Question

What was the purpose of conducting surveys during British rule in India

Answer 1

to have a detailed statistical information

Answer 2

To determine the rate of land revenue, the right answer.

The system of surveying became general under the colonial rule because British considered that a nation had to be accurately known before it could be effectively regulated. Detailed surveys were conducted out by the British officials to map the entire land. In other words, these surveys were being conducted as a part of a colonial policy of revenue collection. The information (about the quality of soil, cropping patterns and flora and fauna) collected by the survey of the land was used to determine the rate of taxes to be imposed on people.