📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Lev.Borisovitch
International
India urges UN-backed world map to show J&K and Ladakh as per official map
✍️ orissapost.com
🗓 06 Sep 2026, 04:18 PM
👁 29
The Ministry of External Affairs told the United Nations that any globally circulated map must reflect Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh according to India's sovereign map.
New Delhi – The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has formally communicated to the United Nations that any proposed world map backed by the UN should depict the Indian-administered regions of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh exactly as shown on India's official cartographic representations. The directive underscores India's long‑standing position that these territories are integral parts of the country and must not be altered in international publications.
MEA officials said the request aligns with India's sovereign rights and international law, and they expect the UN to incorporate the country's official map in all future global mapping initiatives. The ministry did not specify a timeline for compliance but indicated that the matter would be raised in upcoming diplomatic forums.
The statement comes amid heightened sensitivity over map depictions worldwide, where variations can have diplomatic repercussions. India has previously objected to maps that show the disputed regions differently, and this latest move seeks to pre‑empt any such inconsistencies in UN‑endorsed materials.
The UN has not yet responded publicly to the Indian request. Analysts note that while the UN does not produce a single definitive world map, its agencies often use standardized cartographic data, making India's appeal a significant diplomatic effort to influence global representations.
The MEA reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding India's territorial integrity and urged all international bodies to respect the country's official cartographic stance.
MEA officials said the request aligns with India's sovereign rights and international law, and they expect the UN to incorporate the country's official map in all future global mapping initiatives. The ministry did not specify a timeline for compliance but indicated that the matter would be raised in upcoming diplomatic forums.
The statement comes amid heightened sensitivity over map depictions worldwide, where variations can have diplomatic repercussions. India has previously objected to maps that show the disputed regions differently, and this latest move seeks to pre‑empt any such inconsistencies in UN‑endorsed materials.
The UN has not yet responded publicly to the Indian request. Analysts note that while the UN does not produce a single definitive world map, its agencies often use standardized cartographic data, making India's appeal a significant diplomatic effort to influence global representations.
The MEA reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding India's territorial integrity and urged all international bodies to respect the country's official cartographic stance.