@ "A migrant as any person who is moving or has moved across an international border or within a state away from his or her habitual place of residence" - International Org for Migration

Factors:

Push - Out migration
Pull - In migration

Census, 2011:

$ Over 45 crores ie. 37% of the country's population are migrants - both inter state and within state.

Economic Survey, 2016 -2017:

High net out migration in less developed states - UP, Bihar
High net in migration in more developed states - Goa, Delhi, Mah, Guj, TN, KL
Delhi accounted for more than half of in migrants
UP and Bihar accounted for more than half of out migrants

Migration in India Report, 2020 - 21:

Female migrantion is more than male migration
- Reason: marriage
Reason for male migration - employment

World Economic Forum:

Small cities are rapidly growing but struggling to cope up with infrastructure

World Migration Report, 2024

India - largest population of international migrants - destinations - UAE, US, Saudi Arabia - 18mn
India - foremost recipient of remittances - surpassing USD 111bn. Global remittances in 2024

Determinants of both in and out migration:

Demographic
Social infrastructure
Economic
Political
Ecological
Cultural

Circular migration in India:

rural to urban due to industrialisation and employment
particularly inter state, like within West bengal, Odisha, Bihar experiences out migration

Migration to smaller cities in IT or ITeS sector due to:

hybrid work model started in pandemic - wfh
cost savings for companies
rich talent pool
high retention rates of employees
availability of office space and amenities
office pooling
rise of co working space in smaller cities
counter magnet dynamics - Surat and Pune developed counter to Mumbai

Challenges in Migration:

Inadequate social security
Limited benefit portability of govt schemes
struggle in housing and basic amenities
exploitation and harassment
discrimination
- attacks on UP and Bihar migrants in Mah in 2008
- outdated video circulation by Bihar man in social media, threatening the survial of migrants in TN, 2022
Dearth of data on migration particularly about female migration

Government initiatives:

Draft National Migrant Labour Policy by NITI AAYOG
One Nation One Ration card (ONORC)
PM Garib Kalyan Yojana - affordable housing
e-Shram portal
Code on Social Security, 2020

Global actions:

New york declaration for refugees and migrants
Global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration
International Migrants Day, Dec 8th

November 2025

National Migration Survey

Last survey in 2007 - 08

! Migration surveys have been conducted by the NSS since the 9th round (1955) The last dedicated comprehensive survey on migration was the 64th round survey on Employment & Unemployment and Migration Particulars (Schedule 10.2) conducted during July 2007 to June 2008.

Migration rate in urban areas - 35% and rural areas 26%.

Multiple Indicator survey in 2020 - 2021

Migration-related information was captured through Multiple Indicator Survey (MIS) conducted from January 2020 to August 2021.

Migration rate in urban areas - 34.6% and rural areas - 26.8%

Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2020-21

Next NSS 65th round in 2026 - 2027

The survey is planned to be conducted between July next year to June 2027.

By

The NSO under MoSPI, said the results of the pan-India survey will highlight the districts and states with highest migration. It will also provide details of migration out of the country.

Objectives

The objectives of the proposed exercise is to generate estimates broadly on migration rate, rate of out migration, short term migration rate, reason for migration and net migration.

Coverage

It will cover whole of the country except some parts of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Changes

Some changes have been made from the last dedicate comprehensive survey (NSS 64th round) and one of them is additional questions.

Problems faced in present place of residence

One set of questions is proposed to be asked for the age group of 15 years and above. Respondents will be asked about the type of problem being faced at the present place of residence.

Five types of problems including, social, economic , political, cultural and others.

Results of migration

Whether migration resulted in improvement with respect to housing, education, health care, peace and stability and access to basic amenities and savings.

Want to move out?

Whether the respondents want to move out from the present place by going back to the last usual place of residence or any other place.

Permanent category under nature of movement

Added 'permanent' as a new category under nature of movement, apart from the already existing 2 temporary stays (between 6 to 12 months and more than 12 months.)

Household migration deleted

NSS 64th round - nearly 1% in rural areas and 3% in urban areas.

Households where all members had moved to the place of enumeration during the last 365 days were considered as migrant households.

The new round, will not collect data related to household migration, due to very low number.

Change in reference period

Reference period for short-term migration from “one month or more but less than six months” to “15 days or more but less than six months”. Business line Financial Express