MEA on UN resolution 'Correct the Map': 'J&K and Ladakh must be shown as per India's official map'

India on Sunday said the UN-initiated world map must show the Union Territory of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh in line with the country’s official map.

In a statement, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswa said any “inaccurate” or “misleading” statement would be unacceptable.

The ministry came two days after the UN General Assembly voted in favor of a resolution to correct the world map to support a more accurate depiction of continental landmasses.

MEA’s full statement on the new UN world map

On 4 September, a resolution titled “Fix the Map: Equalizing Global Cartographic Representation and Promoting Equitable Representation of World Regions, Especially Africa” was adopted.

“Its purpose is to encourage the use of equal-area map projections that preserve the relative sizes of continental land masses. The resolution does not adopt or validate any particular world map or deal with political cartography, including international boundaries, disputed territories, or place names,” MEA statement read.

Jaiswal said India stressed that the resolution did not constitute endorsement of any particular map, projection or depiction of national borders.

“India voted in favor of the resolution and also gave an explanation of vote emphasizing the basic principle of supporting equal area cartographic representation,” he said.

“We also emphasized that the resolution does not represent an endorsement of any particular map, projection or depiction of state borders,” he said.

“The sovereign territory of India, including the Union Territories of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, must be depicted in accordance with the official map of India. Any inaccurate or misleading depiction is unacceptable,” he said.

“Our position on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is clear, consistent and non-negotiable,” he noted.

The Togo-sponsored resolution received 164 votes in favor, with Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine abstaining and the United States voting against.

The General Assembly adopted the text “Fix the Map”

On September 4, the United Nations General Assembly took a major step toward “correcting distortions” in commonly used world maps, “particularly the Mercator projection, which distort the relative size of the continents and contribute to a diminished perception of Africa and other equatorial regions.”

The Assembly completed its substantive work for the 80th session, which ended on 8 September, and adopted several draft resolutions and decisions.

Chief among these was a draft resolution entitled “Fix the map: balancing global cartographic representation and promoting equitable representation of world regions, especially Africa” (document A/80/L.104), which was adopted by a recorded vote of 164 to 1 (United States of America), with 6 abstentions (Estonia, Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine).

He called for the wider use of equal-area map projections, especially the Equal Earth projection, in contexts where the relative size of continents matters, framing the problem as more than a technical cartographic problem.