The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will commence a nationwide migration survey in July 2026, aiming to assess the rates and reasons for various types of migration, including out-migration and short-term migration.
Villages in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will be excluded from the survey due to accessibility issues, according to a concept note from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). Feedback on this note is requested by November 30.
Such information will aid policymakers, planners, researchers, and development practitioners by facilitating targeted interventions in urban planning, housing, transportation, employment, social security, and skill development. It will also assist in evaluating the impact of migration on inclusive growth and regional development, thus enhancing India’s socio-economic policy framework. A migrant is defined as a household member whose last usual residence differs from their current location.
The upcoming survey aims to be the most comprehensive assessment of India’s internal mobility patterns in over a decade, following the first dedicated migration survey from February 1963 to January 1964 and the most recent one from July 2007 to June 2008.
MoSPI collected migration data in the Periodic Labour Force Survey from July 2020 to June 2021, indicating a 28.9% migration rate in India, with females exhibiting a significantly higher rate than males in both rural and urban areas. In rural regions, the female migration rate was 48%, while male migration was 5.9%. In urban areas, female migration stood at 47.8%, compared to 22.5% for males.
Migration reasons differ significantly by gender, as the 2020-21 survey shows that 67% of male migrants cited employment as their reason, while 87% of female migrants cited marriage. The upcoming survey will omit data on household migrations due to its low prevalence and will classify individuals who have been away from their usual residence for 15 days to six months for work or search purposes as short-term migrants.
The survey aims to gather data on how migration affects individuals, focusing on changes in income, improvements in health care, peace, stability, access to basic amenities, current challenges faced in their residence, and intentions regarding moving out.
