Country policy and information note: internal relocation, India, September 2025 (accessible)

Question 1

Executive summary

Accepted Answer

India is listed as a designated state under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. This means that ‘there is, in general in that state or part of it no serious risk of persecution of persons entitled to reside in that state or part of it.’ Where a claim is refused, it is likely to be certifiable as ‘clearly unfounded’ under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

In general, a person fearing non-state actors is likely to be able to internally relocate to another area of India, such as but not limited to Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.

India’s population is approximately 1.4 billion, with the most populous cities being New Delhi and Mumbai. The law provides for freedom of movement and grants citizens the right to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India, which is generally respected. Some restrictions are in place in some parts of the country due to insurgent violence or communal tensions.

In 2023 there were an estimated 400 million people who had relocated within India. People relocate for various reasons, often for employment and commonly chosen areas include Mumbai, Bengaluru Urban, Howrah, Central Delhi and Hyderabad although relocation to other areas still occurs.

The constitution guarantees all citizens the right to education and equality in public employment and each Indian state is required to provide free universal access to health services. Public healthcare services can be underfunded, meaning those who have the means to pay often use private providers. Social support exists at national and state levels and welfare payments are available through the Aadhaar card, held by most Indians. NGOs exist at national, regional state and local levels to support the general population and vulnerable groups by filling gaps in the government’s welfare systems, in health care and education. Social housing programmes exist, including one scheme which has provided over 9.4 million homes across India.

All cases must be considered on their individual facts, with the onus on the person to demonstrate they face persecution or serious harm.

This CPIN does not specifically cover the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Question 2

Assessment

Accepted Answer

Section updated: 29 September 2025

Question 3

About the assessment

Accepted Answer

This section considers the evidence relevant to this note – that is the country information, refugee/human rights laws and policies, and applicable caselaw – and provides an assessment of whether, in general:

internal relocation is possible to avoid persecution/serious harm
a claim, if refused, is likely or not to be certified as ‘clearly unfounded’ under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

Decision makers must, however, consider all claims on an individual basis, taking into account each case’s specific facts.

Question 4

1.                  Material facts, credibility and other checks/referrals

Accepted Answer

1.1 Credibility

1.1.1 For information on assessing credibility, see the instruction on Assessing Credibility and Refugee Status.

1.1.2 Decision makers must also check if there has been a previous application for a UK visa or another form of leave. Asylum applications matched to visas should be investigated prior to the asylum interview (see the Asylum Instruction on Visa Matches, Asylum Claims from UK Visa Applicants).

1.1.3 Decision makers must also consider making an international biometric data-sharing check, when one has not already been undertaken (see Biometric data-sharing process (Migration 5 biometric data-sharing process)).

1.1.4 In cases where there are doubts surrounding a person’s claimed place of origin, decision makers should also consider language analysis testing, where available (see the Asylum Instruction on Language Analysis).

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1.2 Exclusion

1.2.1 Decision makers must consider whether there are serious reasons to apply one (or more) of the exclusion clauses. Each case must be considered on its individual facts.

1.2.2 If the person is excluded from the Refugee Convention, they will also be excluded from a grant of humanitarian protection (which has a wider range of exclusions than refugee status).

1.2.3 For guidance on exclusion and restricted leave, see the Asylum Instruction on Exclusion under Articles 1F and 33(2) of the Refugee Convention, Humanitarian Protection and the instruction on Restricted Leave.

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Question 5

2.                  Internal relocation

Accepted Answer

2.1.1 Where the person has a well-founded fear of persecution or serious harm from a non-state or rogue state actor, they are likely to be able to internally relocate to escape that risk.

2.1.2 This is because in general, there are parts of India, such as larger urban areas including (but not limited to) Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata where it will be reasonable to expect a person to go.

2.1.3 India is a diverse, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual society with a population of approximately 1.4 billion. The country comprises 28 states and 8 union territories (UTs). There are multiple urban centres with populations of over 1 million and many major cities with populations of over 5 million (for more information on geography and demography see the Country Information Note: India- available on request)

2.1.4 The law provides for freedom of movement and grants citizens the right to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India, which is generally respected. Some restrictions such as temporary curfews and transport suspensions are in place in some parts of the country such as Manipur and other north-eastern states due to insurgent violence or communal tensions. There is a vast transport network, and internal migration flows are substantial, with an estimated 400 to 600 million internal migrants in 2002 and 2023. People relocate for various reasons, often for employment and choose Mumbai, Bengaluru Urban, Howrah, Central Delhi and Hyderabad for, although relocation to other areas still occurs (see Freedom of movement, and Country Information Note: India – available on request).

2.1.5 The constitution guarantees all citizens the right to education and equality in public employment and each Indian state is required to provide free universal access to health services. Public healthcare services can be underfunded, meaning those who have the means to pay often use private providers. Social support exists at national and state levels and welfare payments are available through the Aadhaar card, held by most Indians. There are reports of migrants moving between states facing barriers to accessing welfare such as lack of awareness, language barriers, and bureaucratic issues. NGOs exist at national, regional state and local levels to support the general population and vulnerable groups by filling gaps in the government’s welfare systems, in health care and education (see Socio-economic situation, Non-Governmental Organisation support (NGOs), Country Information Note: India (available on request) and India: Medical and healthcare provision).

2.1.6 The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has extended the PMAY-U scheme to provide homes to low-income groups until December 2025 in urban areas and to date has built 9.43 million houses of which 9.14 million are occupied. Social housing programmes in large cities can struggle to meet high demand and the cost of housing in large cities can be too high for internal migrants. According to a report from December 2024, there is an estimated shortage of over 10 million affordable housing units, which is expected to rise to over 30 million by 2030 (see Property and housing).

2.1.7 India is prone to natural disasters including cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, floods and droughts. In 2024, there were 5.4 million displacements due to natural disasters, particularly affecting the state of Assam in the north-east. The state and NGOs such as UNICEF provide humanitarian support following these natural disasters and the state enacted pre-emptive evacuations during adverse weather events. There are reports of the government lacking adequate disaster preparedness policies and long-term disaster recovery programmes. Natural disasters often cannot be foreseen, therefore areas affected are not an unreasonable option for internal relocation (Humanitarian situation).

2.1.8 For information on education, employment, the economy, transportation and healthcare see Country Information Note: India (available on request) and Country Policy and Information Note India: Medical and healthcare provision

2.1.9 For further information on internal relocation for minority groups, including religious minorities, LGBTI persons, and women, see the Country Policy Information Notes on India: Religious minorities and scheduled castes and tribes, India: Sexual orientation and gender identity and expression and India: Women fearing gender-based violence

2.1.10 For further guidance on internal relocation and factors to consider, see the Asylum Instruction on Assessing Credibility and Refugee Status.

Question 6

3.                  Certification

Accepted Answer

3.1.1 Where a claim is refused, it must be considered for certification under section 94(3) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 as India is listed as a designated state. Such a claim must be certified under section 94(3) if you are satisfied it is clearly unfounded.

3.1.2 Where a claim is refused, it is likely to be certifiable as ‘clearly unfounded’ under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

3.1.3 For further guidance on certification, see Certification of Protection and Human Rights claims under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (clearly unfounded claims).

Question 7

Country information

Accepted Answer

About the country information

This section contains publicly available or disclosable country of origin information (COI) which has been gathered, collated and analysed in line with the research methodology. It provides the evidence base for the assessment which, as stated in the About the assessment, is the guide to the current objective conditions.

