News: UNGA adopted a non-binding resolution supporting the Equal Earth projection → 164 countries including India voted in favour.

Mercator Projection

• Developed by Gerardus Mercator (1569) → mainly for maritime navigation.
• Preserves angles and rhumb lines → but greatly exaggerates areas near the poles.

Equal Earth Projection

• Developed in 2018 → equal-area world map.
• Represents relative continental sizes more accurately.
• Less shape distortion than Gall-Peters → but not completely distortion-free.

Significance

• More accurate representation of Africa and tropical regions.
• Helps reduce Eurocentric geographical bias.
• Supports decolonisation of geographical knowledge