Importance of Surveys under Colonial Rule
Surveying became important under colonial rule for various reasons:

Land Administration
- Colonizers needed to accurately map and demarcate land for taxation, revenue collection, and resource exploitation.
- Surveys helped in documenting land ownership and boundaries, facilitating the transfer of land rights from indigenous communities to colonial authorities.

Resource Management
- Surveys were crucial for identifying and mapping natural resources such as minerals, forests, and water sources.
- This information was used by the colonial powers to exploit resources for economic gain and strategic purposes.

Infrastructure Development
- Surveys were essential for planning and constructing roads, railways, canals, and other infrastructure projects.
- They helped in determining the most suitable routes and locations for these developments, ensuring efficient transportation and communication networks.

Social Control
- Surveys played a role in monitoring and controlling the local population.
- Census surveys provided demographic data that was used to categorize and govern different social groups based on ethnicity, religion, or caste.

Political Control
- Surveys helped in establishing and consolidating colonial authority over territories.
- By mapping out the land and population, colonial powers could assert their dominance and enforce their laws and policies.
In conclusion, surveys were a crucial tool under colonial rule for land administration, resource management, infrastructure development, social control, and political control. They enabled the colonial powers to effectively govern and exploit the territories they had colonized.