The structure and content follow a terms of reference which sets out the general and specific topics relevant to the scope of this note.

This document is intended to be comprehensive but not exhaustive. If a particular event, person or organisation is not mentioned this does not mean that the event did or did not take place or that the person or organisation does or does not exist.

The COI included was published or made publicly available on or before 29 September 2025. Any event taking place or report published after this date will not be included.

Decision makers must use relevant COI as the evidential basis for decisions.

Question 8

4.                  Freedom of movement

Accepted Answer

4.1 Legal rights

4.1.1 The Constitution of India grants freedom of movement under Article 19:

(1) ‘All citizens shall have the right—

‘…(d) to move freely throughout the territory of India.

‘(e) to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India.’^{[footnote 1]}

4.1.2 Freedom House’s annual report (FH report 2024) published on 26 February 2025, covering events in 2024, produced by in-house and external analysts who used a range of sources from news articles to on-the-ground research to inform the report^{[footnote 2]}, India country profile stated: ‘The constitution grants citizens the right to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India …’ ^{[footnote 3]}

4.1.3 The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade country information report on India, published 29 September 2023 (DFAT 2023 report), based on ‘… DFAT’s on-the-ground knowledge and discussions with a range of sources in India. It takes into account information from government and non-government sources …’^{[footnote 4]}, stated: ‘There are no legal barriers to internal relocation and India has a long history of internal migration …’^{[footnote 5]}

4.1.4 The United States Department of State annual report on human rights in India, published 22 April 2024 and covering events in 2023 (USSD 2023 report), outlined:

‘The law provided for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation. The government generally respected these rights, although civil society organizations reported there were instances where the government prohibited these rights.

‘… The government could legally deny a passport to any applicant for engaging in activities outside the country “prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.”’^{[footnote 6]} The USSD 2023 report did not provide any further detail or examples on civil society organisation reports on instances where the government prohibited these rights. The most up-to-date USSD human rights report on India in 2024, published 12 August 2025 did not include general information on internal movement^{[footnote 7]}. However, the 2024 report is notably shorter than in previous years and provides less coverage of certain topics. This reduction in reporting should not be interpreted as indicating a decline in the availability of freedom of movement.

4.2 Restrictions

4.2.1 In the sources consulted there was limited information on the restriction of freedom of movement (see Bibliography).

4.2.2 In regard to the ability to move freely and reside in any part of India, the Government of India can impose reasonable restrictions on freedom of movement for public interest or protection reasons as per article 19(5) of the Constitution of India which states: ‘Nothing… shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of any of the rights… in the interests of the general public or for the protection of the interests of any Scheduled Tribe.’^{[footnote 8]}

4.2.3 In regard to permits for internal movement, the USSD 2023 report noted: ‘…The Ministry of Home Affairs and state governments required citizens to obtain special permits when traveling to certain states. Inner Line Permits were required in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur.’^{[footnote 9]}

4.3 Internal movement

4.3.1 World Bank noted in an article titled ‘Internal Migration in India Grows, But Inter-State Movements Remain Low,’ published in December 2019 that:

‘In India, as in most countries, there are generally no restrictions on internal movement. The number of internal migrants in India was 450 million as per the most recent 2011 census. This is an increase of 45% over the 309 million recorded in 2001. This far exceeds the population growth rate of 18% across 2001-2011. Internal migrants as percentage of population increased from 30% in 2001 to 37% in 2011.’^{[footnote 10]} At the time of writing, the 2011 Indian census was the most up-to-date census conducted.

4.3.2 The DFAT 2023 report stated: ‘… In practice, relocation is mostly intra-state rather than interstate. This probably reflects the way in which languages and cultures tend to be divided in India along state-lines; people in the same state will speak the same language as the internal migrant. However, in the northern (not north-eastern) states generally all people speak Hindi, giving greater scope for internal migration.’^{[footnote 11]}

4.3.3 In regard to limitations on internal movement, the same report noted: ‘According to the World Bank, factors that may limit interstate relocation include non-portability of welfare entitlements (some social welfare programs are only available within a state or require an established residence), preferential treatment of former students from local educational institutions, and domicile requirements for state government jobs …’ ^{[footnote 12]} The DFAT 2023 report did not cite the World Bank source, however the information is likely from a 2017 World Bank policy paper.

4.3.4 In regard to internal migrants, on 18 April 2023, Reuters^{[footnote 13]} article reported:

‘This internal migration is bound to intensify as India becomes the world’s most populous nation, throwing up enormous challenges for the government - managing the strains on urban infrastructure as well as creating 8 million to 10 million jobs every year to absorb its army of young unemployed …

‘Nearly two-thirds of India’s people are under 35 and many of those in the countryside flock to the cities to take whatever job they can - becoming labourers, drivers or helpers in shops and homes. Many are from Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring Bihar state, where populations are rising faster than elsewhere in the country.

‘”Migrants are always concentrated in more precarious work. Better jobs are not available to migrants and they have very little political power to negotiate wages,” said Mukta Naik, an expert on migration at New Delhi’s Centre for Policy Research.

‘”There are not enough jobs, and they are not good enough to attract people for the long term, not good enough wages to invest in housing, to get their children to the cities to study.”’^{[footnote 14]}

4.3.5 The FH report 2024 noted: ‘…freedom of movement is hampered in some areas by insurgent violence or communal tensions …’^{[footnote 15]} The FH 2024 report did not provide further information on how freedom of movement is limited in these areas or outline explicitly which areas are affected by this.

4.3.6 The same source noted ‘The Maoist insurgency in the east-central hills region of India continues… Tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced by the violence and live in government-run camps …Separately, in India’s seven northeastern states, more than 40 insurgent factions—seeking either greater autonomy or complete independence for their ethnic or tribal groups—continue to attack security forces and engage in intertribal violence.’^{[footnote 16]}

4.3.7 In regard to areas affected by violence, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice, aimed at UK citizens, last updated on 27 August stated:

‘FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Manipur. Some insurgent groups are active in north-east India in the state of Manipur.

‘In 2023 violent ethnic clashes broke out across Manipur, including in the state capital, Imphal. Intermittent incidents of violence have continued, including between May and July 2025. There may be curfews and other restrictions including transport disruptions and the suspension of internet services at short notice in some parts of the state …

‘Sudden flareups and skirmishes may happen along inter-state borders in north-east India and there could be incidents of violence in some of the north-eastern states …

‘There have been:

violent clashes along the disputed border between Assam and Mizoram and Assam-Meghalaya that led to deaths
reports of violent communal and political clashes in Tripura.’^{[footnote 17]}

4.3.8 On 11 July 2024, Human Rights Research Center, a US-based non-governmental organisation^{[footnote 18]}, article stated: ‘As of 2024, India became the most populated nation in the world, with 1 in 7 humans on the planet identifying themselves as an Indian. Among these individuals, an estimated 600 million Indians are internal migrants. These migrants move across the country in search of employment, resources, and opportunities …’^{[footnote 19]}. The sources the HRRC article references are journal and news articles between 2015 and 2022. The article does not outline the sources for the figures on internal migration.

4.3.9 The same article noted:

‘… Many of these workers are migrants within their own districts, accounting for more than 60% of the total migrant population, while inter-state migrants make up only 12%, which is lower compared to other developing countries such as Brazil or China. Many of these migrants are also seasonal or temporary workers, moving within their district based on trends in seasonal employment, most often in the agricultural and construction sectors. Many of these migrants hail largely, from the marginalised sections of Indian society…

‘…[Migrants] also face a lack of housing rights, political representation, education for children, and workers’ rights. As a result, they are exposed to dangerous working conditions with no recourse to justice.

