Migration Trends in India

A recent working paper by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), titled "400 Million Dreams!", sheds light on the evolving migration trends in India

Migration Trends in India

What’s in today’s article?

  • Why in News?
  • What are the Migration Trends in India Highlighted in the EAC-PM Report?
  • Major Migration Routes and District-Level Insights:
  • Methodology of the EAC-PM Report and its Limitations:
  • Conclusion

Why in News?

  • A recent working paper by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), titled “400 Million Dreams!”, sheds light on the evolving migration trends in India.
  • The similar exercise was undertaken in Economic Survey 2016-17, when Arvind Subramanian was Chief Economic Advisor, for calculating the migration trends.
  • Top states for migrant destinations:
    • West Bengal and Rajasthan emerged as new hotspots for migrant inflows, joining Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh in the top five states receiving the highest number of 2nd-class railway passengers.
    • States showing the highest growth in incoming migrants: West Bengal, Rajasthan, and Karnataka.
    • In contrast, states like Andhra Pradesh and Bihar saw a decline in rankings compared to 2012.
  • Decline in overall migration:
    • The report notes an 11.78% reduction in the overall number of migrants since the 2011 Census.
    • This decline is attributed to improved economic opportunities in smaller cities, reducing the need for long-distance migration.

Major Migration Routes and District-Level Insights:

  • Top state-to-state routes (2023):
    • Uttar Pradesh to Delhi
    • Gujarat to Maharashtra
    • Telangana to Andhra Pradesh
    • Bihar to Delhi
    • Bihar to West Bengal
  • Top destination districts for migrants:
    • Mumbai
    • Bengaluru urban
    • Howrah
    • Central Delhi
    • Hyderabad
  • Emerging origin districts (2023):
    • Villupuram (Tamil Nadu)
    • Saharsa (Bihar)
    • Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh)
    • Murshidabad (West Bengal)
  • Major intra-state movement: The Murshidabad-Kolkata route is the most traveled path for general class passengers, reflecting significant intra-state movement.
  • Migration to major urban centers:
    • Delhi: Major source districts include Agra, Patna, Kanpur Nagar, Jhansi, and Bareilly, with new entrants like Dausa (Rajasthan) and Ludhiana (Punjab).
    • Mumbai: Valsad, Surat, Nashik, Ratnagiri, and Varanasi remain key origin districts, with Sindhudurg as a notable addition.

Methodology of the EAC-PM Report and its Limitations:

  • Methodology:
    • The report analyses migration patterns using Indian Railways’ unreserved ticketing data, mobile roaming data, and banking remittance records.
    • The 2nd-class in Mail Express and Ordinary trains is the most affordable travel option predominantly used by blue-collar workers.
  • Limitations:
    • Lack of demographic details (age, gender, reasons for migration).
    • Data captures station-to-station travel rather than actual origin-destination routes.

Conclusion:

  • The EAC-PM report provides crucial insights into migration patterns in India, highlighting significant changes in destination preferences and reduced migration trends due to localised economic opportunities.
  • These findings are vital for policymakers addressing urban planning, infrastructure, and economic development.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjv-xS-Qz1w


Q.1. What is the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM)?

The EAC-PM is an independent body that advises the Government of India on economic issues. The EAC-PM provides neutral analysis and advice to the Prime Minister on economic issues such as inflation, industrial output, and microfinance.

Q.2. Why was there a reverse migration?

The phenomenon of reverse migration is often seen in regions experiencing economic change, where migrants return due to better job opportunities or improved living conditions back home.

SourceWest Bengal & Rajasthan new migrant destination hotspots; Uttar Pradesh tops

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