Overview of the National Household Travel Survey 2026
The National Statistics Office (NSO), operating under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), has officially released the findings and key indicators of the first-ever National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) through a comprehensive Factsheet. Conducted between July 2025 and June 2026, this nationwide survey covers both rural and urban areas across all States and Union Territories of India. For the purpose of the survey, a travel trip is strictly defined as any movement covering a distance of more than one kilometre. The primary objective is to generate robust, data-driven insights into domestic travel dynamics to assist regional transport planning, optimize transport routes, infrastructure investment, and evidence-based policy formulation.
Key Findings on Student and Workforce Mobility
The survey highlights significant details regarding student and worker commutes across the nation. Over half of all workers aged 15 years and above (57.6%) travel more than 1 km to work, with urban workers recording a higher rate of 64.1% compared to 54.5% in rural areas. Two-wheelers emerge as the single largest primary mode of transport for workers nationwide, accounting for 42.6% of commutes. For students, nearly two-thirds aged 6 years and above undertake daily trips exceeding 1 km to reach their educational institutions. Walking, buses, and bicycles form the top three modes of transport for school trips, while auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers also play a prominent role in urban student transit. Furthermore, the survey records average travel times of 23 minutes for students and 25 minutes for workers travelling to a fixed workplace, with a vast majority completing their journey in under 30 minutes.
Commute Expenditure and Overnight Travel Insights
Monthly commute expenditures vary notably between rural and urban sectors. The average monthly cost for workers commuting to a fixed workplace stands at ₹785, with urban workers incurring an average of ₹1,044 compared to ₹612 for rural workers. Male workers report an average monthly spend of ₹835 against ₹533 for female workers. For students, the average monthly commute cost is ₹443, ranging from ₹361 in rural areas to ₹617 in urban regions. Additionally, the survey evaluates household overnight travel, revealing that 73.5% of overnight trips rely on buses and inter-city railways, with socializing and religious activities driving over 70% of these journeys.
Understanding Key Concepts and Next Steps
To ensure uniformity, the NSO introduced specific concepts in the survey, including 'travel-day' running from 3:00 AM to 2:59 AM of the next calendar day, and clear distinctions between within-travel-day trips and overnight trips lasting more than 24 hours over distances of 50 km or more. Interested stakeholders, researchers, and planners can access the detailed indicators, statistical tables, and appendices via the official MoSPI reports portal to better understand household travel behaviors and transport requirements across India.
Important Dates
| Label | Date |
|---|---|
| Survey Period | July, 2025 – June, 2026 |
| Press Note Date | 05th October, 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) 2025-2026?
The NHTS is the first-ever all-India survey conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under MoSPI to collect information on household travel patterns, transport modes, and travel characteristics.
What distance defines a 'travel' trip in the NSO survey?
A trip is defined as travel covering a distance of more than 1 km. Trips of less than one kilometre were not considered travel in the NHTS.
What is the primary mode of transport for workers across India according to the survey?
Two-wheelers are the single largest primary mode of transport for workers across India, accounting for 42.6% of workers.
What is the average monthly expenditure on commuting for a fixed workplace worker?
The average monthly expenditure is ₹785 per worker, with urban workers spending ₹1,044 and rural workers spending ₹612.
What are the primary modes of transport used for household overnight journeys?
Buses (55.8%) and inter-city railways (17.7%) are the primary modes for household overnight travel, followed by cars and two-wheelers.
Official Links
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