New Delhi, India – The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a clarification on September 6, 2026, regarding India's affirmative vote on a United Nations General Assembly resolution concerning global cartography. The MEA firmly stated that its support for the resolution does not, in any way, alter or endorse specific geopolitical depictions, particularly concerning India's sovereign territory.
Official Spokesperson Shri Randhir Jaiswal explained that India's vote was strictly tied to the cartographic principle of promoting equal-area map projections. The resolution, adopted on September 4, 2026, and titled "Correct the Map: Rebalancing Global Cartographic Representation and Promoting Equitable Representation of the World’s Regions, Particularly Africa," aims to encourage maps that accurately preserve the relative sizes of continental landmasses.
Jaiswal emphasized India's explanation of vote, which explicitly underscored that 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 reiterated its unwavering position that its sovereign territory, including the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, must be depicted in accordance with India’s official map. The MEA spokesperson added, "Any inaccurate or misleading depiction is unacceptable. Our position on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is clear, consistent and non-negotiable."
This clarification ensures that while India supports reforms in cartographic representation for accuracy in landmass sizing, it maintains a firm stance on its own territorial integrity and official boundary depictions.