Maarg Manthan · Topic 17.7

Survey of India

Science & Technology › Science & Technology Policy and Institutions in India · Topic 17.7

The Survey of India is India's oldest scientific department and the national mapping agency, working under the Department of Science and Technology. It was set up in 1767 by the East India Company, when Major James Rennell was made the first Surveyor General of Bengal, and its headquarters is at Dehradun. It carried out the Great Trigonometrical Survey that began in 1802 under William Lambton and later George Everest, which measured the arc of the meridian from Kanyakumari to the Himalaya and fixed the height of the Himalayan peaks. Today the Survey of India prepares the topographical maps of the country, defines the national geodetic framework and the official boundary, and supports defence, development and disaster management. It was involved in the 2020 measurement of Mount Everest, with Nepal, giving 8,848.86 metres.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · Science & Technology Policy and Institutions in India

At a Glance

Founded 1767
Headquarters Dehradun
Parent body DST
Famous project Great Trigonometrical Survey
Head Surveyor General of India
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: Science & Technology Policy and Institutions in India

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the account of CSIR. The Survey of India is another national scientific institution under DST, and its work links science with geography, defence and planning. Previous topic: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Next topic: Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).

What Is the Survey of India and How Did It Begin?

Aspect	Details
Founding	1767, as a survey department of the East India Company, when James Rennell was appointed Surveyor General of Bengal. It is said to be among the oldest scientific departments in India
Great Trigonometrical Survey	Started in 1802 by William Lambton at Madras, extended northward by George Everest, who became Surveyor General in 1830. It measured the great arc from the south to the Himalaya using triangulation
Mount Everest	Peak XV was found to be the world’s tallest by Radhanath Sikdar, an Indian mathematician, in 1852 and named after Everest in 1865. A joint India-Nepal measurement in 2020 gave 8,848.86 metres
Headquarters	Dehradun, with Geodetic and Research Branch, and offices in many states
Head	Surveyor General of India
Ministry	Department of Science and Technology
Training	Survey Training Institute at Hyderabad

What Does It Do Today and What Are the Policy Changes?

Topographical maps: maps of the whole country at scales such as 1:250,000, 1:50,000 and 1:25,000, in the Open Series Maps available since 2005 and the Defence Series Maps
Geodetic framework: fixes the latitude, longitude and height of control points for all surveys
Tide gauges and sea level: monitors tides, with the national datum
International boundary: provides the authoritative outline of India for official maps
Map policy: a National Map Policy of 2005 divided maps into defence series and open series
Geospatial Guidelines 2021: liberalised rules in February 2021 so that Indian entities can collect and use geospatial data without prior approval, except in sensitive areas
National Geospatial Policy, 2022: aims to make India a geospatial leader and to build a digital elevation model and a national geospatial platform by 2030
SVAMITVA: drone mapping of villages with ground control by the Survey of India for property cards

What Else Should You Remember?

Triangulation: measuring a network of triangles from a known base line
Theodolite: an instrument to measure angles used in the Survey
Lambton’s base line: measured near Madras in 1802
Radhanath Sikdar: the Indian mathematician and surveyor who calculated the height of Everest
Dehradun: the site of the Great Arc Survey headquarters and of the Survey of India office
Geoid and datum: models of the shape of the Earth and reference levels
GNSS and CORS: satellite positioning and a network of continuously operating reference stations are used for precise location
Digital elevation model: a 3D model of terrain made from lidar and photographs
Nakshe: a web portal of the Survey of India for topographical maps
Bhuvan: ISRO’s geoportal, different from the Survey of India
Ministry of Defence: it controls the use of sensitive maps
Map of India Act: it is an offence to show wrong boundaries in maps published in India under the Criminal law
Geospatial Data Promotion: to open up data for start-ups and industry
ISRO and NRSC: remote sensing agencies that work along with the Survey
Disaster management: precise terrain data help in flood and landslide planning
Link to geography: maps and projections are in the geography part of the course
Link: institution context is in Department of Science and Technology (DST)

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Year and founder: 1767, Rennell
HQ: Dehradun
GTS: 1802, Lambton and Everest
Current affairs link: geospatial policy and drone mapping
Common errors: giving Kolkata as the HQ or mixing it with the Geological Survey of India

As an analytical point, accurate maps are the basis for planning, defence and disaster response. Open geospatial data and indigenous mapping platforms can support Digital India and start-ups, while sensitive data needs safeguards.

Why Is This Topic Important?

History 1767, GTS
Role National maps
Policy Open data

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Science and Engineering Research Board. Next topic: Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).

Key People and Terms

SoI Survey of India
GTS Great Trigonometrical Survey
Triangulation Measuring via triangles
Geodesy Science of Earth’s shape
CORS Continuously operating reference stations
DEM Digital elevation model

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Survey of India set up 1767 by Rennell.
HQ Dehradun; under DST.
GTS began 1802, Lambton.
Everest height 8,848.86 m (2020).
National Geospatial Policy: 2022.

Do Not Confuse With

Survey of India and Geological Survey of India Maps versus rocks and minerals
Survey of India and Bhuvan Mapping department versus ISRO portal
Lambton and Everest Began the survey versus completed it

Memory Hook

Rennell started it in 1767, Lambton triangulated, Everest extended, Dehradun draws the map.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for year, HQ and the Great Trigonometrical Survey. These points help.

History GTS
Role National maps
Policy Geospatial

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the role of the Survey of India in national mapping and the significance of the National Geospatial Policy, 2022.”

How to Answer

History 1767.
Work Maps, geodesy.
Policy 2021 and 2022.
Use Planning.

GS Relevance

Prelims: year, founder, HQ, ministry, GTS, map policy. GS Paper 1: geography and mapping; GS Paper 3: geospatial technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Survey of India established?

The Survey of India was established in 1767 by the East India Company, when James Rennell was appointed the first Surveyor General of Bengal. It is considered the oldest scientific department of the Government of India. Its headquarters is at Dehradun, and it functions under the Department of Science and Technology.

What was the Great Trigonometrical Survey?

The Great Trigonometrical Survey was a major mapping project that began in 1802 under William Lambton at Madras and was continued by George Everest. It used triangulation to measure a long arc of the meridian from the southern tip of India to the Himalaya, and fixed the heights of Himalayan peaks.

Who calculated the height of Mount Everest?

The height of Peak XV, later called Mount Everest, was calculated in 1852 by Radhanath Sikdar, an Indian mathematician working at the Survey of India, and the peak was recognised as the highest in the world. A joint India and Nepal survey in 2020 announced the height as 8,848.86 metres.

What is the National Geospatial Policy, 2022?

The National Geospatial Policy, 2022 was notified by the Department of Science and Technology to develop the geospatial sector, by opening data, building a national digital elevation model and a geospatial platform, promoting start-ups and setting a vision for India to become a global geospatial leader by 2030.

What are the open series maps?

Open Series Maps are topographical maps of India produced by the Survey of India that are available to the public, in contrast to Defence Series Maps. They were introduced under the National Map Policy of 2005, and they are available for areas outside restricted zones, now also in digital form.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Survey of India has its headquarters at Dehradun.

True

Under DST.

2 The Great Trigonometrical Survey was begun by George Everest.

False

William Lambton began it in 1802.

3 James Rennell was the first Surveyor General of Bengal.