MEA on UN-backed proposed world map: ‘J&K and Ladakh must be depicted as per India’s official map’

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India has stated that a UN-backed proposed world map must accurately depict Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as per India's official map. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that any inaccurate or misleading representation of these territories is unacceptable. This stance comes in the wake of India's vote in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution on September 4, aimed at promoting a more accurate representation of continental landmasses and equitable cartographic representation, particularly for Africa.

The resolution, titled "Correct the Map: Rebalancing Global Cartographic Representation and Promoting Equitable Representation of the World's Regions, Particularly Africa," was adopted by a vote of 164 in favor to 1 against, with 6 abstentions. The resolution calls for the use of equal-area map projections, such as the Equal Earth projection, which more accurately represent the relative sizes of continents.

The MEA clarified that the resolution neither endorses nor authenticates any particular world map, projection, or depiction of national boundaries, including international borders, disputed territories, or place names. Jaiswal reiterated that India's sovereignty and territorial integrity, including its territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, remain non-negotiable.