‘The precarious situation of migrants leads to their denial of basic housing, exposure to abuse and occupational exploitation, and being forced to perform hazardous and/or insecure work. Children and women are particularly vulnerable to trafficking and sexual exploitation. Children of migrants also face significant disruptions to their schooling and regular education, with further impact on their human capital.’’^{[footnote 20]}

4.3.10 Reach Alliance, described as a research consortium of global universities based in Canada^{[footnote 21]}, in October 2024 published a report on internal migrants in India which stated:

‘Seasonal migration is a significant feature of Indian society, with migration flows in both rural-to-urban and rural-to-rural directions.1 Migration is driven by economic, social, and environmental pressures. Estimates suggest there are around 600 million internal migrants in India, but the true figure remains elusive. This uncertainty about their numbers both reflects and contributes to a lack of understanding of this especially vulnerable population …

‘Short-term migrants move seasonally in search of temporary job opportunities, often in urban areas, whereas long-term migrants typically relocate permanently. While intrastate migrants move within the same state, interstate migrants face even greater challenges, crossing cultural, linguistic, and jurisdictional boundaries.’^{[footnote 22]}

4.3.11 A working paper on internal migration in India produced by the Indian Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC-PM), described as an independent economic advisory body^{[footnote 23]} published in December 2024, based on data from ‘… Indian Railway Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) data on passenger volumes; mobile telephone subscribers roaming data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and district level banking data to understand the likely impact of migration at the places of origin …’^{[footnote 24]} (EAC-PM 2024 report) noted:

‘… Overall domestic migration in India is slowing. We estimate the overall number of migrants in the country, as of 2023, to be 40,20,90,396 [402 million]. This is about 11.78% lower as compared to the number of migrants enumerated as per Census 2011 [45,57,87,621] [455 million]. Consequently, the migration rate which stood at 37.64% as per Census, 2011 is estimated to have since reduced to 28.88% of the population.’^{[footnote 25]}

4.3.12 The same report opined: ‘We hypothesize that this is on account of availability of improved services such as education, health, infrastructure and connectivity as well as improved economic opportunities in or near in major sources of migration and is an indicator of overall economic growth.’^{[footnote 26]}

4.3.13 In regard to areas with the highest amount of internal migration, the same report stated:

‘The composition of the top five recipient States attracting migrants [all migrants including intra-State migrants] has changed. West Bengal and Rajasthan are the new entrants and while Andhra Pradesh and Bihar are now ranked a notch lower.

‘Even amongst the top five recipient States the percentage of predicted migrants headed to the respective States has reduced. This could be on account of an overall reduction in the migration rate or could also indicate a greater spatial spread in the outward movement of passengers.

‘West Bengal, Rajasthan and Karnataka are the States showing the maximum amount of growth in percentage share of the arriving passengers. Similarly, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are States where the percentage share of total migrants has reduced.

‘Mumbai, Bengaluru Urban, Howrah, Central Delhi, Hyderabad are the districts attracting most migrant arrivals, while Valsad, Chittoor, Paschim Bardhaman, Agra, Guntur, Villupuram and Saharsa are the top origin districts …’^{[footnote 27]}

4.3.14 For information on the transportation network see Country Information Note: India (available on request).

4.3.15 In regard to the factors contributing to internal relocation, on 6 December 2024, Global Indian Network, an online journalism platform^{[footnote 28]}, noted:

‘The economic causes of migration include the following:

‘Urbanization: Urbanization is the growth of rural land into urban areas as a result of population immigration to an existing urban area. Rates of urbanization affect rural-urban wage differences. An increase in the demand for labor in urban areas can increase urban wages and encourage migration. The push and pull factors of low salary and better job facilities respectively compel people to move towards cities.
‘Employment: The main reason for migration is employment or business-related migration. People move from rural to urban areas in large numbers due to employment in industries, trade, transport, and services because rural areas fail to employ each individual living there. Even the cottage industries are not enough to provide the required employment.
‘Push and pull factors: Push and pull are two principal factors that are responsible for migration. Push factors cause people to leave their place of origin. These include poverty, lack of work opportunities, poor economic conditions, lack of basic infrastructural facilities such as healthcare and education, natural calamities, exhaustion of natural resources, etc. are some examples.

‘Pull factors attract people from different places. Generally, rural migrants move to urban areas in search of better opportunities, availability of regular work, better working conditions, and comparatively higher wages. In India, people move from villages to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore for the given reasons.’^{[footnote 29]}

4.3.16 On 18 December 2024, a Global Indian Network article stated:

‘… internal migration in India has been a persistent phenomenon. The 2011 census classified over 450 million Indians as internal migrants, accounting for nearly 37% of the population at the time. This trend was maintained towards the end of the decade. Estimates state that close to 9 million Indians migrate internally every year.

‘The trend is mostly from rural to urban. This underscores the general pursuit of higher standards of living, which many seem to find more readily available in urban areas than in the rural peripheries. Internal migration in India, therefore, is more of a symptom derived from other factors and causes.’^{[footnote 30]}

4.3.17 In relation to the reasons for internal migration, the same source stated:

‘Employment opportunities are the most common type of internal migration in India. The increasingly competitive job market leads to people leaving their native homes to move to other places within the country. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey of 2020-21, nearly 31% of all male migrants cited job opportunities as their reason for migration.

‘Education has been cited as another significant reason for education. With education seen as the most obvious investment for economic and social mobility, families will move their children to areas where they can access it in good quality. Areas with good institutions, particularly for higher education, have been great incentives for internal migration. This is greatly observed within Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, where a large portion of migrants aged 15 to 24 move for studies.’^{[footnote 31]}

For more information on internal displacement see Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

4.4 Entry and exit

4.4.1 The DFAT 2023 report stated:

‘The Bureau of Immigration undertakes immigration functions in India. Indian nationals travelling abroad require a valid Indian passport and travel authority for the destination country. An Indian national, on re-entry to India, requires a valid Indian passport or travel document issued by the Government of India.

‘Emigration for temporary or permanent work overseas and the potential to send remittances is popular among Indians. Those who do not have a year 10 education (with a few exceptions based on qualifications, periods of residence overseas or advanced age) will hold a passport that is endorsed ‘Emigration Check Required’ (sometimes known by the initials ‘ECR’ or ‘ECNR’ in the case that it is not required). This means that they must register with the Protector of Emigrants with details of their employer, insurance and contact details. This registration can occur via an online form.

‘The purpose of the ECR process is to ensure safety of Indian low/unskilled workers who are at risk of exploitation in countries with no or few worker protection rights. An ECR stamp in an Indian passport may provide a clue about the holder’s education, travel and employment history as well as age and marital status.

‘Since January 2019, ECNR passport holders who are travelling for employment to one of 18 designated countries (Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen) have been required to register with the Ministry of External Affairs prior to departure.

