UN-backed world map must depict J&K, Ladakh accurately: India

The UN resolution updated the world map in order to more accurately depic countries' true size, particularly that of Africa.

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India on Sunday qualified its support for a UN General Assembly resolution on a map that shows the true size of countries by saying that the country’s sovereign territory, including Jammu and Kashmir, must be depicted in line with New Delhi’s official map.

The resolution on “Correct the map: Rebalancing global cartographic representation and promoting equitable representation of the world’s regions, particularly Africa”, was adopted on Friday by a vote of 164 in favour to one against (United States), and six abstentions.

Also Read I India backs ‘Equal Earth’ map at UN, but warns against inaccurate depiction of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh

The UN described it as an important step towards correcting distortions in commonly used world maps, especially the Mercator projection, which are seen as “misrepresenting the relative size of continents and contribute to a diminished perception of Africa”.

However, the resolution favours the Equal Earth projection — created in 2018 by the cartographers Bojan Savric, Bernhard Jenny and Tom Patterson — which inaccurately depicts the northern frontiers of India by showing parts of Jammu and Kashmir within the borders of China and Pakistan.

MEA spokesperon clarifies India' stance

“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,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

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

Jaiswal made it clear 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”. He added, “Any inaccurate or misleading depiction is unacceptable. Our position on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is clear, consistent and non-negotiable.”

Also Read I Africa gets bigger, North America smaller as UN adopts new world map; US says ‘focus on genuine problems’

Jaiswal noted that the UN resolution’s purpose is encouraging the use of equal-area map projections that preserve the relative sizes of continental landmasses. “The resolution neither adopts nor authenticates any particular world map, nor does it address political cartography, including international boundaries, disputed territories or place names,” he said.

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  Rezaul Hasan Laskar is Foreign Editor with the Hindustan Times, which he joined in 2015. He began as a journalist in his hometown of Shillong in northeast India and has worked in newspapers and wire services over the years. He moved to New Delhi in 1997 and initially focused on defence, national security, Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, while also working of foreign policy and international relations. He has been part of the media delegation accompanying PMs on foreign visits and has reported from destinations ranging from Tibet to Ukraine. Between 2007 and 2013, he was the Press Trust of India correspondent in Pakistan, one of only two Indian journalists allowed to report from the country. He extensively covered Pakistan’s domestic politics and the life of the common people, as well as the fallout of the 2008 Mumbai attacks on India-Pakistan relations and the subsequent trial in Pakistan of the suspects involved in the attack. As part of his reportage in Pakistan, he travelled the breadth of the country, from the Swat Valley to Balochistan. Reza’s first gig in journalism was writing a weekly music column, and music – especially classic rock – remains a keen interest. He is also a movie buff and a keen photographer.Read More