Migration Trends

38%

Step 1: Refer to Census 2011 migration data. Step 2: Census 2011 recorded 453.6 million migrants in total. Step 3: This figure represents approximately 38% of all Indians — meaning more than one-third of India's population had migrated at some point. Step 4: This was an increase from 31% recorded in Census 2001, showing that migration in India is increasing. Step 5: 50% is too high and 20% is too low — 38% is the correct figure from the 2011 Census.

Rural to Rural

Step 1: Recall the four streams of internal migration in India. Step 2: According to Census 2011 data, Rural to Rural migration accounts for 50% of all migration — the highest. Step 3: This is mainly because of marriage migration, where women move from their parents' village to their husband's village. Step 4: Rural to Urban accounts for 18%, Urban to Urban for 17%, and Urban to Rural for only 5%. Step 5: So Rural to Rural dominates all migration streams in India, largely due to female marriage migration.

Migration of skilled and educated professionals from poor to developed countries

Step 1: Break down the term — 'brain' refers to skilled/educated people, 'drain' means a loss from one place. Step 2: Brain drain is the migration of highly skilled professionals like doctors, engineers, scientists, and software experts from developing countries to developed countries. Step 3: For example, many Indian doctors and engineers migrate to the USA, UK, and Canada in search of better opportunities. Step 4: This is a serious problem for India as the source country loses its best human resources. Step 5: The other options describe different types of migration — unskilled migration, dis

Western Asia

Step 1: Refer to Table 8.1 showing region-wise Indians living abroad in 2017. Step 2: Western Asia (Gulf countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, etc.) has the highest number — 86.4 lakh Indians. Step 3: This is because the oil boom of the 1970s attracted a large number of skilled and semi-skilled Indian workers to the Gulf region, and this trend has continued. Step 4: South-eastern Asia comes second with 60.8 lakh, and Northern America (USA + Canada) comes third with 54.8 lakh. Step 5: Sub-Saharan Africa has 31 lakh Indians — much lower than Western Asia.