Inter-state migration in Punjab: A decadal assessment of census data, 1971-2011

Punjab has always been a vibrant participant in the flow of migration—internal and international—for many decades. This paper sketches a profile of internal migration in Punjab with a special focus on inter-state migration. The main objective of the paper is to analyse the dynamics of migration from other Indian states to Punjab from 1971 to 2011. According to available data, the growth rate of inter-state migration has fluctuated over the last few decades. The present study endeavours to discuss the pattern of inter-state migration in Punjab using secondary census data from the migration tables of 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001, and 2011. It also discusses the distance categories, migration streams, and reasons for migration in Punjab. Furthermore, the paper has also tried to address the changing structure of in migration prevailing in Punjab and alternatives to overcome the challenges.