‘India has a border alert mechanism, known as a Look-Out Circular (LOC), that allows certain agencies to flag citizens and non-citizens for border intervention on entry to or exit from the country. Authorities can request LOC listing in cases where a person is a suspect, accused or under investigation for serious criminal offences under the Indian Penal Code or other penal laws. LOC listing can prevent a person from exiting the country (via airports, ports or land border crossings), and allow for arrest in some cases (such as when a person is absconding). In other cases, immigration authorities may not prevent LOC subjects from travelling, but originating agencies will be informed about the person’s departure or arrival. Generally, LOCs are valid for one year from the date of issue. In some cases validity can be longer (such as LOCs issued at the request of courts or Interpol, those with a specified duration or those linked to impounding of passports). DFAT is not aware of details of who would be placed on the list and is not aware of a pattern of treatment of those people that are.’^{[footnote 32]}

4.4.2 In relation to entry from land borders, the same report stated:

‘Crossing the Pakistan or China land borders from India is likely to be very difficult or impossible. Sources told DFAT that it is very easy to cross the Bangladesh or Nepal borders with few or no checks taking place. The latter is subject to the India-Nepal Friendship treaty, which in law and practice allows free movement between the countries. People may cross back and forth between India and Bangladesh, India and Nepal, or India and Bhutan regularly, even daily, for work. Corruption at borders is possible, but much more likely at a land crossing. International airports are generally professional and secure, and corruption is unlikely.’^{[footnote 33]}

4.4.3 A Freedom House special report on freedom of movement, published on 22 August 2024, which ‘… analyzed how governments impose mobility controls on individuals perceived as political opponents …’^{[footnote 34]}, stated: ‘The overseas citizenship of India (OCI) status was established in 2005 to grant people of Indian origin or foreigners married to Indian citizens benefits including visa-free entry and work authorization. Reporting by the Bangalore-based watchdog group Article 14 found that between 2014 and May 2023, authorities stripped OCI status from at least 102 holders, among them journalists, academics, and activists. People whose OCI status is withdrawn may also face an entry ban …’^{[footnote 35]}

4.5 Documentation

4.5.1 For information on documentation including the Aadhaar ID see Country Information Note: India (available on request)

4.5.2 The HRRC July 2024 article stated:

‘One of the biggest problems faced by migrants when reaching their destination is proving their identity. The significant majority of the migrant population hails from rural areas, they are unable to gain identifying documents such as birth certificates in rural areas, where inadequate or non-existent healthcare facilities, government services, and social welfare systems make it difficult to obtain identifying documents such as birth certificates. The absence of proof of identity makes claiming social protection, government entitlements, and sponsored schemes and programmes difficult for migrants …’^{[footnote 36]}

Question 9

5.                  Socio-economic situation

Accepted Answer

5.1 Economy

5.1.1 For information see Country Information Note: India (available on request)

5.2 Education

5.2.1 For information see Country Information Note: India (available on request)

5.3 Employment

5.3.1 For information see Country Information Note: India (available on request)

5.4 Property and housing

5.4.1 An undated article on Housing and Land Rights Network, described as an India based human rights NGO^{[footnote 37]} noted that: ‘The Supreme Court of India, in several judgements, has held that the human right to adequate housing is a fundamental right emanating from the right to life protected by Article 21 of the Constitution of India (“No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law”).’^{[footnote 38]}

5.4.2 In 2015 the government launched the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U), scheme which was implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). The scheme was set up to address the housing shortage among the Economically Weaker Section (EWS)/Low Income Group (LIG) and Middle Income Group (MIG) including slum dwellers by ensuring a pucca house (an all-weather dwelling unit) to all eligible urban households by the year 2022. The scheme has been extended until 31 December 2025^{[footnote 39]}.

5.4.3 An undated website page on Habitat for Humanity, described as ‘… international charity fighting global poverty housing’^{[footnote 40]} noted that: ‘The Government of India is still committed to provide housing for all by 2022 in meeting the Sustainable Development Goal 1 of ending poverty. The current shortfall of 10 million urban housing units is mostly driven by the economically weaker section and lower income group segment. With increasing urbanization, another 25 million homes are needed by 2030, according to a 2019 RICS-Knight Frank report.’^{[footnote 41]}

5.4.4 The DFAT 2023 report highlighted: ‘… Social housing programs are inadequate to meet demand in large cities, many of which have high housing costs …’^{[footnote 42]}The DFAT 2023 report did not include detailed information on the provision of social housing programs in large urban areas or cities.

5.4.5 In regard to housing for internal migrants in urban areas, the April 2023 Reuters article stated: ‘Besides the low-paid and difficult-to-get jobs, those arriving in the cities are faced with prohibitive costs of living and a struggle to find a place to live. They are unable to access social welfare benefits and many fall victim to the crime rampant in urban slums.’^{[footnote 43]}

5.4.6 On the living conditions of internal migrants, the HRRC 2024 article noted:

‘The socioeconomic conditions of migrants have led to the creation of deplorable and unhealthy living conditions. The slums and shantytowns where migrants reside often have no running water, drainage, electricity, or roads, with little to no support from the local or state governments. In fact, government officials often extort or take bribes from these communities. The lack of sanitation has caused the rise of infectious diseases, partly contributing to India becoming one of the world’s largest hotspots of tuberculosis and malaria …’^{[footnote 44]} The article did not provide information on the number of internal migrants who reside in slums or the location of slums.

5.4.7 In regard to living and working conditions for internal migrants the Reach Alliance October 2024 report stated: ‘[Internal] migrants endure considerable health risks as well as disruptions to their families as a result of their precarious living and work conditions. Many are forced to reside in informal settlements such as urban slums without basic infrastructure, compounding the challenges related to poor sanitation, inaccessible healthcare, and limited access to education for their children.’^{[footnote 45]}

5.4.8 A report by the Confederation of Indian Industry and Knight Frank, a real estate consultancy firm^{[footnote 46]}, published in December 2024 stated:

‘Over the last few years, although there have been policy measures to support demand and infusion of affordable housing in India, the shortage in this category continues to persist. As per our assessment, there is an existing shortage of ~10.1 mn affordable housing units in India…. Cumulatively, the existing shortage plus upcoming demand for affordable housing segment in India is estimated to be 31.2 mn units by 2030.

‘Government interventions, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and reduced GST rates for under-construction affordable housing, aim to stimulate demand. However, sensitivity analysis reveals that the affordable housing sector is more susceptible to interest rate hikes and price escalations. Additionally, there are also supply-side bottlenecks hindering the launch of affordable housing units. The lag in supply will likely create a housing gap…’^{[footnote 47]}

5.4.9 On 8 April 2025, Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI), an Indian research think tank^{[footnote 48]}, published an article on the PMAY-U which stated:

‘Despite a high number of sanctions on houses, the actual completion and occupancy rates remain significantly lower than the planned targets. The Scheme initially targeted to build 1.12 crore (11.2 million) houses by 2022. Out of which 1.08(10.8 million) houses got approved. Around 60.5 lakh (6.55 million) houses were completed which is 60% of the target, out of which 60 lakh (6 million) houses are occupied now which is 55% of the target. Funding gaps and delays in disbursal have made the process difficult.

‘Government estimates reported a shortage of 3 million houses in urban areas, yet independent studies show over 60 lakh [6 million] houses remain unaddressed. According to ICRIER, the urban housing shortage grew by 54%, from 1.88 crore [18.8 million] (2012) to 2.9 crore [29 million] (2018), reflecting unmet needs.’^{[footnote 49]}

5.4.10 As of 25 August 2025, across the whole of India, the PMAY-U scheme has built 9.4 million houses, and 9.14 million houses have been occupied^{[footnote 50]}.

