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      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

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      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...