The COVID-19 pandemic exposed profound structural vulnerabilities among migrant workers globally, particularly those engaged in informal and precarious employment. Lockdowns, mobility restrictions, and economic disruptions intensified pre-existing inequalities, highlighting critical gaps in migration governance systems. Despite a growing body of literature, limited attention has been paid to integrating governance frameworks with crisis-responsive mechanisms, especially in developing economies such as India. This study examines the role of migration governance in shaping migrant vulnerabilities during the pandemic through a comprehensive global literature review, with specific reference to India. The study employs a thematic synthesis approach to analyse governance structures and policy responses, drawing on peer-reviewed articles, policy reports, and institutional publications from organisations such as the International Labour Organisation and the International Organisation for Migration. The findings reveal significant governance gaps, including fragmented policy frameworks, limited portability of social protection, and weak institutional coordination, which exacerbated migrant precarity during the crisis. In response, the paper proposes an inclusive migration governance framework emphasising labour rights protection, social protection portability, and crisis-responsive institutional mechanisms. The study contributes to the discourse on migrant-inclusive development and offers policy-relevant recommendations for strengthening migration governance in India and other developing economies..