5.5 Medical treatment and healthcare

5.5.1 For information on medical treatment and healthcare, see Country Information Note India: Medical and healthcare provision

5.6.1 The April 2023 Reuters article stated: ‘Besides the low-paid and difficult-to-get jobs, those arriving in the cities are faced with prohibitive costs of living and a struggle to find a place to live. They are unable to access social welfare benefits and many fall victim to the crime rampant in urban slums.’^{[footnote 51]} In relation to the data and evidence for this statement, the Reuters article included first hand individual accounts from internal migrants.

5.6.2 In regard to welfare available for internal migrants the Reach Alliance October 2024 report outlined:

‘The government of India offers a variety of welfare programs to support the country’s diverse population, including benefits for internal seasonal migrant workers. These plans encompass benefit entitlements to healthcare services, education subsidies, food rations, housing assistance, and social security payments, all aimed at improving migrant workers’ living standards and their economic stability. Social benefits are categorized and offered by different levels of government, including both state- and national-level benefits.

‘At the national level, several policies aim to provide social welfare and support for migrant populations. For instance, the Indian Parliament passed the Interstate Migrant Workers Act in 1979, landmark legislation designed to address and improve working conditions of migrant labourers who have migrated to different states. The Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Act specifically targets construction workers, the majority of whom tend to be seasonal migrants, offering them health insurance and educational support for their children.

‘The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) provides rural livelihood security from the government, guaranteeing at least 100 days of wage employment annually to households engaged in unskilled manual work. The One-Nation One-Ration Card (ONOR) scheme, launched by the Department of Food and Supplies and Consumer Affairs in 2018, aims to improve food security by enabling portable ration benefits across India, ensuring that beneficiaries receive entitlements regardless of where they are living and working.

‘The Ayushman Bharat project is a national program to provide healthcare to support financially marginalized and vulnerable families. It provides up to 500,000 rupees (around USD 5,800) per family each year for secondary and tertiary care (i.e., hospitalization) to alleviate the financial burden of direct medical expenses.

‘Several state governments provide social welfare programs for migrant workers and their families, as well. For instance, Kerala’s Aawaz Health Insurance specifically supports migrant workers, covering them for injuries and accidents. Rajasthan’s Jan Aadhaar Card initiative simplifies access to various government benefits by providing a single identity card that links to multiple services, enhancing service delivery for migrant families across the state. Rajasthan’s e-Mitra digital platform similarly integrates state-level social benefits enrolment to make access simpler for migrant families.

‘There is no shortage of social benefit entitlements designated for vulnerable migrant workers. However, policy intentions fall far short of actual outcomes. Given the myriad challenges they face, migrant workers often don’t receive their benefits. In fact, significant gaps persist with respect to migrants’ ability to register and enrol in benefit programs, even though they are technically entitled to them. Registering for, enrolling in, and benefiting from government schemes pose significant challenges for short-term migrant families. The lack of awareness of the various schemes is another problem when it comes to connecting social benefits entitlements with migrant families.

‘Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) have emerged in recent years to bridge these gaps. These centres, often created and operated by civil society organizations (CSOs), play a crucial role in facilitating access to benefits. They are not direct providers of benefits but they raise awareness among migrant workers about available programs and assist them with the registration and enrolment processes in order to access benefits.

‘To register for many government-provided social benefits, migrant workers must meet each program’s eligibility requirements and produce documents such as official proof of identity, record of employment status, and in some cases, proof of residence, which the MRCs assist migrants in securing. In short, CSOs and intermediary organizations such as MRCs connect workers to programs.’^{[footnote 52]}

5.6.3 In relation to migrant workers accessing benefits, the same report noted:

‘Notably, the recent introduction of digital enrolment portals has aimed to streamline the registration process for migrants to access a variety of welfare schemes. Common service centres (CSCs), for instance, are government-run kiosks intended to serve as accessible delivery points for various government-to-citizen internet-based services …

‘In another effort to overcome the challenges that seasonal migrants experience, the national government introduced the eShram portal in 2021, a comprehensive national database specifically for unorganized workers. Linked to their Aadhaar ID numbers, the eShram platform is intended to streamline access to social security programs for informally employed workers, including migrants. However, as with the Aadhaar system, challenges such as data mismatches and coordination issues across state jurisdictions have continued to impede benefit delivery.’^{[footnote 53]}

5.6.4 In relation to the barriers faced by internal migrants accessing social welfare, the same report noted a lack of access to benefits in destination state due to documentation issues, bureaucratic hurdles and delays in accessing benefits, the invisibility of migrant workers in data leading to challenges in delivery and allocation, lack of access to online portals and language barriers^{[footnote 54]}. The report notes:

‘Our field research suggests that VLEs [village-level entrepreneurs who own and manage CSCs] may… overcharge or seek bribes to process complex cases, creating a disincentive for migrant workers to access their benefits. Although many of the social benefit schemes are national in scope, state-level governments are not incentivized to prioritize the welfare of migrant workers who come from other states. Source states that migrants leave expect the destination state will assume responsibility for their welfare. Outbound migrants thus face significant bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of support from their home states. Conversely, destination states, which are incentivized to focus on the welfare of their own residents, often neglect out-of-state migrant workers.’^{[footnote 55]}

5.6.5 The Bertelsmann Stiftung Index, a German private foundation, in its Transformation Index 2024 country report on India (BTI 2024 India report), covering the period from 1 February 2021 to 31 January 2023 which assesses the transformation toward democracy and a market economy as well as the quality of governance in 137 countries through country experts^{[footnote 56]}, noted:

‘Traditionally, social safety nets in India have been based on family structures – and they largely continue to be so. However, a range of reforms initiated in the mid-2000s have substantially improved the chances of marginalized sections of Indian society to receive at least some compensation for social risks. Programs like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) provide for the temporary employment of people living below the poverty line. Moreover, there are a range of other programs at the national and state level that address a variety of issues with different modalities of distribution.’^{[footnote 57]}

5.6.6 In relation to specific welfare programs, the same source stated:

‘The Public Distribution System (PDS), for example, provides for the distribution of food grain staples to the poor through so-called “ration shops” or “fair price shops.” In June 2022, India had the second-largest grain reserves worldwide after China. The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is India’s flagship program aimed at addressing malnutrition and health problems for children and their mothers. The Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana is a program to provide affordable houses to poor people in rural and urban areas. Another initiative for this target group is the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana, a skill development scheme that also provides other forms of support to the poor rural and urban populations. However, the effectiveness of many of these programs is questioned, mainly due to corruption and leakages.’^{[footnote 58]}

Question 10

6.                  Humanitarian situation

Accepted Answer

6.1 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

6.1.1 The December 2024 Global Indian Network article stated: ‘Another aspect of internal migration is refugees and displacement. One of the least commonly discussed forms of internal migration in India is forced migration. Not all migration is voluntary, as people might be forced to move to fulfil the basic need to live. Climate disasters and decades of conflict in politically sensitive regions such as Assam, Mizoram, Manipur … have all contributed to the forced displacement of people. As of the end of 2023, the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center estimates over half a million Indians are internally displaced.’^{[footnote 59]}

6.1.2 The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, an NGO described as ‘… the world’s leading source of data and analysis on internal displacement …’^{[footnote 60]}, India country profile, last updated 14 May 2025, noted:

‘In 2024, India recorded its highest number of disaster displacements since 2012, at 5.4 million, including 2.4 million triggered by the worst monsoon floods in more than a decade in Assam state. Around 10 per cent of the state’s population, more than three million people, live on fertile islands known as chars, highly exposed to floods. About 40 per cent of the state’s territory is susceptible to flooding, and its frequency and intensity have shifted in recent years, forcing an increasing number of people to move, sometimes repeatedly and for extended periods.

