India backs UN push to fix world maps distorting Africa's true size

India has joined 163 other nations in backing a United Nations General Assembly resolution that calls for correcting the world map to ensure a "more accurate representation" of continental landmasses, particularly Africa.

The 193-member 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'. Togo sponsored the measure, which saw 164 votes in favour, six abstentions from Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine, and one vote against from the United States.

Mercator projection distorts land sizes

The resolution highlighted that the Mercator projection, designed in the 16th century for navigational purposes, continues to be widely used in educational, media, digital and official materials despite considerable distortion of landmasses to the North and South, far from the equator.

The text expressed "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".

India clarifies its position

In an explanation of vote, Raghoo Puri, First Secretary at India's Permanent Mission to the UN, 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.

India, however, clarified its understanding of the resolution's scope, stating, "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".

The vote marks a significant diplomatic consensus on addressing historical cartographic imbalances that have shaped how generations perceive the relative sizes and importance of different regions.

Source: The Hindu