The National Statistics Office will conduct a nationwide Survey on Migration from July 2026 to June 2027. The exercise will generate updated and comprehensive data on migration patterns in India. It will examine rural-urban movement, inter-state migration, reasons for migration, return migration, seasonal migration and the employment profile of migrants. The findings are expected to support policy planning in urban development, housing, transport, jobs, social security and skill development.
Purpose Of The Survey
The survey is designed to capture the extent and nature of migration across the country. It will help assess how people move for work, marriage, education and other reasons. It will also provide evidence for designing targeted welfare and infrastructure interventions.
Key Data Areas
- Rural to urban migration trends.
- Inter-state and intra-state movement.
- Return migration and seasonal migration.
- Employment status and occupations of migrants.
- Reasons for migration across gender groups.
Recent Migration Estimates
The latest migration-related data were collected through the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2020-21 and the Multiple Indicator Survey 2020-21. The PLFS 2020-21 estimated India’s overall migration rate at 28.9 per cent. The migration rate was 10.7 per cent among males and 47.9 per cent among females. Among women, marriage accounted for about 86.8 per cent of migration. Among men, migration for employment or better employment opportunities formed the largest share at 22.8 per cent.
Policy Significance
Migration data are important for understanding labour mobility, urban pressure and social protection needs. They also help in planning affordable housing, transport systems, public services and skill programmes. Gender-specific migration patterns are especially relevant for labour market policy and welfare design.
Last Modified: April 27, 2026