Govt to launch nationwide migration survey from July 2026

Migration survey to be launched

The government will begin a year-long nationwide migration survey in July 2026, marking the most comprehensive attempt in over a decade to map internal mobility, short-term migration and out-migration patterns across the country. The exercise will run from July 2026 to June 2027, according to a concept note released on November 13.

The survey aims to generate detailed estimates on migration rates, out-migration, short-term movements, reasons for migration and net migration.

This will be the first stand-alone, full-year migration survey since 2007-08. While the Periodic Labour Force Survey captured limited migration particulars in 2020-21, the upcoming survey expands the scope significantly including both long-term migrants and workers who undertake short-term mobility.

The government has also updated several definitions. Short-term migrants will now include individuals who stayed away from their usual residence for 15 days or more but less than six months.

The schedule will separately track out-migrants, members who have left the household in the past, and collect details on their employment, remittances and reasons for moving.

Unlike earlier NSS surveys, the new exercise will not count “household migration”, given low instances of entire households migrating out.

The results are expected to be released after the completion of fieldwork in mid-2027.

Last migration trends for India are available from Census 2011. The migration survey will also present a picture of which states and districts witness highest migration.