India backs UN's ‘Equal Earth’ map, but warns against inaccurate depiction of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh

India voted in favour of the map, while explaining that the vote stressed on “the underlying principle of promoting equal - area cartographic representation.”

Updated on: Sep 6, 2026, 12:15:53 IST

Edited by Danita Yadav

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The Ministry of External Affairs issued a clarification on Sunday regarding the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh after backing the African Union's resolution to “rebalance” the world map.

The new map -- known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection -- "is a relevant option for improving the accuracy of the cartographic representation of the world," the resolution said. (AFP)

In a statement, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India voted in favour of the map, while explaining that the vote stressed on “the underlying principle of promoting equal - area cartographic representation.”

“We also highlighted that the resolution does not constitute endorsement of any specific map, projection or depiction of national boundaries,” the MEA added further.

The United Nations General Assembly voted on Friday to back a resolution spearheaded by several African countries to adopt a map that makes their continent bigger while shrinking North America and Europe.

The resolution aimed at "a more accurate representation" of continental landmasses. The resolution was supported by 164 countries, while the United States voted against it, and six other states abstained.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danita Yadav
Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order.Read More

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