‘…Displacement was reported across 30 districts on both sides of the Brahmaputra. Dhubri was the worst affected, with 560,000 movements reported, or 12 per cent of the state’s total. Many IDPs were able to return as the waters receded, but nearly 50,000 were still displaced at the end of the year [2024].

‘Storms, including major cyclones, triggered an additional 1.6 million movements across the country. More than a million were associated with cyclone Dana, which formed in the Bay of Bengal in late October and forced people to flee in Odisha and West Bengal states… West Bengal had been hit earlier in the year by cyclone Remal, which formed in the Bay of Bengal on 24 May and triggered around 208,000 displacements. In this case too, early warnings allowed the government to evacuate 150,000 people. Shelters were gradually closed a month after the event as people started to return home. As Remal moved north, it caused the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries to overflow, triggering about 338,000 displacements in Assam.

‘Tripura state witnessed its worst monsoon season in more than 40 years. Heavy rains caused landslides in more than 2,000 locations in mid-August, which altogether triggered 315,000 displacements, one of the highest figures on record for this hazard type. Roads were blocked, hampering the delivery of aid. A combination of floods and landslides forced three-quarters of the population of Gomati and South Tripura districts from their homes.

‘India recorded 1,700 violence-induced displacements in 2024, mainly in the north-eastern state of Manipur. This is much fewer than in 2023 when communal violence escalated in that state.’^{[footnote 61]}

6.1.3 The IDMC 2025 annual report noted:

‘The most intense floods in more than a decade struck the state of Assam in 2024, triggering 2.5 million internal displacements. They accounted for nearly half of the 5.4 million disaster displacements recorded in India during the year, the highest figure in 12 years. Climate change, deforestation and erosion, and the lack of maintenance of dams and embankments were some of the main drivers of risk… The scale and impacts of disaster displacement were significant in 2024, but not unprecedented. Flood displacement has taken place in Assam over the last 15 years, with 2012 and most notably 2022 being particularly significant.’^{[footnote 62]}

6.2 Conditions

6.2.1 An undated UNICEF (the United Nations agency for children^{[footnote 63]}), article stated:

‘India is among the world’s most disaster-prone countries with 27 of its 29 states and seven union territories exposed to recurrent natural hazards such as cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, floods and droughts. Climate change and environmental degradation have further compounded the frequency and intensity of disasters along with increasing the vulnerability of key assets including people. In addition, almost one third of the country is also affected by civil strife.’^{[footnote 64]}

6.2.2 Amnesty International annual human rights report, published 28 April 2025 and covering events in 150 countries in 2024 (AI 2024 India report) stated:

‘The government lacked adequate disaster preparedness policies and failed to effectively respond to floods and air pollution exacerbated by climate change. In November the air pollution level in the capital, New Delhi, put residents’ health at serious risk, according to data by the Central Pollution Control Board. Assam state remained vulnerable to intense floods, which killed at least 113 people in July and affected at least 3.3 million people.

‘The authorities failed to provide adequate support to marginalized communities affected by heatwaves, leaving at least 100 people dead and 40,000 affected. Analysis by Skymet, a weather services company, said climate change had altered weather patterns, including the absence of winter rain, which contributed to declining air quality over the Indo-Gangetic Plains, including Delhi. The Climate Action Tracker rated India’s climate targets and policies as “highly insufficient”, indicating that they are not consistent with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C temperature limit.’^{[footnote 65]}

6.2.3 The Global Hunger Index report 2024 (GHI 2024 Index), produced by Deutsche Welthungerhilfe (a German-based development and humanitarian NGO^{[footnote 66]}), Concern Worldwide (a humanitarian NGO^{[footnote 67]}) and Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (a European academic institution focussed on humanitarian crises^{[footnote 68]}), is based on undernourishment data from 2021-2023, child stunting and child wasting data from 2019-2023 and child mortality data from 2022 from ‘… various UN and other multilateral agencies …’^{[footnote 69]} in 136 countries. Overall, India scored 27.3 which indicates that India has a level of hunger that is serious^{[footnote 70]}. In regard to the specific data used for the calculation of India’s GHI score see page 44 of the report^{[footnote 71]}.

6.2.4 The same source included a breakdown of the four component indicators of the GHI Index: 13.7% of India’s population is undernourished, 35.5% of children under 5 are stunted, 18.7% of children under 5 are wasted and 2.9% of children die before their 5th birthday^{[footnote 72]}.For more information on Children see the Country Information Note: India (available on request)

6.2.5 The GHI 2024 Index included the below graph on India’s score trend showing India has gradually improved their GHI score since 2000, moving from a level of hunger that is alarming to a level of hunger that is serious^{[footnote 73]}:

6.2.6 In regard to adverse weather events in 2024, UNICEF humanitarian situation report covering events from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 (UNICEF 2024 report), stated:

‘The humanitarian situation in India during 2024 was marked by a series of extreme weather events, including severe floods in Assam and Bihar, droughts in Southern states, devastating landslides in Kerala, and a cyclone inflicting wind damage and floods across West Bengal and Assam and the Northeast. In total, 71,000 people, including 26,000 children were affected by storms, 2 million people were affected by cyclone Remal with 200,000 evacuated, and 9.5 million people were affected by floods including over 3.1 million children. The disasters impacted particularly children, women, and other vulnerable groups, overwhelming local systems and services, damaging infrastructure, and disrupting livelihoods. Access to services for the most marginalized women and children remain critical issues, particularly in rural areas. State Governments proactively responded to a range of emergencies and overlapping hazards, often straining their frontline operational and programming capacities. In these situations, UNICEF and partners collaborate with social sector line departments and local administrative systems to ensure children and women continue to access essential services, particularly in hard-to-reach locations. As extreme weather events become increasingly common and more intense, disaster preparedness at the local government level is more critical than ever to ensure continuity of services for at-risk children, women, disabled and other vulnerable groups.’^{[footnote 74]}

6.2.7 The World Food Programme, described as ‘… the world’s largest humanitarian organization …’ based in Italy^{[footnote 75]}, in its Annual Country Report on India, published 27 March 2025, covering events in 2024 (WFP Annual India report) noted:

‘Environmental degradation, food insecurity and malnutrition are interlinked in India, emanating from the effects of climate variability which remains a major risk in maintaining and further enhancing food security and food systems, especially for rural populations. The coastal and northern and north-eastern hilly areas of the country face high variability in terms of rainfall, temperature and extreme weather events. In such regions, agricultural livelihood activities are highly sensitive to climate shocks …’^{[footnote 76]}

6.2.8 The WFP, India Country Brief May 2025 noted:

‘While India has made tremendous progress over the last few decades in food grain production and a reduction in malnutrition rates, it continues to bear a huge burden of food and nutrition insecurity, ranking 107 out of 121 countries on the 2022 Global Hunger Index. Despite improvements, the prevalence of malnutrition is above acceptable levels, with 35 percent and 19 percent of children below 5 years being too short for their age and having low weight for their age respectively. The prevalence of anaemia is alarmingly high, especially among women of reproductive age (57 percent) and children 6-59 months (67 percent).’^{[footnote 77]}

6.2.9 The IDMC 2025 India country profile noted: ‘… The 2024 rains were particularly severe and started as early as May [2024] when the remnants of cyclone Remal caused the first major flood event. That was followed by two further periods of flooding in June and July, with the number of movements reaching its peak in the first week of July, earlier than in previous years when it peaked in August [2024].’^{[footnote 78]}

6.2.10 The IDMC 2025 annual report stated:

‘The Brahmaputra river and its tributaries are essential to the livelihoods of millions of people across Assam. Around 10 per cent of the state’s population, or more than three million people, live on fertile islands known as chars, highly exposed to floods. About 40 per cent of the state’s territory is susceptible to flooding, and its frequency and intensity have shifted in recent years, forcing an increasing number of people to move, sometimes repeatedly and for extended periods.

