Minister Amit Shah names illegal immigration as the cause of demographic changes in border areas

In New Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated on Thursday the Modi government's resolve to combat unnatural demographic changes in border areas using stringent methods. He stated that a robust mechanism would be implemented to make the country impenetrable to infiltration.

Demographic Study Initiatives

Speaking at the Superintendents of Police (SP) conference for border areas, which was the first such initiative, Shah announced that a 'Demography Mission' has been assigned. This mission is tasked with investigating demographic shifts, identifying anomalous factors behind them, and proposing measures to prevent similar changes in the future. He emphasized that border security is ensured by three key elements: a secure border, a prosperous border region, and an vigilant society.

National Security Priorities

Shah noted that the Modi government has successfully eliminated three major security issues that plagued the country for nearly four decades: terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, the insurgency in the Northeast, and left-wing extremism. Currently, the focus has shifted to eradicating the drug problem, which has severely damaged the country, and this must be achieved within the next three years.

Discussion on Security Issues

The SP conference for border areas, attended by Deputy Chief Police Officers (DGP) of border states, collectors and/or SP 119 of border areas, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, and border force commanders, focused on all aspects of border security. Topics discussed included infiltration, proxy war, intelligent solutions for borders, illegal immigration and its impact on the demographics of border areas, threats from drones and narcotics, as well as initiatives to develop borders involving local communities in border villages.

Future of Border Policy

Shah stated that the discussions related to border security held on Thursday will take institutional form. An integrated, robust, and quadripartite policy for ensuring border security will be developed, in which the Centre, states, district administrations, and border communities will act as joint stakeholders. Furthermore, he added that a similar initiative will be conducted to ensure the security of coastal borders.

uza.uzJune 29, 13:22

Study shows growth in internal migration in Uzbekistan and factors influencing population movement

In recent years, the pace of internal migration in the country has noticeably increased. According to statistical data, in 2025, 157 thousand people, or 62.1 percent, moved within the same region. This figure has almost doubled compared to 2020.

Structure of Migration Flows

Meanwhile, interregional migration amounted to 94.6 thousand people, corresponding to 37.4 percent of the total number of migrants, while the share of external migration remained at 0.5 percent. These figures confirm the predominance of internal movements in the overall picture of population migration.

Scientific Study of Migration

The Institute of Scientific Research 'Family and Gender' conducted a comprehensive scientific study aimed at assessing the demographic, social, and economic factors influencing internal migration processes in Uzbekistan. As part of this study, 195 panel data observations across 14 regions of Uzbekistan, covering the period from 2010 to 2025, were analyzed using modern econometric analysis methods.

Main Factors of Migration

According to the Institute of Scientific Research 'Family and Gender,' the study found that the main reasons for internal migration are economic development, population income levels, labor market opportunities, and demographic indicators. The econometric model showed that with a 1 percentage point increase in household income, internal migration grows by an average of 1.42 percent. This indicates that regions with higher incomes and economic opportunities attract more people.

Impact of Employment and Demographics

The analysis also demonstrated that a 1 percentage point increase in employment level leads to a decrease in internal migration by an average of 3.15 percent, as an increase in job availability reduces the need for people to move. Furthermore, demographic factors influence migration: an increase in marriages contributes to an increase in internal migration, while an increase in the birth rate leads to a reduction in migration volume.

Study Conclusions

The study authors concluded that the level of economic development, population income, and labor market opportunities have the most significant impact on internal migration in Uzbekistan. Nevertheless, aspects such as marriage, fertility, and the demographic composition of the population play an important role in the long-term formation of migration processes. The results of this study will serve as an important scientific and practical basis for improving regional development policy, creating new jobs, reducing economic imbalances between regions, and making state decisions for effective management of internal migration processes.