Data Overhaul: MoSPI Launches Migration Survey to Track Labor Mobility and Socio-Economic Impact
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Institutions: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) | National Statistics Office (NSO) | NITI Aayog
The National Statistics Office (NSO), under MoSPI, proposes to conduct a comprehensive, nationwide Survey on Migration spanning July 2026 to June 2027, aimed at generating reliable national estimates on the extent and patterns of labor mobility. The survey introduces significant methodological refinements to capture labor dynamics and social outcomes:
Refined Labor Mobility: The definition of a short-term migrant is refined from the previous 1-month threshold to 15 days or more but less than 6 months for employment-related movements, aiming to capture a larger share of seasonal and circular labor. Conversely, the survey excludes data collection on entire household migration due to its historically low incidence (e.g., less than 3% in urban areas in NSS 64th round).
Stratification by Remittance: Sampling uses a unique Second Stage Stratification (SSS) that divides households into five distinct groups based on out-migrants and remittance receipt. The threshold for remittances (’Rs A’) is uniquely determined by the average consumption expenditure from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023-24 (HCES 2023-24) survey to measure a financially significant impact on household living standards.
Comprehensive Social Impact: The questionnaire is expanded to assess the impact of migration on core social outcomes, introducing new questions to track changes in income, housing, education, health care, peace and stability, access to amenities, and savings.
The comprehensive data generated on labor mobility and its holistic impact on social capital (housing, health, peace) makes the survey instrumental for policymakers designing targeted interventions in areas such as urban planning, social security, and skill development. By adopting the 15-day threshold for short-term migrants, the NSO is acknowledging the scale of informal labor, providing evidence critical for strengthening India’s socio-economic policy framework.
What is the objective of stratifying households by the value of remittances (’Rs A’)? → The rationale for stratifying households based on remittances (i.e., SSS1 vs. SSS2) is to create distinct sampling groups that allow policymakers to analyze the differential impact of income flows on consumption patterns and living standards. By linking the threshold to state- and sector-specific consumption expenditure levels, the survey can distinguish the economic effects of financially significant remittance flows, enabling better targeting for social security and financial inclusion policies.
Follow the full news here: Survey on Migration