India backs UN map resolution, says territorial integrity is non-negotiable

India on Sunday backed a United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolution promoting the use of equal-area world maps, while clarifying that its support does not endorse any specific map projection or depiction of national boundaries. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India voted in favour of the resolution and also made an explanation of the vote, stressing the principle of promoting equal-area cartographic representation. “The resolution neither adopts nor authenticates any particular world map, nor does it address political cartography, including international boundaries, disputed territories or place names,” Jaiswal said.
At the same time, India underlined that the resolution should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any particular map, projection or depiction of national boundaries. Jaiswal said 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 that any inaccurate or misleading depiction of India’s territory is unacceptable.  India’s position on its sovereignty and territorial integrity remains “clear, consistent and non-negotiable”, the MEA spokesperson said. 
The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution, titled “Correct the Map: Rebalancing Global Cartographic Representation and Promoting Equitable Representation of the World’s Regions, Particularly Africa,” on September 4. The UN vote does not mean that the world's maps will immediately change. The resolution is non-binding and its practical impact will depend on whether governments, educational institutions, publishers and digital platforms voluntarily adopt equal-area projections.