India votes in favour of UNGA resolution endorsing new world map

India has voted in support of a United Nations General Assembly resolution aimed at promoting a more accurate representation of the world on maps. The 193-member body unanimously adopted the resolution titled "Correct the map: rebalancing global cartographic representation and promoting equitable representation of the world’s regions, particularly Africa."

The proposal, sponsored by Togo, received 164 votes in favor, with abstentions from Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine, alongside a single vote against from the United States.

The resolution highlighted the ongoing distortion of landmasses, particularly in the Northern and Southern regions, caused by the Mercator projection, a mapping system developed in the 16th century for navigational purposes. The projection is still commonly used in educational, media, digital, and official materials, despite its tendency to minimize the perceived sizes of Africa, Latin America, and South Asia, perpetuating an unbalanced view of the world.

Raghoo Puri, the First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, expressed India's support for the resolution's intention to promote more accurate and representative cartographic practices. However, India clarified that the resolution should be interpreted as encouraging the broader application and consideration of Equal Area map projections, rather than endorsing any specific projection, such as the Equal Earth projection.