geography and the relative scale of the world, and welcomed efforts to make cartographic representation more accurate and representative.
However, it emphasised that equal-area mapping should be treated as a broader principle rather than an endorsement of the Equal Earth projection. “No single projection is necessarily appropriate for every application,” India said, arguing that different maps serve different purposes and that countries, institutions and cartographers should retain the freedom to choose the most suitable projection. The MEA later reiterated that India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remain “clear, consistent and non-negotiable”.
Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s territory, including Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, must be shown in accordance with India’s official map. He added that the UN resolution does not authenticate any particular world map and does not address political questions such as sovereignty, territorial status, disputed territories, international boundaries or place names.
India Flags Map Discrepancies
The latest development came on September 9, after India flagged what it described as “anomalies” in a new United Nations world map showing Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as separate regions between Indian and Chinese claim lines. The map, first published by the UN on July 1, depicts Arunachal Pradesh without its boundary with Nagaland, while Aksai Chin is shown as a separate region with India and China on either side.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi had “taken up the anomalies with the concerned persons”, while stressing that India’s vote for the UN’s equal-area map resolution should not be interpreted as approval of any particular map. The UN has not publicly explained these specific depictions. India maintains that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country and that Aksai Chin forms part of Ladakh.
Why Maps Matter
The UN resolution emerged from a wider campaign led by African countries, particularly Togo, to address distortions created by commonly used world maps. The Mercator projection, developed in the 16th century and widely used because of its usefulness for navigation, enlarges landmasses as they move towards the poles. This can make Greenland appear roughly comparable in size to Africa, despite Africa being about 14 times larger.
The Equal Earth projection, highlighted by the resolution, preserves the relative area of landmasses more accurately, although like every flat map it involves trade-offs in shape, distance or direction.
The UN says the initiative is intended to improve geographical literacy and representation, particularly of Africa and other equatorial regions, rather than simply replace one map with another. Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said, “A fair world begins with a fair map,” and announced plans to introduce the Equal Earth projection in the country’s school geography materials by the end of 2026. Togo also plans discussions with African Union members, other governments, international organisations and technology companies involved in mapping and location services.
Meanwhile, the United States opposed the resolution, describing it as part of an ideological agenda and a distraction from more pressing global problems. Ukraine raised separate concerns about how the Equal Earth map depicts territories it considers occupied, while the European Union supported the resolution’s objective but stressed that it does not affect questions of sovereignty or internationally recognised borders.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Maps may appear to be simple tools for finding places, but they also shape how generations understand the world and their place within it. A more accurate representation of geographical scale can help challenge long-standing misconceptions, particularly when regions such as Africa have historically appeared smaller than they really are. At the same time, India’s clarification highlights an equally important principle: improving geographical representation should not become a source of political misunderstanding or renewed tensions over borders and sovereignty.
The conversation around maps is therefore best approached with accuracy, historical awareness and respect for the perspectives of different countries. The UN resolution itself is not a mandate to erase existing maps or redraw national boundaries; it is an invitation to think more carefully about how the world is represented and understood. As countries debate which projections are most appropriate, can better and more balanced maps help us build a more accurate understanding of the world — and, in turn, encourage greater respect and coexistence among its people?
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Bi-Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (September 08, 2026)
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) September 8, 2026
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