NEW DELHI: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah officially launched Bharat Taxi on February 5, 2026, at Vigyan Bhavan, introducing India’s inaugural cooperative-based ride-hailing platform designed to challenge established players like Ola, Uber, and Rapido.
This government-backed initiative emphasizes a zero-commission, surge-free model, positioning drivers as co-owners to foster fair earnings and enhanced social security. With over three lakh drivers already registered, the app seeks to create a more inclusive and sustainable mobility ecosystem across the country.
Pioneering a Driver-Owned Model
Bharat Taxi operates under the Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, registered as a multi-state cooperative society under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, and established on June 6, 2025. Unlike traditional aggregators that deduct 20-30% commissions per ride, this platform adopts a “Sarathi Hi Malik” (Driver is the Owner) approach, where drivers purchase a minimum of five shares for ₹500 to become shareholders and receive certificates.
Drivers pay a flat daily access fee of ₹30, ensuring they retain full fare earnings without variable cuts. This structure eliminates surge pricing, making rides up to 30% cheaper for passengers compared to competitors.
Key Features and Safety Measures
The app integrates with India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including DigiLocker for instant driver verification, UMANG, and API Setu for seamless operations. It offers categories such as AC and non-AC cabs, XL cabs, autos, and bike taxis, with a user-friendly interface rivaling established services. Safety is prioritized through direct tie-ups with local police, including 35 special booths in Delhi for addressing rider and driver concerns, along with rapid emergency assistance and verified ride data.
Additionally, the “Bike Didi” initiative promotes gender inclusivity by onboarding over 150 women drivers, providing safe and dignified employment opportunities.
Benefits for Drivers and Riders
Drivers benefit from comprehensive social security, including ₹5 lakh personal accident insurance and ₹5 lakh family health insurance, alongside retirement savings and dedicated support systems. There are no exclusivity clauses, allowing them to operate on other platforms simultaneously.
For riders, the absence of commissions and surges translates to transparent, affordable fares, with savings passed directly from the cooperative model. During the pilot phase in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat (including Rajkot and Ahmedabad) starting late 2025, the platform averaged 5,500 to 10,000 rides daily, with over one lakh users registered and approximately ₹10 crore disbursed directly to drivers.
Expansion and Nationwide Ambitions
Initially operational in Delhi-NCR and select Gujarat cities, Bharat Taxi plans to expand to every state and city in India within the next two years, establishing dedicated support centers nationwide. The launch event saw participation from over 1,200 Sarathis from across the country and representatives of around eight lakh drivers, underscoring its scale as the world’s largest driver-owned mobility platform.
The app is available for download on the Google Play Store for drivers, with onboarding involving OTP-based mobile registration, digital document uploads (such as commercial driving license, Aadhaar, PAN, registration certificate, and insurance), and background verification.
Vision for Cooperative Prosperity
Aligning with the government’s ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation) vision, Bharat Taxi aims to empower lakhs of taxi drivers by integrating them into a cooperative framework that prioritizes welfare over profit extraction.
Union Minister Amit Shah highlighted this during the launch, stating, “This launch of Sahkar Taxi is taking place in the presence of 800,000 Sarathi representatives and some cooperatives, so that within three years, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Dwarka to Kamakhya, across the entire country, this Sahkar Taxi is going to become a very significant means for the welfare of our taxi Sarathis.”
As Bharat Taxi rolls out, it represents a shift toward citizen-centric mobility, backed by former Amul alumni and government support, potentially reshaping the multi-billion-dollar ride-hailing industry in India by placing drivers at the heart of ownership and operations.
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