The National Statistics Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), will conduct a Survey on Migration across the country during July 2026 to June 2027, aimed at generating comprehensive and updated data on migration patterns in India.
According to a written reply shared by Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, the proposed survey will capture detailed information on the extent and nature of migration, including rural–urban and inter-state movement, reasons for migration, return and seasonal migration, and the employment profiles of migrants.
The Ministry said the data generated will help policymakers, planners, researchers and development practitioners design more targeted interventions in key areas such as urban planning, housing, transport infrastructure, employment generation, social security and skill development.
Migration surveys have been conducted by MoSPI at regular intervals. The most recent migration-related data were collected through the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2020-21 and the Multiple Indicator Survey 2020–21.
According to PLFS 2020-21, the overall migration rate in India stood at 28.9 per cent. The survey also revealed sharp gender differences in migration patterns. At the all-India level, the migration rate was estimated at 10.7 per cent among males and 47.9 per cent among females.
The reasons for migration varied significantly by sex. Among females, marriage was the predominant cause, accounting for about 86.8 per cent of all female migrants. In contrast, among males, migration for employment or better employment opportunities constituted the largest share at 22.8 per cent.
These trends highlight the gender-specific nature of migration in India, with women’s migration largely driven by social factors and men’s migration primarily influenced by labour market opportunities.