‘… Aging infrastructure and water management are also an issue. Of more than 400 embankments built along the Brahmaputra and its tributaries since the 1950s, over half have outlived their intended lifespan, and a lack of resources to repair and maintain them means a growing number have been breached …’^{[footnote 79]}

6.3 Government support

6.3.1 The March 2023 WFP’s report ‘Strengthening the Humanitarian System in India’ noted:

‘India has a reasonably well-developed legal and institutional framework for providing humanitarian assistance to people affected by natural and man-made disasters. The operation and management of the system has evolved over the years, increasing the preparedness and transparency of responses. However, the system still focuses to provide enough assistance to help the affected populations to survive in a crisis without consideration of the longer term needs to enable them to recover from the crisis, to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

‘The system is still managed by the civil servants of the revenue and relief departments of the State Governments, who are not adequately trained and oriented to deliver humanitarian assistance with the full application of the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. There is also a lack of enrolment and utilisation of technical expertise to assist in effective delivery of multi-sectoral relief and recovery interventions. Usually, the relief package is pre-determined and not tailored to the specific needs of the affected population. Hence the operations and management of the system should be reviewed and strengthened in every aspect – from the formulation of policies and guidelines to their implementation on the ground.’^{[footnote 80]}

6.3.2 The WFP Annual 2024 India report noted: ‘The Government of India has been taking various progressive measures to ensure stability in food and nutrition security across its vast population. Under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA 2013), India operates the world’s largest food-based safety net schemes, feeding over a billion people. In 2023-24, the volume of food grains allocated through various schemes of NFSA totalled 60 million metric tons.’^{[footnote 81]}

6.3.3 In regard to government support with food insecurity, the GHI 2024 Index report noted:

‘… . In India, women farmers’ groups in the state of Kerala have gained access to government extension services and bank credit through their collectives, not solely to enhance their production but also to help them diversify into climate-resilient, nutrition-rich crops. Incomes have increased, as has diet quality, as these women now grow diverse crops for both consumption and sale (Agarwal 2019). While male farmers are mainly engaged in the production of export-oriented, commercial plantation crops like pepper and rubber, the state here recognizes the contribution of the women’s groups to food production and food security and prioritizes this in its planning processes. The success of women farmers’ groups in Kerala is now being replicated across the country through the National Rural Livelihood Mission.’^{[footnote 82]}

6.3.4 In regard to government support during adverse weather events, the IDMC 2025 India country profile stated: ‘

‘… Local authorities opened relief centres to shelter displaced people, but as the floods persisted longer than forecast, aid supplies became stretched …

‘Most [of the 1 million internal movements triggered by cyclone Dana in October 2024] took the form of pre-emptive evacuations in response to alerts from the India Meteorological Department, which prompted state authorities to close schools, set up thousands of shelters and coordinate the movement of hundreds of thousands of people.

‘These measures, coupled with nature-based solutions, including high mangrove cover in some areas, mitigated Dana’s [Cyclone Dana] impacts. No casualties were reported in Odisha, confirming that disaster risk management can make a positive difference, and that displacement can serve to reduce the number of injuries and lives lost.’^{[footnote 83]}

See also Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

6.3.5 For the latest updates on the humanitarian situation see the UN Office for Humanitarian Coordination (OCHA)’s India page

6.4 Non-Governmental Organisation support (NGOs)

6.4.1 NGO-DARPAN, a platform that provides space for interface between Voluntary Organisations (Vos)/ Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and key Government Ministries / Departments / Government Bodies, has a list of registered organisations. Of more than 165,000 registered organisations over 25,000 NGO’s are involved in disaster management^{[footnote 84]}. The full list of organisations can be accessed here.

6.4.2 With reference to the NGO-DARPAN, the March 2023 WFP report noted: ‘…NGO Darpan does not provide a comprehensive information on the NGOs in the country as many civil society organizations who have been working in the field of humanitarian relief are not registered with the system.’^{[footnote 85]}

6.4.3 In relation to NGO humanitarian support, the UNICEF 2024 report stated:

‘UNICEF India supported the government in strengthening systematic preparedness to be ready to address acute needs of children and families during emergencies. Priorities include capacity development in health, nutrition, and education across 17 states, with key interventions including:

‘In Assam, UNICEF supported the State Government in operationalizing an integrated Disaster Reporting and Information Management System, enhancing district-level analysis and monitoring. UNICEF developed guidelines for state-led Assured Minimum Facilities in relief camps and trained 7,000 frontline workers on child-friendly spaces, leading to improved services for children during emergencies. A humanitarian-development pilot in Cachar district linked 5,780 women to various entitlement schemes, assisted 2,040 flood-affected households with damage assessment and reporting, issuing unique disability identity cards to 30 women and 31 men with disabilities, and linking 300 informal workers to E-shram cards.

‘In Bihar, UNICEF trained 31 Assistant Disaster Management Officers on district-level preparedness, ensuring readiness for emergency response. In Karnataka, UNICEF, in collaboration with Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), Karnataka Urban and Rural Development Voluntary Organizations (FEVOURD-K), and Karnataka Child Rights Observatory (KCRO), conducted a rapid assessment of the 2023 drought’s impact, influencing government strategies on livelihoods, child well-being, and drought relief, while fostering NGO partnerships to strengthen localized humanitarian action. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, UNICEF supported heatwave preparedness by assisting with plans, IEC materials, and community-level interventions like water and shade points, while supporting the government in Maharashtra in coordinated relief efforts for droughts. In Kerala, UNICEF enhanced psychosocial support and mental health preparedness through trainings for government staff.

‘Nationally, UNICEF partnered with the NDMA to assess disaster relief systems for women and children, explore social protection mechanisms, and advocate for cash transfer schemes during emergencies. Policy briefs and recommendations have been shared with the Ministry of Home Affairs to guide future improvements in disaster response. UNICEF strengthened community engagement by developing and disseminating a comprehensive Social and Behavior Change (SBC) toolkit for DRR and organizing national and regional training programmes.

‘UNICEF supported the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) to create a national SBC-DRR [Social and Behaviour Change Disaster Risk Reduction] training that integrated AAP [Accountability to Affected Populations], benefiting over 50 participants from various departments across all states. Additionally, all team members involved in the flood response in Bihar were trained on AAP before engaging with affected communities across five districts.’^{[footnote 86]}

6.4.4 The WFP 2024 Annual India report noted ‘WFP’s geographical presence in India continues to increase. Assam and Haryana are the new states where WFP began working in 2024. WFP now actively supports 23 state/union territory governments out of 36 states and union territories in India …’^{[footnote 87]}

Question 11

Research methodology

Accepted Answer

The country of origin information (COI) in this note has been carefully selected in accordance with the general principles of COI research as set out in the Common EU [European Union] Guidelines for Processing Country of Origin Information (COI), April 2008, and the Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation’s (ACCORD), Researching Country Origin Information – Training Manual, 2024. Namely, taking into account the COI’s relevance, reliability, accuracy, balance, currency, transparency and traceability.

