U.N. ‘Correct the Map' Resolution May Open New Lawfare Debates with Pakistan, China, Nepal

Source UN Release

A U.N. Press Release outlining resolutions passed during the Eightieth Session, 114th & 115th Meetings (AM & PM) GA/12779 of 4 September 2026 indicated that the General Assembly “took an important step towards correcting distortions in commonly used world maps, particularly the Mercator projection, which are seen misrepresenting the relative size of continents and contribute to a diminished perception of Africa and other equatorial regions”.

The draft resolution titled “Correct the map:  rebalancing global cartographic representation and promoting equitable representation of the world’s regions, particularly Africa” (document A/80/L.104), was adopted by a recorded vote of 164 in favour to 1 against (United States), with 6 abstentions (Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Republic of Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine). The Resolution called for “wider use of equal-area map projections, particularly the Equal Earth projection, in contexts where the comparative size of continents matters, framing the issue as more than a technical cartographic problem”.

The resolution noted with “concern" that “this distortion contributes to minimising the perceived sizes of Africa, Latin America and South Asia, and perpetuating an unbalanced view of the world.”

The Correct the Map resolution provides a balanced view of South Asia apart from Africa however countries with boundary disputes such as Ukraine amongst other abstained while India voted in favour of the resolution.

In an explanation of the vote in the General Assembly, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, Raghoo Puri, said India “welcomes” the intention behind the resolution to promote more accurate and representative cartographic practices. "We believe that maps play an important role in how societies understand geography and the relative scale of the world around us,” he said.

However, India clarified its understanding of the scope of this resolution, saying, "We believe that the resolution should be understood as supporting the broader use and consideration of Equal Area map projections, and not as endorsing the Equal Earth projection or any other specific map projection."

Amplifying on the same and in response to media queries regarding a UN General Assembly resolution on equal-area world map, Official Spokesperson Shri Randhir Jaiswal said, “The resolution neither adopts nor authenticates any particular world map, nor does it address political cartography, including international boundaries, disputed territories or place names. India voted in favour of the resolution and also made an explanation of vote stressing 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 Spokesperson added that, “India’s sovereign territory, including the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, must be depicted in accordance with India’s official map. Any inaccurate or misleading depiction is unacceptable. Our position on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is clear, consistent and non-negotiable”.

Pakistan Foreign Office was quick to react to the Indian assertion and in the statement issued a day later, FO Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said: “Pakistan categorically rejects India’s baseless assertions regarding the status of Jammu and Kashmir which are contrary to internationally recognised facts.”  He continued to claim that Kashmir remained a disputed issue despite the Shimla Agreement of 1972 having agreed upon otherwise. “The official UN maps, which depict Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory, remain the only cartographic representation of its current legal status,” he said.

There has been no statement on the issue from China’s Foreign Office, nor one from Nepal with whom India has substantial boundary disputes including the Kalapani with the latter.

Likely Debates Ahead

While the aim of the “Correct the Map,” resolution was to overcome the distortions arising from the Mercator Map which was biased towards colonial powers, the new Map while not strictly speaking a cartographic representation of national boundaries is likely to open a pandora’s box of claims and countries for countries as India with disputes with key neighbours Pakistan, China and Nepal.