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New
New
Year 7

Rural to urban migration in India

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

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New
New
Year 7

Rural to urban migration in India

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

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Lesson details

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.


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

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.
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Equipment

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Content guidance

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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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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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