UNGA adopts resolution for fairer world maps; India votes yes

India has voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution that seeks to correct the perceived distortion of global landmasses in widely used maps. The resolution, titled “Correct the map”: rebalancing global cartographic representation and promoting equitable representation of the world’s regions, particularly Africa, was adopted overwhelmingly on Friday, September 6, 2026.

The measure received 164 votes in favour, with six abstentions from Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine. The United States cast the lone vote against the resolution, which was sponsored by Togo.

The resolution highlights the continued reliance on the Mercator projection, a 16th-century navigational tool, in educational, media, digital, and official materials. It notes with concern that this projection significantly distorts the size of landmasses located far from the equator, thereby minimising the perceived scale of Africa, Latin America, and South Asia, and perpetuating an unbalanced view of the world.

Speaking in the General Assembly, First Secretary at India's Permanent Mission to the UN, Raghoo Puri, said India welcomes the intention behind the resolution to promote more accurate and representative cartographic practices. He added that maps play an important role in shaping societal understanding of geography and the relative scale of the world.

However, India clarified its interpretation of the resolution's scope. New Delhi stated that it views the resolution as supporting the broader use and consideration of Equal Area map projections, and not as an endorsement of the Equal Earth projection or any other specific map projection.