Explain why survey become important under colonial administration

The practice of surveying became common practice under the colonial administration because the British believed that a country had to be properly known before it could be effectively administered.

By the nineteenth century detailed surveys were being carried out to map the entire country.

1.In the villages,revenue surveys were conducted.The effort was to know the topography,the soil quality, the flora,the fauna,the local histories, and the cropping pattern.

2.The objective was to record all the facts seen as necessary to know about to administer the region.

3.By the end of the nineteenth century,Census operations were held every ten years.These prepared detailed records of the number of people in all the provinces of India,noting information on castes,religions and occupation.

4.There were many other surveys-botanical surveys,zoological surveys,archaeological surveys,anthropological surveys,forest surveys.