India backs UN map reform resolution

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the “Correct the Map” resolution on 4 September 2026 to address cartographic distortions in world maps. India voted in favour of the resolution and clarified that its support covered equal-area map projections in general, not the Equal Earth projection alone.

UN map reform resolution

The resolution was sponsored by Togo and supported by the African Union. It passed with 164 votes in favour, while the United States voted against it and six countries abstained.

The six abstaining countries were Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine. The resolution relates to the use of map projections in global cartography and public institutions.

Mercator projection and map distortion

The Mercator projection was developed in the 16th century and remains widely used for navigation. It preserves direction and shape locally, but it distorts area as latitude increases away from the equator.

In the Mercator projection, Africa appears close in size to Greenland, although Africa’s actual landmass is about 14 to 15 times larger than Greenland. Regions near the equator, including South Asia, Africa and Latin America, appear smaller than their true area on many conventional world maps.

India’s position on cartographic neutrality

India stated that the resolution should remain technologically and methodologically neutral. Indian representatives said that countries, institutions and cartographers should retain the freedom to choose map projections according to their specific requirements.

Raghoo Puri, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, delivered India’s statement on 5 September 2026. India’s position distinguished between support for equal-area mapping and endorsement of any single projection model.

Important Facts for Exams

• The United Nations General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the United Nations and has 193 member states.
• Mercator projection is a cylindrical map projection used widely in navigation and marine charts.
• Equal-area projections preserve the relative area of landmasses on maps.
• Equal Earth is one of the modern equal-area world map projections used in cartography.

The African Union supported the resolution on map reform. Togo sponsored the resolution in the United Nations General Assembly.