National Household Travel Survey (NHTS)

The National Statistics Office (NSO) has released the key indicators and findings of India’s first-ever National Household Travel Survey (NHTS).

About the National Household Travel Survey

The National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) is conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

Objectives: The survey aims to generate robust, data-driven insights into domestic travel patterns to support regional transport planning, infrastructure development and evidence-based policymaking.

Key Aspects Covered by the Survey

Purpose of Travel: The survey captures travel for employment, education, social engagements, cultural and leisure activities, tourism, domestic work, caregiving and other purposes.

Mode of Transport: It examines the modes of transportation used by different demographic groups for undertaking trips.

Travel Duration and Distance: It records the average time taken and distances travelled during trips.

Major Findings of the NHTS

Student Mobility: Students in the 15–29 age group recorded the highest participation in regular daily travel to educational institutions, at 79.1% in rural India and 73.3% in urban India.

Workforce Mobility: Nationwide, 61.9% of male workers reported daily work trips exceeding 1 km, compared with 41.9% of female workers. This highlights a gender gap in daily work-related mobility.

Monthly Commuting Expenditure: The average monthly expenditure on commuting to a fixed workplace was ₹785 per worker. Urban workers spent an average of ₹1,044 per month, compared with ₹612 per month for rural workers.