Which one of the following is the oldest scientific department of the Government of India?

The Survey of India is the oldest scientific department of the Government of India. It was established in 1767, making it one of the oldest organized surveying and engineering institutions in the world [1]. It began its operations with the appointment of James Rennell as the first Surveyor General of Bengal to scientifically map the country. In comparison, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) was established much later in 1875 [3]. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was formed in 1958, and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) was established in 1986 (upgraded from a board). The Survey of India has a heritage of over 250 years, originally set up to consolidate the territories of the British East India Company through accurate geospatial information and topographical mapping [1].

Sources

1. [1] https://onlinemaps.surveyofindia.gov.in/AboutSOI.aspx
2. [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survey_of_India