National Migration Survey in 2026 to Map Internal Mobility

Migration Survey Latest News

• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has announced a year-long National Migration Survey to be conducted from July 2026 to June 2027.

Migration in India

• Migration in India refers to the movement of people from one place to another within the country for reasons such as employment, marriage, education, or better living conditions.
• As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2020-21, 28.9% of India’s population were migrants.
• Female migration (48%) is far higher than male migration (5.9%) in rural areas, mainly due to marriage, while most male migration is employment-driven (67%).
• Major migration flows are rural-to-urban (for jobs and education) and inter-state, especially from states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha to industrial hubs such as Delhi, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
• Migration contributes to urbanisation, labour market flexibility, and remittance flows, but also poses challenges like informal employment, housing shortages, and social security gaps.

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About the National Migration Survey 2026

• The survey will be conducted under the aegis of the National Sample Survey (NSS), which has been India’s principal source of household-level socio-economic data since 1950. 
• It will cover almost all states and union territories, except the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, due to logistical constraints.
• The objective of the survey is to generate reliable and up-to-date estimates of:
  • Migration rates and trends (rural-to-urban, inter-state, and intra-state)
  • Short-term and seasonal migration patterns
  • Reasons for migration (economic, social, educational, or marital)
  • Employment and income profiles of migrants
  • Return migration and its socio-economic effects
  • Impact of migration on household welfare and community development
• MoSPI has already released a draft questionnaire and concept note on its website and invited public feedback and expert comments by November 30, 2025.

Evolution of Migration Surveys in India

• India has a long history of tracking internal migration through the NSS system. 
• Migration data was first collected in the 9th NSS round (1955), followed by dedicated surveys such as the 18th round (1963-64) and the 64th round (2007-08).
• Since 2008, migration data has only been gathered intermittently through:
  • The PLFS 2020-21 estimated India’s migration rate at 28.9% of the total population.
  • The Multiple Indicator Survey (2020-21) offered limited insights into internal mobility.
• However, experts have noted that India lacks a continuous and updated dataset on migration, especially post-pandemic, when labour displacement and reverse migration became major socio-economic concerns. The new survey seeks to bridge this gap.

Key Features of the 2026 Migration Survey

• Revised Definitions and Improved Coverage
  • The upcoming survey introduces updated definitions to capture modern migration trends more accurately. 
  • A person will now be classified as a short-term migrant if they have stayed away from their usual residence for 15 days to six months within the last year for employment or job search, a shift from the previous threshold of one to six months.
  • The survey will also focus on individual migration patterns rather than entire households, as the proportion of households migrating together has historically been low.
• Comprehensive Scope of Data
  • The questionnaire includes new questions designed to assess the broader impact of migration on the individual’s quality of life, such as:
  • Changes in income, healthcare access, and social stability post-migration.
  • Experiences with housing, employment, and local integration.
  • Challenges faced at the destination and the intent to relocate again.
• Integration with Policy Planning
  • MoSPI has emphasised that the data will support evidence-based policymaking in critical sectors:
  • Urban Development: Informing city-level housing, transport, and infrastructure planning.
  • Employment Generation: Identifying labour shortages and skill gaps across regions.
  • Social Protection: Enhancing portability of welfare benefits for migrant workers.
  • Regional Development: Assessing how migration affects remittance flows and rural economies.

Significance of the Migration Survey

• Migration is a vital dimension of India’s economic and social landscape. Internal migration contributes to:
  • Urbanisation and industrial growth by supplying labour to construction, manufacturing, and services.
  • Rural resilience through remittances that support education, healthcare, and household consumption.
• However, migration also poses challenges such as informal employment, lack of social security, and urban congestion. Comprehensive data is essential to address these issues effectively.
• The upcoming survey will fill a critical data gap since the last dedicated migration study conducted in 2007-08, helping policymakers design more targeted interventions in urban planning, labour mobility, housing, and social security.

Source: IE | ET