SURVEY ON MIGRATION IN THE COUNTRY

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SURVEY ON MIGRATION IN THE COUNTRY — UPSC Study Note

1. At a Glance

• A nationwide household survey proposed by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under MoSPI to be conducted during July 2026 – June 2027 to capture extent, patterns and reasons of migration [S1][S2].
• First dedicated, standalone NSS migration survey since the NSS 64th Round (2007–08); most recent migration data so far came piggybacked on PLFS 2020–21 and Multiple Indicator Survey (MIS) 2020–21 [S1][S3].
• Critical for tracking labour mobility, remittance flows, return/seasonal migration and informing welfare-portability schemes (e.g. One Nation One Ration Card, e-Shram) [S1].

2. Why in the News

• On 02 February 2026, MoSPI/PIB announced that NSO will conduct the Survey on Migration in July 2026 – June 2027 and uploaded the draft schedule for public consultation [S1].

3. Background & Evolution

• NSS 49th Round (1993) and NSS 55th Round (1999–2000) — early NSS rounds with migration particulars.
• NSS 64th Round (2007–08) — last comprehensive, dedicated NSS survey on Employment-Unemployment & Migration [S3].
• Census 2011 — last full Census enumeration of migrants by place of last residence (Census 2021 deferred).
• PLFS 2020–21 — migration module added; reported migration rate 10.7% (males) and 47.9% (females); marriage = 86.8% of female migration; employment = 22.8% of male migration [S4].
• Multiple Indicator Survey 2020–21 — supplementary migration indicators [S1].
• 2026–27 Survey — first standalone, full-fledged migration survey in nearly two decades [S3].

4. Core Static Facts

• Implementing body: National Statistics Office (NSO), under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) [S1].
• Reference period: July 2026 – June 2027 [S1].
• Framework: National Sample Survey (NSS) — household sample survey [S2].
• Geographic coverage: All States & UTs, except inaccessible villages of Andaman & Nicobar Islands [S2].
• Key indicators to be captured:
• Migration rate (overall, rural–urban, inter-state)
• Reasons for migration
• Return migration, seasonal/short-term migration
• Out-migration, net migration
• Employment profile of migrants; remittance flows [S1][S2].
• PLFS 2020–21 sample base for comparison: 1,00,344 households; 4,10,818 persons [S4].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic - Will quantify remittance flows, vital for source states (Bihar, UP, Odisha) and migrant-corridor planning [S1]. - Informs labour market policy, MGNREGA targeting and skilling (PMKVY) for circular migrants. - Captures employment-led male migration (22.8% per PLFS) vital for productivity estimates [S4].

Social - PLFS 2020–21 shows marriage drives 86.8% female migration — entrenched gender dimension [S4]. - Helps map welfare-portability (ONORC, e-Shram, PMJAY) for inter-state migrants. - Captures distress / COVID-19 return migration — a data gap since 2020 [S3].

Administrative / Governance - Plugs the statistical blind spot created by deferred Census 2021 and the dated NSS 64th round (2007–08) [S3]. - Draft schedule open to public consultation — participative statistical design [S2].

Legal / Constitutional - Article 19(1)(d) & (e) — freedom of movement and residence underpins inter-state migration. - Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979 subsumed into Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 — migration data essential for enforcement.

6. Recent Developments

• 02 Feb 2026 — PIB release: NSO proposes Survey on Migration, July 2026 – June 2027; draft schedule uploaded for stakeholder feedback [S1].
• 2022 — PLFS 2020–21 migration module released, first post-pandemic migration estimates [S4].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Survey on Migration to be conducted by NSO under MoSPI [S1].
• Reference period: July 2026 – June 2027 [S1].
• Last comprehensive NSS migration survey was the 64th Round (2007–08) [S3].
• Most recent migration data so far: PLFS 2020–21 and Multiple Indicator Survey 2020–21 [S1].
• PLFS 2020–21 migration rate: 10.7% males, 47.9% females [S4].
• Dominant reason for female migration (PLFS 2020–21): marriage (86.8%) [S4].
• Dominant reason for male migration: employment (22.8%) [S4].
• Coverage: all India except inaccessible villages of A&N Islands [S2].
• Conducted under NSS framework, household-based [S2].
• PLFS 2020–21 sample: 1,00,344 households / 4,10,818 persons [S4].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-I: Population & associated issues; urbanization.
• GS-II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections (migrant workers); governance/statistics.
• GS-III: Employment, inclusive growth; informal sector.
• Question stems: 1. "Reliable migration data is a prerequisite for portable welfare delivery in India." Discuss in the light of the upcoming NSO Survey on Migration (2026–27). 2. Examine how PLFS 2020–21 findings on gendered migration patterns should shape India's labour and social-protection policy. 3. The COVID-19 reverse migration exposed data and governance gaps. How can the proposed Survey on Migration address them?

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• PLFS — annual labour & migration data source.
• Census of India 2011 / deferred 2021 — alternative migration enumeration.
• One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) — portability built on migration data.
• e-Shram portal — unorganised worker registration.
• Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979 → OSH Code, 2020 — legal regime.
• Working Group on Migration (MoHUA, 2017) — policy precursor.
• NSS rounds & MoSPI architecture — statistical system reforms.
• Article 19(1)(d)/(e) — constitutional basis of internal mobility.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• The survey is by NSO/MoSPI, not Ministry of Labour & Employment or MoHUA.
• It is a sample survey under NSS framework, not a Census.
• Last dedicated NSS migration survey was 2007–08 (64th Round), not 2011 (which was Census).
• PLFS migration module ≠ standalone migration survey; do not equate them.
• Female migration is driven primarily by marriage, not employment — gendered nature often confused.

11. Sources

• [S1] Survey on Migration in the Country — PIB, MoSPI, 02 Feb 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2222097 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] Survey on Migration — PIB — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2189648 — (tier: 1)
• [S3] Migration in India, 2020–2021 — PIB — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1833854 — (tier: 1)
• [S4] PLFS Annual Report (July 2020 – June 2021) — PIB/MoSPI — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1833855 — (tier: 1)