Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) Travel Survey 2026: Over 70% Youth Commute Daily For Education
The first National Household Travel Survey found that 79.1 per cent of rural and 73.3 per cent of urban students aged 15–29 undertake regular trips to educational institutions.
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The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the findings of the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) 2025-26, India's first nationwide household travel survey. Conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) between July 2025 and June 2026, the survey covered 4,92,023 households across 14,274 villages and 10,377 urban blocks.
For the survey, a trip was counted when travel covered more than one kilometre. The findings provide data on travel patterns for education, employment and other household activities.
Students Aged 15-29 Show High Daily Travel
The survey found that students aged 15–29 years recorded the highest regular participation in trips to educational institutions. The proportion stood at 79.1 per cent in rural India and 73.3 per cent in urban India.
Overall, 66.4 per cent of students aged six years and above undertook within-travel-day trips of at least one kilometre to attend their basic-course educational institution. The figure was 65.6 per cent in rural areas and 68.1 per cent in urban areas.
Walking was the most common mode of student travel at 37 per cent, followed by buses at 29.5 per cent and bicycles at 15.8 per cent. Two-wheelers accounted for 6.7 per cent of student travel nationally.
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Two-Wheelers Lead Workforce Commute
Among workers aged 15 years and above, 57.6 per cent undertook travel of more than one kilometre to fixed or non-fixed workplaces. The share was 54.5 per cent in rural areas and 64.1 per cent in urban areas.
Two-wheelers emerged as the leading mode of workforce travel, accounting for 42.6 per cent of commutes nationally. Their share was higher in urban areas at 52.3 per cent, compared with 37.1 per cent in rural India.
Student, Worker Commute Costs
The average monthly expenditure for commuting to educational institutions was Rs 443 for students, including Rs 617 in urban areas and Rs 361 in rural areas.
Workers travelling to fixed workplaces spent an average of Rs 785 per month. Urban workers spent Rs 1,044, compared with Rs 612 for rural workers, according to media reports.
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Anjali is an education journalist with over a year of experience in digital and business journalism. She has previously worked with BW Businessworld and ANI, where she gained experience in news writing, editing, research, and fact-checking. At Jagran Josh, she writes education news and covers competitive exams and current affairs, with a keen interest in delivering accurate, informative, and reader-focused content. She holds a BA from Miranda House, University of Delhi, and a postgraduate diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). Anjali enjoys reading and exploring new ideas and perspectives through books.