Sources and the information they provide are carefully considered before inclusion. Factors relevant to the assessment of the reliability of sources and information include:

the motivation, purpose, knowledge and experience of the source
how the information was obtained, including specific methodologies used
the currency and detail of information
whether the COI is consistent with and/or corroborated by other sources

Commentary may be provided on source(s) and information to help readers understand the meaning and limits of the COI.

Wherever possible, multiple sourcing is used and the COI compared to ensure that it is accurate and balanced, and provides a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of the issues relevant to this note at the time of publication.

The inclusion of a source is not, however, an endorsement of it or any view(s) expressed.

Each piece of information is referenced in a footnote.

Full details of all sources cited and consulted in compiling the note are listed alphabetically in the bibliography.

Question 12

Terms of Reference

Accepted Answer

The ‘Terms of Reference’ (ToR) provides a broad outline of the issues relevant to the scope of this note and forms the basis for the country information.

The following topics were identified prior to drafting as relevant and on which research was undertaken:

Freedom of movement – legal status and documentation required to move within and into/out of country, legal and physical restrictions
Treatment of returnees on and after arrival
Humanitarian situation - areas affected by conflict/natural disasters, conditions these areas, including availability of food, water and shelter, internally displaced populations, government and non-government support and services provided to displaced populations

Question 13

Bibliography

Accepted Answer

Sources cited

Amnesty International, Amnesty International Report 2024/25: India, 28 April 2025. Accessed: 26 August 2025

Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), DFAT Country Information Report: India), 29 September 2023. Accessed: 25 August 2025

Bertelsmann Stiftung Index (BTI),

Methodology, no date. Accessed: 12 September 2025

India Country Report 2024, 19 March 2024. Accessed: 12 September 2025

CII and Knight Frank, Affordable Housing in India, December 2024. Accessed: 25 September 2025

EAC-PM,

About us, no date. Accessed: 26 August 2025

400 Million Dreams, December 2024. Accessed: 26 August 2025

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Foreign travel advice: India (Safety and security), 27 August 2025. Accessed: 12 September 2025

Freedom House,

Freedom in the World 2025, 26 February 2025. Accessed: 21 August 2025

Freedom in the World Research Methodology, no date. Accessed: 21 August 2025

No Way In or Out: Authoritarian Controls on the Freedom of Movement , 22 August 2024. Accessed: 12 September 2025

Global Hunger Index,

Global Hunger Index 2024, 28 October 2024. Accessed: 21 August 2025

Global Hunger Index: India, 28 October 2024. Accessed: 21 August 2025

Government of India (GoI),

The Constitution of India, 1 May 2024. Accessed: 28 July 2025

PMAY-U Home (via national progress), 25 August 2025. Accessed: 12 September 2025

PMAY (U), no date. Accessed: 21 August 2025

Global Indian Network,

About, no date. Accessed: 12 September 2025

Internal Migration in India, A Deep Dive Into Causglobales and Consequences, 18 December 2024. Accessed: 12 September 2025

The Economic and Social Causes of Migration in India, 6 December 2024. Accessed: 12 September 2025

Habitat for Humanity,

Housing Poverty in India: Tackling Slums & Inequalities, undated. Accessed: 26 August 2025

Who we are, no date. Accessed: 26 August 2025

Housing and Land Rights Network,

About HLRN, no date. Accessed: 21 August 2025

Indian Law and Policy, no date. Accessed: 21 August 2025

Human Rights Research Centre (HRRC),

Internal Migrants in India, 11 July 2024. Accessed: 26 August 2025

Our mission, no date. Accessed: 26 August 2025

IMPRI,

About, undated. Accessed: 26 September 2025

A Closer Look at Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U), 8 April 2025. Accessed: 26 September 2025

Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC)

2025 Global Report on Internal Displacement (GRID), 13 May 2025. Accessed: 20 August 2025

About IDMC, no date. Accessed: 20 August 2025

Country profile: India, 14 May 2025. Accessed: 21 August 2025

Knight Frank, About Us, undated. Accessed: 26 September 2025

NGO Darpan, Home, undated. Accessed: 21 August 2025

Reach Alliance,

About, no date. Accessed: 12 September 2025

Improving Access to Government Benefits for Internal Seasonal Migrant Workers in India , October 2024. Accessed: 12 September 2025

Reuters,

About, no date. Accessed: 12 September 2025

India’s migrant millions: Caught between jobless villages and city hazards, 18 April 2023. Accessed: 12 September 2025

UNICEF,

Disaster risk reduction, no date. Accessed: 21 August 2025

Humanitarian Situation Report: South Asia Region, 21 February 2025. Accessed: 4 August 2024

Who we are, no date. Accessed: 4 August 2025

US State Department (USSD),

2023 Country Report on Human Rights Practices: India, 22 April 2024. Accessed: 26 August 2025

2024 Country Report on Human Rights Practices: India, 12 August 2025. Accessed: 26 September 2025

World Food Programme,

India Annual Country Report 2024, 27 March 2025. Accessed: 4 August 2025

WFP India Country Brief April-May 2025, May 2025. Accessed: 4 August 2025

Who we are, no date. Accessed: 26 August 2025

World Bank, Internal Migration in India Grows, But Inter-State Movements Remain Low 18 December 2019. Accessed: 26 August 2025

Sources consulted but not cited

Forced Migration Review, Internal displacement in India: causes, protection and dilemmas, no date. Accessed: 28 July 2025

Mixed Migration Centre, Quarterly Mixed Migration Update: Asia and the Pacific, 23 July 2025. Accessed: 26 August 2025

Question 14

Version control and feedback

Accepted Answer

Clearance

Below is information on when this note was cleared:

version 3.0
valid from 1 October 2025

Official – sensitive: Not for disclosure – Start of section

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Independent Advisory Group on Country Information

The Independent Advisory Group on Country Information (IAGCI) was set up in March 2009 by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration to support them in reviewing the efficiency, effectiveness and consistency of approach of COI produced by the Home Office.

The IAGCI welcomes feedback on the Home Office’s COI material. It is not the function of the IAGCI to endorse any Home Office material, procedures or policy. The IAGCI may be contacted at:

Independent Advisory Group on Country Information
Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration
3rd Floor
28 Kirby Street
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EC1N 8TEEmail: chiefinspector@icibi.gov.uk

Information about the IAGCI’s work and a list of the documents which have been reviewed by the IAGCI can be found on the Independent Chief Inspector’s pages of the gov.uk website.

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Executive summary

Assessment

About the assessment

1. Material facts, credibility and other checks/referrals

1.1 Credibility

1.2 Exclusion

2. Internal relocation

3. Certification

Country information

About the country information

4. Freedom of movement

4.1 Legal rights

4.2 Restrictions

4.3 Internal movement

4.4 Entry and exit

4.5 Documentation

5. Socio-economic situation

5.1 Economy

5.2 Education

5.3 Employment

5.4 Property and housing

5.5 Medical treatment and healthcare

5.6 Social welfare

6. Humanitarian situation

6.1 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

6.2 Conditions

6.3 Government support

6.4 Non-Governmental Organisation support (NGOs)

Research methodology

Terms of Reference

Bibliography

Sources cited

Sources consulted but not cited

Version control and feedback

Clearance

Changes from last version of this note

Feedback to the Home Office

Independent Advisory Group on Country Information

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