Equal‑area map projections get UN endorsement, India supports technical neutrality

The recently passed UN resolution aims to correct long‑standing distortions caused by the Mercator projection, which exaggerates the size of regions far from the equator while shrinking areas like Africa. India’s support focuses on the principle of technical neutrality, advocating for the use of equal‑area projections when the goal is to display true continental proportions. The Indian side noted that the Mercator system, developed in 1569 for navigation, is still widely used but creates misleading perceptions of size, especially for Europe, North America, and Greenland.