Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 English
Choose exam board for KS4 French
Choose exam board for KS4 Geography
Choose exam board for KS4 German
Choose exam board for KS4 History
Choose tier for KS4 Maths
Choose exam board for KS4 Music
Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

Rural to urban migration in India

Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can describe reasons why people migrate from rural areas to cities in India and identify benefits and challenges of this migration.

Key learning points

  1. Each year thousands of people move from rural areas to cities in India.
  2. There are different reasons why people migrate from rural to urban areas.
  3. The migration of people from rural to urban areas has benefits and brings challenges.

Keywords

  • Migration - moving from one place to another with the intention of staying there

  • Push factor - a reason prompting people to leave the place they live, such as lack of jobs, hazards, conflict

  • Pull factor - a reason attracting people to a new place, such as more jobs, better living conditions, better services

  • Economy - the way money in a particular area is made and spent

  • Cultural diversity - the variety of cultural and ethnic groups within a society

Common misconception

All migrants are forced to move.

Explain that there are different reasons which can lead to someone migrating. These might be related to work, education, family, better services, living environment or safety. Spend time discussing these in more detail.

Teacher tip

Drama and role play could be used to further explore the thoughts that a young person might have about whether to move from a rural area to the city.

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
(Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is a country with a very high population?

Correct answer: India
Australia
Canada
Iceland

Q2.
Rural areas are...

more densely populated than cities.
Correct answer: more sparsely populated than cities
often overpopulated

Q3.
Urban areas are...

Correct answer: densely populated
sparsely populated
uninhabitable

Q4.
What is migration?

Correct answer: The movement of people from one place to another
The number of people living in a city
The total number of houses in a country

Q5.
What was the population of India in 2023?

1.4 million
Correct answer: 1.4 billion
2.4 billion

Q6.
Which of these is a city in India?

Beijing
Correct answer: Mumbai
Tehran

4 Questions

Q1.
What is migration?

The total number of houses in a country
Correct answer: The movement of people from one place to another
The number of people living in a city

Q2.
Which city is an example of rapid urban growth due to migration?

Correct answer: Mumbai, India
Reykjavik, Iceland
A small rural village

Q3.
What is a major reason people move from rural areas to cities?

Correct answer: To find better job opportunities
To have more space
To live in a quieter environment

Q4.
What is one impact of migration on cities?

Correct answer: Overcrowding and pressure on resources
Fewer people living there
Less economic growth
The city becomes smaller

To help you plan your 7 geography lesson on: Rural to urban migration in India, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...