• India has a large internal migrant population; according to Census 2011, there were about 309 million internal migrants, constituting nearly 30% of the population, with updated surveys indicating around 45 crore (450 million) migrants recently.?
• Internal migration in India far exceeds international migration, with almost 99% of total migration being internal movement across or within states.?

• Rural to rural migration, which is the predominant stream,
• Rural to urban migration driven by employment and better opportunities,
• Urban to urban migration due to job transfers or lifestyle reasons,
• Urban to rural migration, often by retirees or return migrants.??

• The largest source states of migrants include Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, while key destination states are Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, and Karnataka.?
• Reasons for migration differ by gender: marriage accounts for the majority of female migration (around 66-70%) while employment is the main driver for male migrants (around 24%).?
• Migrants are largely employed in sectors like construction, domestic work, textiles, brick kilns, transportation, mining, and agriculture, reflecting the informal labor market.?
• Migration is influenced by factors such as urbanization, rural-urban wage gaps, political disturbances, inter-ethnic conflicts, and forced displacement due to wars or instability.?
• Short-term and seasonal migration is significant, with many migrants moving temporarily for work or other reasons, rather than permanent relocation.?
• Migration flows show regional disparities, with states like Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Punjab, and Maharashtra having high shares of migrants, while northeastern states like Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh have low shares.?
• Migration is constitutionally protected under Article 19, which grants citizens the right to move freely and settle anywhere in India.?
• These points provide an overview of the scale, patterns, reasons, and impacts of migration within India in recent years. If you want, further detailed analysis can be provided on any specific aspect.

• The survey will cover almost all states and union territories, except the Andaman and Nicobar Islands due to logistical constraints.?
• It will focus on both rural-to-urban and inter-state migration, including short-term, long-term, and return migration.?
• The survey will collect data on reasons for migration (employment, marriage, education, displacement, climate stress, economic distress), employment and income profiles, changes in access to healthcare and education, housing, and remittance patterns.?
• It introduces updated definitions: a short-term migrant is now defined as someone who stayed away from their usual residence for 15 days to less than six months for employment or job search, a refinement from previous standards.?
• The survey will track individual migration rather than household migration, as most migration in India is individual-based.?
• Data collection will use digital handheld devices for real-time, accurate entry and GPS-enabled validation.?

• The findings will support evidence-based policymaking in urban development, employment generation, social protection, and regional development.?
• The survey will help assess the impact of migration on household welfare, community development, and the broader economy, including remittance flows and rural resilience.?
• It will also examine challenges faced by migrants, such as informal employment, lack of social security, and urban congestion.?

• The survey will use a stratified sampling approach, focusing on out-migrants and remittance receipt to better understand labor mobility and its social outcomes.?
• The draft schedule is open for public feedback, ensuring transparency and inclusivity in the survey design.?

• Coverage of almost all states and union territories (except Andaman and Nicobar Islands).
• Focus on individual migration (not household migration) due to historically low instances of entire households migrating.
• Updated definitions, such as classifying short-term migrants as those who stay away from their usual residence between 15 days and six months (previously one month to six months).
• Collection of data on reasons for migration (employment, marriage, education, better living conditions), duration of stay, return migration, employment and income profiles, and remittances.
• Inclusion of questions on the broader impacts of migration on individuals’ lives like changes in income, healthcare access, social stability, housing experiences, and local integration.
• Examination of challenges faced by migrants at their destination and intentions regarding future relocation.
• Intended to support evidence-based policymaking in urban development, employment generation, social protection, and regional development.
• Will highlight migration hot spots by states and districts, and also cover out-migration and short-term movements.
• This will be the first standalone full-year migration survey since 2007-08 and will fill critical data gaps especially post-pandemic.

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