Which of the following is not a push factor for the migration of the rural population in India?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Availability of regular work
A push factor is a problem at the place of origin that drives people out. A pull factor is an attraction at the place of destination that draws people in.
Option (1) High population pressure on the land — A push factor. Too many people depend on too little land in the village. There is not enough work or food for all, so some leave for the cities.
Option (2) Availability of regular work — Not a push factor. It is a pull factor. Regular work and higher wages in cities attract rural people; they do not push them out of the village.
Option (3) Lack of basic infrastructural facilities like health care, education, etc — A push factor. When a village has no good hospital or school, people move to places that have them.
Option (4) Local conflicts — A push factor. Conflicts make life unsafe, so people leave their homes. Along with wars and natural disasters, they give an extra push to migrate.
Note: This question is taken from the pre-rationalised NCERT book. The latest edition (2026-27) does not have this part. An extract of the pre-rationalised NCERT book is given below for the benefit of students.
Pre-rationalised NCERT: “Causes of Migration … In India people migrate from rural to urban areas mainly due to poverty, high population pressure on the land, lack of basic infrastructural facilities like health care, education, etc. Apart from these factors, natural disasters such as, flood, drought, cyclonic storms, earthquake, tsunami, wars and local conflicts also give extra push to migrate. On the other hand, there are pull factors which attract people from rural areas to cities. The most important pull factor for majority of the rural migrants to urban areas is the better opportunities, availability of regular work and relatively higher wages.” |