Migration is the movement of people away from their usual place of residence, either within the country or across countries’ borders. Some states like Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat and Haryana attract migrants from other states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, etc.

This article will provide information about Human Migration in India in the context of the IAS Exam.

The candidates can read more relevant information from the links provided below:

Human Migration in India – An Overview

• Migration is one of the ways in which population change occurs in a location, state, or country.
• Census 2011 provides the latest information regarding migration in India.
• As per the Census data, India had 31.5 crore migrants in 2001 which constituted 31% of the population of India, but in 2011, 38% of the country’s population were migrants and the number of the migrant population stood at 45.6 crores.
• The number of migrants in India increased by 45% between 2001 and 2011, although the population increased by 18% in the same time period.
• In 2011, the number of international migrants i.e. immigrants constituted 1% of the total migration.
• In 2011, internal migration i.e. within the country constituted 99% of the total migration.

Human Migration in India – Types and Classification of Migration

Internal Migration and External Migration are the two types of migration. When migration takes place within a country, or within a state it is known as internal migration. When a person enters a new country, it is known as immigration. When a person leaves a country, it is known as emigration.

One type of migration can be classified as Inter-state migration and Intra-state migration.

• Almost 88% of all internal migration was intra-state migration, as per Census 2011. It numbered upto 39.6 crore persons.
• There were 5.4 crore inter-state migrants as per the 2011 census.
• As per the same census, the largest receiver states were Maharashtra and Delhi.
• As per census 2011, the largest sources of inter-state migration was Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
• By 2011, Maharashtra received around 60 lakh migrants from across India.
• Around 63 lakh residents of Bihar had moved either permanently or temporarily to other states.
• Around 83 lakh residents of Uttar Pradesh had moved either permanently or temporarily to other states.

Based on origin and destination, internal migration can be further classified into 4 different types of migration.

1. Urban-Urban
2. Urban-Rural
3. Rural-Rural,
4. Rural-Urban

As per the 2011 census, the Urban-Rural migrants comprised 3 crore migrants. Urban-Urban movement and Rural-Urban movement accounted for around 8 crore migrants each. 54% of classifiable internal migration came under the category of rural-rural migrants which numbered up to 21 crores.

Causes of Human Migration in India – Internal Migration

• Education, health care, for other basic infrastructure facilities, pressure on land due to high population, and poverty are some of the main reasons behind the migration of people in India.
• Migration is also caused by other factors like local conflicts, wars, natural disasters like tsunami, earthquakes, cyclones, floods, droughts.
• The most important pull factors which lead to the migration of people from rural areas to cities are relatively better incomes, better availability of regular work, and other better opportunities.
• Among 50% of the male and 5% of female inter-state migrants, the cause of migration was work.
• Marriage and family were the primary reasons behind intra-state migration. This was the cause recorded among 70% of the intra-state migrants, as per figures given in Census 2011.
• Only 2% of female migrants and 21% of male migrants (overall 8%) moved within a state in search of work.
• 39% of male migrants and 83% of female migrants had undertaken intra-state migration due to reasons such as family and marriage.

Consequences of Migration

The various consequences of migration are given below:

• Environmental consequences
• Social consequences
• Demographic consequences
• Economic consequences

Human Migration in India – Issues Faced by Migrant Labourers

Lack of affordable housing, transportation, access to nutritious food etc are some of the issues faced by migrant labourers.

Human Migration in India [UPSC Notes]:-Download PDF Here

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